Japanese business embraces LGBT Community

Japanese business embraces LGBT Community

Long before the term LGBT came into vogue, Japan went its own way regarding gender definitions, before the Meiji restoration in the 19th Century opened Japan to Western ideas and concepts, including a more Victorian attitude towards sex roles. Victorian attitudes are  changing rapidly in Japan, led by big business seeking to tap into the […]

Tamil Nadu police force to undergo ‘trans’-formation?

Tamil Nadu police force to undergo  ‘trans’-formation?

Mx K Prithika Yashini has made her spot in Indian history, as the country’s first trans-gendered police officer in 2015. She also cleared the way for others! Tamil Nadu should also stand proud as the first Indian state to appoint a transwoman as police officer after a court cleared hurdles that faced  Yashini. The Madras […]

Judge foxed by IPC 377

Judge foxed by IPC 377

Since marital rape is not a crime in India, can a husband be punished for having “unnatural sex” with his wife under IPC’s Section 377, is the question which is baffling a judge in Rewari, Haryana. The absurd legal situation in India, where marital rape is not a crime, but “unnatural sex” between homosexuals is […]

Violence grows against Third Gender in Pakistan

Violence grows against Third Gender in Pakistan

Khyber Pakhtunwala (PAKISTAN): In June, three men broke into the home of a transgender woman named Kashi, in Mansehra and attempted to rape her. They ended up shooting her several times. Kashi is only one of many transgender women in Pakistan to have been attacked in recent months. In May, Alehsa, a transgender woman and […]

LGBT pride becomes protest in Israel’s second largest city

LGBT pride becomes protest in Israel’s second largest city

Israel: More than 2,000 persons demonstrated on Thursday evening outside the Be’er Sheva  (Beersheba) City Hall building instead of marching in the city’s now-cancelled first ever Pride parade. Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the “Capital of the Negev”, it is the centre of the […]

Bihar: Reservations for Transgender in offing?

Bihar: Reservations for Transgender in offing?

Bihar inches towards reservations for TG in various sectors Do you know that certain prominent movers and shakers in the Government of Bihar are seriously considering a .04 representation for transgender people along the lines of reservation for women? Don’t confuse TG with Hijras. Transgender people are trans-men and trans-women, people who may or may […]

Obama says Christian faith calls for Transgender inclusion!

Obama says Christian faith calls for Transgender inclusion!

USA President Barack Obama said that his understanding of the Bible and his Christian beliefs led him to issue the directive at public schools calling on students to be allowed to use the bathroom of their choosing regardless of their biological sex. “My reading of scripture tells me that that [the] Golden Rule is pretty […]

Bangladesh: fear stalks rainbow community

Bangladesh: fear stalks rainbow community

Weeks after suspected Islamist militants hacked Bangladesh’s most prominent gay rights activist to death in his apartment along with an associate, another friend received a chilling message that he was next in line. “Say your prayers, confess to God for your sins. Eat or drink whatever you wish to, nobody can save you,” read the […]

Still Homophobic, what?

Still Homophobic, what?

Well, well, well, dearies! The international day against homophobia has passed us by without a whimper, except for some overweight desi aunties posting some sentimental stuff on social media. Some  in the print  media did a couple of stories. The usual stuff, bleeding heart Obama, the Canadian Prime Minister, and all that jazz. First we […]

South Asia’s Biggest Queer Film-fest from May25

South Asia’s Biggest Queer Film-fest from May25

Flying in the  face of the dastardly IPC 377, South Asia’s biggest rainbow  film festival is on! Short-sighted court ‘mis-judgements’  haven’t stopped Mumbai’s Liberty Cinema, Alliance Francaise de Bombay and Max Mueller Bhavan from supporting KASHISH, South Asia’s biggest and India’s only mainstream LGBTQ film festival. The festival will screen 182 films from 53 countries […]

Obama hails all mothers, including transgenders

Obama hails all mothers, including transgenders

Transgender Mothers received recognition in US President Barak Obama’s  ‘Mothers’ Day Proclamation’. In his 2016 Mother’s Day proclamation, President Obama included a new class of mothers in his announcement: transgenders. “On Mother’s Day, we celebrate those who are first to welcome us into the world,” Obama began. “Performing the most important work there is, mothers […]

Transgenders as sub-inspectors in TN

Transgender K Prithika Yashini and 21 other transgenders were appointed as Sub-inspectors  of police by City Police Commissioner Smith Saran after undergoing medical check-up on Monday. The candidates will train in Chennai, police said. But Yamini had to fight for her rights. Yashini had appealed the Madras High Court after her application was rejected by the Tamil […]