HEADLINES
Events: Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival:
Celebrating its 7th year, the Human Rights Festival returns for the 2025 edition at Johannesburg's Constitution Hill from 20 to 23 March.
More Countries Cut Foreign Aid, Endangering Marginalised Communities:
What began with the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to US foreign aid has now become a global trend, with other countries following suit.
ANC Youth League Slammed Over LGBTQIA+ Focus in Abuse Case:
The ANC Youth League in KZN has been criticised for drawing attention to the LGBTQIA+ identity of an individual accused of molesting a child.
In Pictures: Cape Town Pride 2025:
Relive the magic of the 2025 Cape Town Pride parade and mardi gras with this stunning gallery of images of the big queer day out.
Newly Launched Mr Gay Universe Pageant to Debut in India:
An exciting new LGBTQIA+ addition to the international pageant world, Mr Gay Universe, a contest for gay men, has been unveiled.
Zackie Achmat: The Hate You Give – On Being Queer and Muslim in Cape Town:
Following the execution of openly gay imam Muhsin Hendricks, Zackie Achmat reflects on the dangerous ways religious communities fuel hate.
Confusion Over the Status of Mr Gay World Contest:
There’s confusion on social media about the status of the longstanding Mr Gay World event after a series of seemingly conflicting posts.
A Battle for Dignity: My Journey to Access Gender-Affirming Care in Botswana:
Phio Kenosi’s story exposes the reality of accessing gender-affirming care in Botswana, battling both bureaucracy and discrimination.
Lesotho: LGBTQI+ Group Denies Trump’s $8 Million Funding Claim:
The largest LGBTQI+ group in Lesotho responds to President Trump's claim that the US gave the country $8 million to "promote" LGBTQI+ rights.
Why Has Bisexual Identity Doubled in One European City? What Does it Tell Us About Global Trends?:
Stockholm reflects a global rise in diverse sexual identities, with an increase in people identifying as bisexual across many countries.
Dion George, SA’s First Gay Male Govt Minister, Made History at Cape Town Pride:
Dion George made history at Cape Town Pride 2025 with a powerful speech as South Africa’s first out and proud gay male cabinet minister.
Texas: Bill Seeks to Criminalise Being Transgender as ‘Gender Identity Fraud’:
A shocking new bill in the US state of Texas aims to make identifying as transgender the felony offence of "gender identity fraud".
Ghana: Despair as Extreme Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Returns to Parliament:
The queer community in Ghana is under renewed threat for identifying as LGBTQ+ after lawmakers revived a draconian anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
After Gay Imam Muhsin Hendricks’s Murder, a Cape Town Imam Spreads Hate:
Cape Town's Sheikh Jameel Adams has been accused of implicitly condoning the recent murder of gay imam Muhsin Hendricks.
Hungary Plans to Push Pride Back into the Closet:
Hungary’s populist right-wing government declares it will no longer “tolerate” public Pride events, insisting they should be held indoors.
#JusticeforMuhsin: Gay Imam Remembered at Cape Town Pride:
Cape Town Pride celebrated queerness, love and inclusion, while paying tribute to fallen community members, like Imam Muhsin Hendricks.
Indonesia: Two Gay Students Flogged as Dozens Watch in Degrading Spectacle:
Two men in Indonesia have been publicly flogged after being found guilty by a Sharia court of engaging in a consensual same-sex relationship.
Trans Woman Stands Her Ground After Stadium Bathroom Incident in Cape Town:
A Cape Town trans woman refused to back down after she was discriminated against by a security official at the Green Point Athletic Stadium.
End of an Era: Trump Permanently Shuts Down USAID Programmes in South Africa:
The Trump administration has permanently shut down USAID programmes providing vital health services to the LGBTIQ+ community in South Africa.
South Africa LGBTIQ+ Rights Watch: January 2025:
An overview of LGBTIQ+ rights violations, hate speech incidents and updates in South Africa in January 2025, collated by OUT and MambaOnline.