The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a report titled Estimates and characteristics of LGBTI+ populations in Australia, per its website. Among the key takeaways were that an estimated 4.5% of Australians 16 years and older are LGBTI+; about 0.9% of Australians 16 years and over are trans and gender diverse, including trans men, trans women and non-binary people; and that 9.5% of residents ages 16-24 identify as LGBTI+, decreasing to 1.5% of people 75 and older.
In a landmark pro-LGBTQ+ decision, the Constitutional Court of Lithuania ruled that Article 4(2)(16) of the Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information violates multiple sections of the Constitution, per the Lithuanian Gay League, or LGL. Two of the key facets of the ruling is that information about diverse family models and interpersonal relationships cannot be automatically deemed inappropriate for minors; and that the law doesn’t uphold respect for human rights, dignity, and democratic values of equality, pluralism and tolerance. Because of the law, in 2012, LGL’s Baltic Pride advertisement faced restrictions, being allowed to air only after 11 p.m. with an “adults only” rating.
President-elect Donald Trump named Richard Grenell as an envoy for special missions primarily involving foreign policy challenges—a newly created position that will not require Senate confirmation, according to LGBTQ Nation, citing the AP. Grenell, who is gay, was the ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term. Sources told Politico that Grenell’s business dealings in foreign countries and reputation as a “prickly” and “less than diplomatic” demeanor may have sunk his chances of getting the secretary of state job he wanted; Trump nominated Marco Rubio for that position instead.
When Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral reopened earlier this month, celebrants at a Mass to mark the occasion wore special vestments—inspired, in part, by the artistry of the late gay artist/activist Keith Haring, New Ways Ministry noted. Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac included “shard-like patches in red, blue, yellow and green flocking” around a gold-faced cross. Per The New York Times, “de Castelbajac said the shards, which he cut and glued to the fabric himself, represented the cathedral’s stained glass windows and were arranged to recall ‘Radiant Baby,’ an image by the pop artist Keith Haring of a crawling infant framed by rays of light. Mr. Haring, who died in 1990 from an AIDS-related illness, was a friend of Mr. de Castelbajac’s.”
India held its very first Catholic conference on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the fall in the city of Pune, according to New Ways Ministry, citing Matters India. Bridge and Embrace, a Catholic LGBTQ+ ministry in India, organized the event, titled “Gender and Sexual Minorities in India: A Synodal Approach to Pastoral Care and Social Inclusion.” The event drew more than 200 attendees, including LGBTQ+ Catholics and representatives from 40 dioceses. Speakers included Chris Vella and Marianne Duddy-Burke from the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC); Global Interfaith Network director Father Toni Kruger-Ayerbazibwe; Louisa Grech, from Drachma, an LGBTQ+ Catholic group in Malta; and Rev. Asir Ebenezer, a leader of the National Council of Churches in India.
The court in Douala, Cameroon, has now released all but one of the 13 people who were arrested on homosexuality-related charges after a Sept. 30 police raid on the offices of the pro-LGBTQ+ group Alternatives Cameroon, according to Erasing 76 Crimes. During a Dec. 18 hearing, the judges ordered the provisional release of two of the three remaining prisoners: Alternatives Cameroon peer educators Oumarou Ousmanou and Fotie Zidane. The remaining prisoner at New Bell Prison is Alternatives Cameroon psychological counselor Denis Watonwa, who is accused of having sexual relations with a boy at the group’s offices. The next hearing in the case is slated for Jan. 22.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament that he believed legalizing marriage equality would make the country happier—but he doesn’t plan to bring forward legislation to make that happen, per The Washington Blade. “Compared to other prime ministers, there is a big difference in Ishiba’s tone, his direction and his outlook and we are clearly getting to the stage for Japan to take the next step in the right direction,” marriage equality activist Alexander Dmitrenko told This Week in Asia. Earlier this month, a third appellate court found that the ban on same-sex marriage violates the Japanese constitution.
In the Philippines, government employees can now dress according to their gender identity, The Washington Blade noted. Workers have to wear specific locally inspired outfits on Mondays and have been required to wear gender-conforming casual office attire on other workdays. And In another positive development for queer Filipinos, Globe Telecom—one of the country’s largest mobile providers—will provide spousal benefits to same-sex partners of its employees.
Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin (she/they) released an open letter addressing what it accomplished in 2024. Among other things, the organization held OutSummit 2024, as the flagship global meeting, taking on a hybrid format, brought together more than 85 countries’ worth of activists, allies and changemakers; released the reports Empowering Identity: The Case for Self-Determined Legal Gender Recognition and They Know What We Don’t: Meaningful Inclusion of LGBTIQ People in Humanitarian Action; and a United Nations collaboration that resulted in the UN adopting its first-ever resolution addressing intersex rights.
King Charles III attended a special Advent service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street in London, co-hosted by the 175-year-old Jesuit parish and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), according to Independent Catholic News. Later, the king met representatives of the London-based Iraqi Christian diaspora—and met with members of Farm Street Church, including those involved in outreach initiatives supporting the homeless and others in need, representatives of Westminster LGBTQ+ Catholics, and friends and benefactors of ACN.
The future of PinkNews—the world’s largest LGBTQ+ website—is rocky after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct were made against Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James, the couple who run the outlet, The Guardian reported. Recently, Downing Street called the claims against Cohen and James “very concerning,” and James was suspended from his role at the Bedfordshire hospitals NHS foundation trust. “It’s horrific to hear these allegations, especially for the journalists working there. There’s not many LGBTQ+ publications in the UK, especially ones with this sort of financial backing and influence,” said investigative journalist Finbarr Toesland, who authored a study that found queer journalists face an increasingly hostile environment in the UK.
Chick-fil-A is back for a second British invasion and prepared to take on the opposition with plans to open five stores simultaneously, per LGBTQ Nation. This time it’s backed by a PR team and the chain hopes the approval of a respected LGBTQ+-rights organization will help ease things. The $20-billion chain—privately owned and managed by the devout Cathy family from headquarters in Atlanta—plans to launch spots in 2025 across London, Liverpool, Leeds and Belfast, Northern Island, where it will have two locations. Chick-fil-A’s PR team pointed to the example of UK LGBTQ+ advocacy group Stonewall’s support for the company as evidence the company has found its way; however, a Stonewall rep put a spin on the PR spin, saying, “We frequently have conversations with companies and organizations at various stages on their journey to becoming more inclusive workplaces for their employees, including those who are considering locations in the UK.”
Scottish resident Alan Edward—a Neo-Nazi and former journalist who wanted an LGBTQ+ group to “pay in blood”—has been sentenced to 15 years in jail, per PinkNews. Edward, from Falkirk, had been found guilty of a number of crimes at the High Court in Sterling in September. On WhatsApp, he detailed an attack against a Falkirk LGBTQ+ group and reportedly said, “They have been pushing their luck for years, now they will pay in blood. We should get masked up and go do a few of them in at their little gay club.” Other messages targeted Jewish people and communists. Edward reportedly “idolized” Norwegian neo-Nazi mass murderer Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people in a terrorist attack in 2011.
Geri Halliwell-Horner (aka Ginger Spice) revealed that she is honoring her late close friend, the singer George Michael, by continuing the charity work he was so passionate about, according to Hello! The former Spice Girl singer gave a reading at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s (NSPCC’s) Merry Little Christmas Concert in December, telling the audience that Michael “passed the baton onto me after he sadly died.” Michael famously supported the children’s charity and its counselling service, Childline, until he passed away on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53. Halliwell-Horner is carrying on his work as an NSPCC Ambassador for Childhood.
Out Australian actress/model Ruby Rose is mourning the passing of her father, Just Jared noted. Rose (Batwoman; Orange Is the New Black) posted on Instagram Stories, ““RIP Dad. You leave me. Alone. With so many complex emotions.” In a subsequent post, Rose provided details: “I am glad we reconnected a few years ago, not because you had changed all that much, not because it brought me all that much joy. It’s actually been very hard. You know that. You were very hard. I cut you off twice in that time lol. Once for a year. But our last emails were right before you died. Mine was a kind email and I’m glad.” Rose also revealed that her father Rose endured a chaotic childhood and suffered abuse while at St. Augustine’s Boys’ Orphanage and other boys’ homes across Melbourne, per The Daily Mail. She also criticized former Christian Brother William Houston, who is currently in jail after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting two boys at St. Augustine’s.
Openly gay actor Stephen Fry is facing backlash for withdrawing support for the LGBTQ+ organization Stonewall, PinkNews noted. Fry—who has previously refused to criticize Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s anti-trans views—made the comments on the Triggernometry podcast, a “free speech YouTube show.” During the interview, host Konstantin Kisin challenged Fry’s support of Stonewall—to which he responded, “Do I? I am not sure I do support them.” Fry said previously supported the group’s efforts to equalize the age of consent and legalize same-sex marriage but has “no interest in supporting this current wave of nonsensical [policies].” Reaction to Fry’s position was swift, with members of the trans community expressing their disappointment and anger in a Reddit thread titled “another celebrity disappointment.”
British lawmaker Luke Pollard, 44, was criticized after posting a photo with his husband, as some people seemingly can’t deal with the age gap between the two, Queerty noted. Pollard—a Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, and minister of the armed forces—is married to contemporary dancer Sydney Robertson, who’s originally from Hong Kong. While some people posted responses like “What a lovely picture of you and your son,” others pointed out that former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 60, is 24 years older than his wife, so anyone criticizing Pollard should “just be honest about what your real problem is.”
Netflix has ordered a second season of The Boyfriend, which is famously Japan’s very first same-sex reality show, per The Hollywood Reporter. The first season, which debuted July 9, won over viewers and critics both globally and in Japan, landing on Netflix’s weekly top-10 list of most-watched series for six consecutive weeks. The first season featured nine gay or bisexual men living together in a luxury house called “The Green Room.” There were no alliances or eliminations; the show’s goal was to simply have the participants find friendship—or love.
World of Wonder revealed that Australian queen Lazy Susan was crowned the next Down Under Drag Race Superstar in the final episode of season four of the series Drag Race Down Under, a press release noted. The crowning took place live at an intimate finale viewing party at Universal Sydney on Oxford Street that was hosted by entertainment reporter Justin Hill. This is the second time an Australian queen captured the crown, following last year’s win by Isis Avis Loren (Melbourne); previous winners, Kita Mean (season one) and Spankie Jackzon (season two) are both from New Zealand.
Netflix and FIFA have agreed to a deal for the streaming giant to have exclusive United States broadcasting rights to the next two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, ESPN reported. The 2027 edition of the World Cup is set for Brazil; no host has been finalized for the 2031 tournament. Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup played in Australia and New Zealand after the United States earned the two previous titles. Fox has the men’s World Cup deal through 2026, which cleared the way for FIFA’s separate bidding process.
The post WORLD Australia stats, Lithuania, gay envoy, Notre Dame appeared first on Windy City Times.