Bangladeshi LGBTQ rights activist addresses European asylum conference. Logo of the conference Shaping Tomorrow: Queer Asylum in Europe Factual reporting on LGBTQ rights abuses is crucial when refugees from violence-plagued nations seek asylum in more peaceful lands. That was a message delivered by Bangladeshi human rights advocate Shahanur Islam at last month’s conference Shaping Tomorrow: Queer Asylum in Europe. The …

Five men arrested on homosexuality charges as they prepare for a fashion show. Map of Senegal shows the capital, Dakar. (Map courtesy of AFP) The West African nation of Senegal is continuing a police crackdown on gay citizens. In the latest incident, reported in Senenews, police in the city of Thiès, just outside the capital city of Dakar, arrested five …

‘Anti-LGBTQ propaganda’ ban follows in the footsteps of Russia and Uganda. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Noushad Thekkayil photo courtesy of Euractiv / NurPhoto / Getty Images) A bill to ban so-called LGBTQ propaganda won approval from the Kazakhstan Senate yesterday, which sent it on to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his signature, which he is expected to give. The bill would …

Kazakhstan Senate stalls bill that lower house approved unanimously. Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstant (Photo courtesy of Expedia.com) An anti-LGBTQ+ bill has stalled in Kazakhstan, but apparently not because Kazakh legislators are concerned about LGBTQ+ rights. The bill had unanimously passed the lower chamber of parliament on Nov. 12, but the Senate announced the bill had been postponed “indefinitely” …

Plans to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms in Seattle during the World Cup next summer will continue despite objections from the Egyptian and Iranian football federations over the “Pride Match” due to take place in the city. Seattle organisers have confirmed that they are “moving forward as planned” with Pride activities in the city when Egypt face Iran in Group …

Election results continue St. Lucia’s increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ community. St. Lucia carnival scene (Photo courtesy of St. Lucia Tourist Authority)   The Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia continued its progress in LGBTQ rights and acceptance last week, as the governing Labour Party overwhelmingly defeated an electoral challenge from the opposition United Workers Party, which ran an anti-LGBT …

Now please help us replenish funds supporting our advocacy journalism.  Word cloud showing the names (pseudonyms) of the 56 prisoners for whom Project Not Alone has won early release. Eight gay men and two lesbians have been set free this year in Cameroon and Nigeria because of readers’ donations to Project Not Alone, which helps the innocent victims of African …

Homophobic raids in Senegal have continued since August. The Grand Mosque of Dakar in Senegal (Photo courtesy of Le Monde) Police in Senegal arrested 15 LGBT people on charges of “unnatural acts” last weekend, continuing a series of anti-LGBT arrests that stretches back at least to last summer. The string of arrests and court judgments were reported by the Tribune …

We free innocent LGBT prisoners, which isn’t cheap. Now we need donations. Erasing 76 Crimes  needs your financial support for its work advancing LGBT rights. Click the image to donate via our financial sponsor, the St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation. Project Not Alone has completed its fundraising for 2025 and soon will celebrate the release of the year’s entire …

Ibtissame Betty Lachgar was sentenced to 30 months for ‘Allah is lesbian’ T-Shirt Morocco LGBT activist Ibtissame “Betty” Lachgar is suffering ailing health in prison. (Photo courtesy of Change.org) Hundreds of organizations have joined the Free Betty Coalition, seeking the release of Moroccan activist Ibtissame “Betty” Lachgar from a three-year prison sentence. Lachgar, 50, is a feminist/atheist/LGBT activist who was …