Local news

November 20, 2008 - UK: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Children, Young People and Families has said that new guidance is being developed for schools on gender and gender identity.

November 20, 2008 - Chicago, US: Withdrawel of proposal to create Chicago's Social Justice High School: Pride Campus.

November 11, 2008 - Indonesia’s transgendered community has found a place of refuge for religious practices and Koran studies in the islamic school “Senin-Kamis”.

November 04, 2008 - A colloquium with Michael Sakamoto was held at the UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures in Los Angeles, about the presence of gay males in historically female dominated dance ceremonies in northern Thai regions.

November 03, 2008 - Tiruchi, India: Bharathidasan University has come forward to offer free education and job training to bring about academic and economic inclusion of transgenders through its Centre for Distance Education.

October 31, 2008 - The Pacific Sexual Diversity Network (PSDN) today called on Pacific governments and regional institutions to address issues affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) and other vulnerable populations in the response to HIV/AIDS in the Pacific.

October 24, 2008 - In late October a new thematic television channel will be launched by the Association of Gay (LGTB) Disabled on the Internet. It will be named Disabled Gay Television.

October 24, 2008 - According to Malaysia's National Fatwa Council women are supposed to behave and look like women. Short hair and acting masculine is a sin according to the Council and should be forbidden.

October 23, 2008 - SOS homophobie in partnership with ILGA-Europe will be hosting a seminar on the topic of support to victims of violence and monitoring and reporting of violence targeting LGBT people.

October 16, 2008 - Public school officials in Chicago, Illinois, are recommending approval of a "gay-friendly" high school because harassment and violence are causing gay students to skip class and drop out at alarming rates.

October 08, 2008 - To allow transvestites and homosexuals to practice the Muslim religion with complete freedom, a Koranic school was specifically created for them in a hamlet not far from Jogjakarta, a town of Java, Indonesia.

August 20, 2008 - The family of a Californian gay teenager who was fatally shot in class blames the school district for allowing their son to wear makeup and feminine clothing to school -- factors the family claims led to the death.

August 15, 2008 - In a meeting with senators, directors of universities, corporations and the Ministry of Education, the Chilean LGBT organization Movilh suggested 10 articles of the General Law of Education (LGE). The intention is to denounce all discrimination regarding sexual orientation or gender identity.

August 15, 2008 - Transgender Europe (TGEU) www.tgeu.org, with the support of the UK’s extremely successful activist organisation, Press for Change (PFC) www.pfc.org.uk and the International Lesbian and Gay Association of Europe (ILGA-Europe) www.ilga-europe.org , is now taking applications for a training project aimed at giving new activists the tools and support they need to get out and work change in their communities.

June 13, 2008 - The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and lesbian-led groups in Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines are marking the confluence of 3 important events—the 16 Days of Activism Campaign to end violence against women, the international launches of the Yogyakarta Principles, and the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

June 12, 2008 - From 15 - 18 February 2009, an International Conference on Gender-based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health will be organized in Mumbai, India.

June 06, 2008 - Yesterday, the Dutch Gay School Coalition presented a benchmark for local safer school policy. The benchmark consists of 10 criteria for successful local policy. The coalition will use the benchmark engage in a discussion with local authorities on effective local strategies.

June 01, 2008 - Last month, the Argentinean government and the provincial authorities agreed on basic content directive for sex education curricula, which will be implemented all over the country. The basic content will be mandatory for students of state schools, private and religious schools. The outline includes the diversity in relationships, prevention of the sexual abuse, relationships between genders and respect of the diversity of identities.

May 19, 2008 - The matter came up for final arguments today, 19.05.2008 before Justice Sikri and Justice Midha. On behalf of the Petitioner, Naz Foundation India, Advocate Anand Grover gave a historical background of S 377. He referred to the text of S 377 and expanded on certain key words. The final arguments will now continue the day after, 21 May 2008 (Wed).

May 14, 2008 - The project's goal is to assess the needs of the LGBTQ community's different generations. It wants to explore the generational gap between younger and older LGBTQ. An integral part of this will include research on intergenerational issues by drawing on academic literature, policy papers as well as state-of-the-art existing projects.

May 14, 2008 - The German expertise centre KomBi (Communication and Education) offers a training “Strategies and Practical Tools Challenging Homophobia and Gender-based Discrimination in formal and non-formal Education for Teachers and Trainers” in October (19th - 24th, 2008).

May 14, 2008 - The courses offer sensitization workshops for all the professionals of public schools in the State of Rio De Janeiro. The intention is to unmask the presumption of tolerance, by showing the reality of discrimination and present violence in the daily practice of the school.

May 10, 2008 - "Corrective Rape" at schools in the Western Cape is a growing concern, say non-governmental organisations, some of who have noted an "alarming" level of cases.

May 08, 2008 - The Canadian Fondation Émergence chose healthcare as a theme for IDAHO (the International Day Against Homophobia) in 2008.

March 22, 2008 - A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking guidelines for non-discrimination against persons who undergo sex change has been filed in the Delhi High Court.

March 08, 2008 - YOU AND ME CELEBREATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8TH MARCH 2008@ PROTHOMA THE TRANSGENDER SHLETER HOME 95, NARKELDANGA MAIN ROAD, KOLKATA -54 FROM 1700 HRS ONWARDS Prothoma – the Transgender shelter home and crisis intervention center in association with People Like Us (PLUS) Kolkata and United Nation Development Program (UNDP) observing the International Women’s Day, 8th March ‘08, at the shelter home premises. The sexuality and gender expression related movement always following the same path, process and vision of women’s movement world wide to fight against patriarchy. Observing the International women’s day The Transgender shelter home and the transgender community in Kolkata are trubiliting the women’s movement and sharing the sorrow pain and joy together. On the same day Prothoma is launching a campaign to strengthen the Commitment to Protect the Young and Vulnerable transgender, especially to reach out to the young transgender from socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society. The theme being All Equal All Different, the campaign encouraging Young transgender to TAKE CONTROL, MAKE DECISIONS was focused on linking EQUALITY IN DECISION MAKING.

January 11, 2008 - The conference will be held in Brasilia (DC) - Brazil.

January 07, 2008 - A controversial UNICEF-NACO manual on sex education is expected to come out with necessary changes by January 2008. The manual, however, will be put for field-testing before being distributed to the teachers. ''The review of the earlier manual is being carried out and the revised module will be out by January. However, we will put it for field testing to get the feedback of teachers and parents before publishing it,'' said NACO chief K Sujatha Rao. Views and opinions of teachers and parents will be registered on the NACO website.

December 15, 2007 - On 14 December 2007, Grupo Dignidade, a non-governmental lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans organization in Curitiba (southern Brazil), inaugurated the Prof. Dr. Luiz Mott Documentation Centre

December 12, 2007 - Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines, a network of LGBT and LGBT-friendly groups and individuals that seek to promote positive visibility for the LGBT community, organizes the 2007 Manila Pride March

December 12, 2007 - Team Pilipinas works on the strengthening and promotion of human rights, sexual diversity and equality through sports, culture and recreation

November 21, 2007 - Join the 2007 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride March 8 December 2007. Assembly: 3:00 PM, Rajah Sulayman Park, Malate Manila

November 03, 2007 - Sex education

October 21, 2007 - In the end of September 2007, the Indian Parliament Member Kanimozhi spoke at a seminar in Chennai to underscore the need for initiatives for bringing the transgendered to the mainstream.

October 21, 2007 - The Parliamentary Committee on Petitions has decided to consult a cross-section of people for a national debate on the introduction of sex education in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools all over the country.

October 17, 2007 - Play with Asia Pacific neighbors Melbourne, come party with Team Pilipinas at BED this Saturday

October 10, 2007 - The Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights Team Pilipinas is currently coordinating participation of Filipina and Filipino heterosexuals and LGBTIQs in the inaugural Asia Pacific Outgames in Melbourne next year.

September 21, 2007 - Press Release by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)

September 18, 2007 - Plan skirts touchy issues, offers tips on tricky situations

September 09, 2007 - Montgomery County - Groups opposed to the new sexual education curriculum in Montgomery County Public Schools are asking a Circuit Court judge to prevent controversial lessons on homosexuality from being taught until an appeal can be heard early next year

September 07, 2007 - The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) has released a report showing that ethnic and religious minorities face discrimination and disadvantage across European education systems.

September 07, 2007 - Pratibha Patil, India’s first female president, has vowed to eliminate the practice of aborting female foetuses and to empower women, who are often treated as second-class citizens.

September 06, 2007 - Director Parvez Sharma, producer Sandi DuBowski and Faisal Alam announce the world premiere of “A Jihad for Love” at The Toronto International Film Festival, September 6-16, 2007.

September 03, 2007 - As a new school year starts, the organisation SOS homophobie has published the results of a survey on schools which it says are “instructive”: “Yes, homophobia in schools is a reality. No, the national education system is not doing what it should to comba

August 13, 2007 - Allegations of misogyny and homophobia - University steps in to protect liberal values

August 10, 2007 - Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, or PFOX, seud school

August 07, 2007 - A gay-rights group plans to protest the decision

August 06, 2007 - A major survey of Britain's secondary schools has revealed that almost two thirds of lesbian and gay pupils (156,000 children) have been victims of homophobic bullying.

August 06, 2007 - Social networking websites are seen by some teachers as the latest weapon of the school bully - prompting unions to call for them to be banned.

August 03, 2007 - The education minister has welcomed the proposals to tackle classroom bullying

August 03, 2007 - Sex abstinence programmes do not stop risky sexual behaviour

August 03, 2007 - The Netherlands is to step up pressure for gay rights in countries

August 01, 2007 - The Secretary for the Ministry of Higher Education, said that 'effeminate' men would not be able to become teachers in this country.

July 31, 2007 - The newly-appointed Children's Minister has strongly condemned anti-gay bullying and the casual use of homophobic language in schools.

July 26, 2007 - A collective of Polish teachers, psychologists and education specialists have published a national on-line petition in order to protest against new Polish Ministry of National Education guidelines in order to 'unify' education and schools in Poland.

July 13, 2007 - Citizen coalition launches protest against incorrect medical information and rejection of free choice of students.

June 27, 2007 - Authorities in the central state of Madhya Pradesh are planning to ban sales of Crezendo condoms, which have a “vibrating ring” in each pack.

June 25, 2007 - Nepal gets a gay beauty salon, which offers training to the local LGBT community as well.

May 16, 2007 - The number of reports of sexual abuse, sexual intimidation and physical and mental violence in schools has increased by 40 percent in the last academic year. This is shown by figures from the Dutch Education Service Inspectorate.

April 27, 2007 - According to a public survey undertaken by the psychotherapy institute A. T. Beck in Rome, 58% of gay teenagers in Italy have considered suicide at least once.

April 04, 2007 - Teachers in Geneva have been warned: if they had any ideas of raising their pupils’ awareness on the theme of intolerance, including homophobia, they could be accused of “homosexual propaganda”.

March 28, 2007 - For more than a month the Bilgi Rainbow LGBT Club, which was created by a group of about fifteen people, has been welcoming students from the Bilgi University in Istanbul. It is the first of its kind in the country.

March 08, 2007 - The Spanish bishops are resuming their pilgrimage to denounce the new citizenship subject which is to be taught in schools from the beginning of the next school year.

February 13, 2007 - A pilot project is currently under way in the province of Gauteng (north) to raise teachers’ and pupils’ awareness of homosexuality, the South African newspaper the Daily News has announced, as reported on the information website IOL.

January 02, 2007 - In Thailand if your hair is too long the teacher will cut a chunk out of it. A German pupil, Josephin Werner [16], [on a year’s exchange in Thailand], is still constantly surprised by the conventions at her Thai high school – even after two months there.

November 01, 2006 - A new teachers’ handbook on diversity in schools is now available to Walloon teaching staff. The handbook was compiled at the initiative of Ms Marie Arena, the Minister-President of the French Community of Belgium.