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The world celebrates International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on May 17. To mark the occasion, ILGA Europe — a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTQ+) rights group — is publishing its latest Rainbow Map based on 2023 data. The Rainbow Map, which has been published annually for 11 years now, ranks European countries on their LGBTQ+ rights. It does so according to range of criteria including LGBTQ+ equality, protection from hate crime and discrimination, societal integration and sexual self-determination. Which countries are leading the way This year, Malta tops the ranking as Europe's most progressive country for LGBTQ+ rights, scoring 88 out of 100 possible points. Iceland follows in second with 83 points. EU states Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Denmark, Finland and Greece also scored highly, each with over 70 points. Roughly speaking, Europe's northern and western states tend to have stronger LGBTQ+ rights than other countries on the continent. Russia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, for example, are the lowest-ranked countries. Poland, meanwhile, occupies the lowest out of all EU states with a mere 17 points due to a decade of conservative PiS party rule. Following the change of government last year, Poland may rise up the ranking next year. Italy undoing progress The situation has worsened for Italy's LGBTQ+ people since the far-right Brothers of Italy, League and Forza Italia coalition government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took over in 2022. For years, Italy has been in the bottom third of the ILGA ranking due to inequality regarding parenthood, adoption and marriage rights, says Katrin Hugendubel, who coordinates policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work at ILGA Europe. Meloni is using these legal loopholes to enforce her idea of families made up of heterosexual parents only. "Laws are important for protecting us against political change," Hugendubel told DW. "And we are not seeing see much improvement at the moment."
Self-determination The ranking of European states has not changed much in recent times because there are hardly any initiatives to enshrine queer rights in law, according to Hugendubel. Germany is a notable exception, which passed a gender self-determination law in spring. Such self-determination is possible only in 11 of the 49 European countries ranked. "While some countries, including Germany, have made progress, there is stagnation in others, meaning no new laws are being passed," Hugendubel said. "This comes at a very dangerous time with hatred and violence on the rise, and governments trying to undermine human rights, especially those of LGBTQ+ people." The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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It is important to note that the woke movement is a complex and diverse phenomenon, encompassing a range of perspectives and approaches. Its historical base is multifaceted and draws from various social, intellectual, and cultural movements that have challenged inequality and advocated for social justice.
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Switzerland's Nemo has won the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), which was held on Saturday in the Swedish city of Malmo.
Swiss rapper and singer presented "The Code", a drum and bass, opera, rap and rock song about Nemo's journey of self-discovery as a non-binary person. 24-year-old Nemo is the first non-binary winner of the contest and also the first Swiss winner since 1988, when Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion competed under the Swiss flag. At a press conference following the win, Nemo expressed pride in accepting the trophy for "people that are daring to be themselves and people that need to be heard and need to be understood." "We need more compassion, we need more empathy," he said. Meanwhile, Croatia's Baby Lasagna, whose real name is Marko Purisic, came second with "Rim Tim Tagi Dim." The Ukrainian duo Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil placed third with "Teresa & Maria." Out of a total of 25 finalists, Germany landed in 12th place with singer Isaak's "Always on the run." The winner of the competition is determined by the votes of television viewers in Europe and around the world. These votes are combined with those of juries of music professionals in each of the 37 participating countries. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Increasing numbers of young people in Japan are adopting a new type of marital relationship that requires neither love nor sex, in a trend called “friendship marriage”.
Around one per cent of Japan’s population of 124 million are possible candidates for the arrangement. They include asexual individuals, homosexuals, and heterosexuals who are disillusioned with traditional marriage. The figures come from data collected by Colorus, an agency that claims to be the first and only one in Japan that specialises in friendship marriages. Since the agency’s inception in March 2015, about 500 members have formed friendship marriage households, and some have raised children. The Peet Journal finds out more about the trend. What is it? Friendship marriage is defined as “a cohabitating relationship based on shared interests and values.” It is not about traditional romantic love or marrying a best friend. In such relationships, the partners are legally spouses, but without romantic love or sexual interaction. Couples may live together or separately. If they decide to have children, they might decide to use artificial insemination. Both individuals are free to pursue romantic relationships with other people outside the marriage, as long as there is mutual agreement. “Friendship marriage is like finding a roommate with similar interests,” explained someone who has been in such an arrangement for three years. “I’m not suited to be someone’s girlfriend, but I can be a good friend. I only wanted someone with similar tastes to do things we both enjoy, to chat and laugh with,” another said. Before marrying, couples usually spend hours or days agreeing on the details of their life, such as whether to eat meals together, how to split expenses, who does the laundry, and how to allocate refrigerator space. Such discussions may seem unromantic, but they have helped about 80 per cent of couples to live happily together and in many cases have children, Colorus said. Who does it? Individuals interested in friendship marriage are, on average, 32.5 years old with incomes exceeding the national average, and about 85 per cent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to Colorus. The trend is particularly appealing to asexual individuals and homosexuals. Many asexuals, who are unable to feel sexual desire or fall in love, still crave connection and companionship. Homosexuals may opt for friendship marriages as an alternative because same-sex marriage is not legal in Japan. Some heterosexual young people, who dislike traditional marriage patterns or romantic relationships, but are subject to societal pressures, have also been embracing the new trend. About 75 per cent of Japanese in their thirties still view marriage as a life goal, as reported by the Japanese Cabinet Office. However, 47.2 per cent of Japanese married couples have not had sex in the past month, and the number is rising, a 2016 survey showed. Seeking alternatives to traditional marriage, people have turned to friendship marriage to present a “stable and mature” image for career advancement or to please their parents. In Japan, being married has tax benefits and it remains very difficult for single women to have children. More than 70 per cent of partners in friendship marriages did so to have children. Although these types of relationships sometimes end in divorce, the advantages include enjoying policy benefits, companionship and “helping those who feel lost, dislike traditional marriage, or consider themselves social outcasts”, Colorus said. Outside Japan Worldwide, young people are increasingly exploring relationship arrangements beyond traditional marriage norms. Two 24-year-old women from Singapore, who have been close friends since childhood, decided to become life partners and live together in Los Angeles. Their relationship is not sexual. In China, a growing number of young people are choosing to buy houses and live with close friends. Marriage lawyer Zhao Li uses a common Chinese saying, “More than friends, less than lovers” to describe friendship marriage and emphasises the importance of signing a prenuptial agreement. “Although a non-sexual marriage might not be for everyone, it is not necessarily unhealthy or abnormal,” said Ma Xiaonian, a Chinese doctor with more than 30 years experience in sex education and relevant research. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Why is May Masturbation Month?5/2/2024 By now, social media and random pop-up ads have (hopefully!) informed you that May is, in fact, masturbation month. You know the rules: knead your love muffin obsessively and thank your lucky stars that the clit exists. Oh, and make sure you're doing it to the right sort of fantasy. Turns out, there is actual history—imagine that!—behind masturbation month. Back in 1994, Dr. Joycelyn Elders was the Surgeon General here in the US. Elders was extremely progressive for the time, which 20 years ago simply meant that she was a huge proponent of sex ed (and decriminalizing most drugs, but that's a story for another day). She famously said: As per your specific question in regard to masturbation, I think that is something that is a part of human sexuality and it's a part of something that perhaps should be taught. But we've not even taught our children the very basics She meant that we should teach kids that it's okay to masturbate. Spin media decided that her message was: "let's bring some dildos to class and teach these kindergartners to have some fun!" Not the situation Elders was suggesting. She later went on to explain that masturbation could prevent the spread of AIDS; unfortunately, her bold statements led to a forced resignation. Politicians (both Republican and Democrat) took a break from worshipping Voldemort in their bat caves to jump for joy. Our buddy Newt Gingrich said, "it's good for the country and good for the President that she's departed." Not everyone agreed. Notorious sex shop Good Vibrations took action in 1995 and declared May National Masturbation Month. Since then, it's grown to International Masturbation Month. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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The Iraqi parliament has passed an anti-gay law. The law allows anyone in a same-sex relationship to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
The law was mainly supported by the conservative Shiite political parties, which form the largest coalition in the predominantly Muslim parliament. Parliament also announced penalties for transgender people. For this purpose, an amendment to an anti-prostitution law from 1988 was approved. "Biological sex change based on personal desires" will now be punishable. Transgender people and doctors who perform gender reassignment surgery risk prison sentences of three years. Men who "consciously dress femininely" are now also punishable. Taboo Until the law's passage, there were no laws explicitly against homosexuality in Iraq. However, it was already a taboo in conservative Iraqi society. In the past, however, several LGBTI people were convicted of, for example, sodomy. Several LGBTI people have also been murdered in the past by individuals and armed groups. An earlier bill stated that same-sex relationships could lead to the death penalty. However, this was adjusted after pressure from Europe and the United States, among others. 'Seriously concerned' The US State Department said it was "gravely concerned" about the approval of the new law. “Limiting the rights of certain people in a society undermines the rights of everyone.” The US also warns that these types of laws threaten the country economically. “International business coalitions have already said that such discrimination in Iraq will harm business and economic growth in the country.” The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reacted negatively. "Criminalizing homosexuality goes directly against the international agreements that Iraq has agreed to." The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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When the protagonists of the gay-romance drama "Cutie Pie," Lian Kilen Wang and Kuea Keerati, tied the knot at the end of the series, they did so knowing that their marriage would not be legally recognized, even in the fictional world of Thailand's "boy-love" TV shows.
But now, in real life, that is about to change, as Thailand is set to join Taiwan and Nepal as the only places in Asia to allow same-sex marriage. Cutie Pie, which has an assertive pro-LGBTQ+ stance, is one of many shows in a genre called Boy's Love (BL). These shows focus on romantic relationships between two male characters, and are mainly enjoyed by a primarily straight female audience. "What the Thai BL industry is already working on is increasing the visibility of LGBTQ+ people," said Natthanai Prasannam, associate professor of Thai literary and cultural studies at Kasetsart University in Bangkok. Thailand's BL series have attracted a large following internationally, especially in Asia — including China where the government bans the genre — and even in South America. Last year, rom-com "My School President" starring Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak and Fourth Nattawat Jirochtikul racked up at least 150 million views on different streaming platforms. Given the main actors' chemistry on and off screen, the cast held live meet-and-greets with fans all over Asia — from South Korea and Japan to the Philippines and Singapore. Some fans have even started learning Thai. "I started learning the language myself several months ago because I wanted to understand what my favourite 'couple pairing' says," Rose, a 19-year-old fan in China. Thailand now has a reputation as an exporter of "boy-love" series. In 2020, when the breakout show "2gether" was aired, there were only 24 BL shows. Last year, over 60 series were released, according to local media. "The popularity of the Thai BL industry is closely linked to the fact that we produce more than other countries due to legal, religious and cultural factors," Natthanai said. He added that the actors' charisma, coupled with the extensive interactions between the actors and their fans through meet-and-greet events, and social media also contribute to its success. Perpetuating gender stereotypes? While portraying the lives of queer communities gives them more representation, there are concerns over stereotypical gender roles assigned to the lead couples in the Thai BL shows. Many of them follow traditional heterosexual norms, with one person taller and more masculine while the other is usually smaller and more feminine, according to Bangkok-based data center Rocket Media Lab, which studied 13 Thai BL series aired between 2020 and early 2021. Critics have also pointed out that these series don't reflect the real diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand. "You don't really see flamboyantly gay people in the shows. When you do, they exist as props or funny characters," said Jason, who has been a BL fan for a decade. But some experts say this trend is gradually changing. "Effeminate gays are being shown more in the media and portrayed as empowered individuals. This is a significant development," Nattanai said. "But we must not forget that BL series' role to increase LGBTQ+ awareness cannot take place without other changes such as the attitude of the audience or the public and that of the government," he added. Mixed feelings from LGBTQ+ community While Thailand enjoys a welcoming reputation for these BL series, some say the characters are free of the real-life obstacles that many queer people have to go through. Instead, the majority focus more on marketable scenes and romantic tensions between the leading couples. "I like watching these boy-love series because, for me, they have become a source of escapism, everything is so easy," said Jason, who is part of the Thai LGBTQ+ community. Nearly 60% of the Thai BL series produced in the past decade do not address real-world problems faced by LGBTQ+ community, according to Thailand's online newspaper The Matter. "Sometimes some scenes are oversimplified, for example, when they come out to their family and friends, they are either immediately accepted for who they are or people would say 'I've known for a while, no big deal.' But in real life, it's not that simple, especially when you are not from a big city," Jason said. But he admits that reinforcing the normalization of the queer experience — even if current portrayals can still be problematic — does help change public perceptions, especially those of more conservative older generations. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Close to one out of three (28%) Americans between the ages of 18 and 25, known as Generation Z, identified as LGBTQ in a survey published earlier this week by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
The figure was the largest percentage recorded for any generation by the pollster, which conducted its research during August and September on a sample of over 6,600 people. Nearly half of the non-heterosexual Gen Zers said they were bisexual, amounting to 15% of all Gen Z adults. Gays and lesbians (5% of total) were outnumbered by “other” (8%). Generation Z was far more likely to identify as something other than straight than previous generations. Among millennials, 16% said they were some form of LGBTQ, with gays and lesbians nearly as common as bisexuals (5% vs 7%). Among Generation X, gays and lesbians actually outnumbered bisexuals (3% vs 2%) among the 7% of the total age group who said they weren’t heterosexual. Even fewer Baby Boomers (4%) and members of the Silent Generation (3%) said they were LGBTQ. Generation Z was also more racially diverse than any other age group surveyed. Just 52% of adults – and only 50% of teens – described themselves as white, compared to 62% of the total US population. Additionally, they were less likely to politically identify as Republican and more likely to identify as liberal. The survey even suggested there are more LGBTQ Gen Zers than there are Gen Z Republicans, who comprise just 21% of the age group compared to 27% of the total population.The PRRI did not speculate on possible reasons for the trend, which has accompanied a rapid liberalization of attitudes about homosexuality in American society. Despite this shift, 20% of Gen Z adults said they had experienced hostility or discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Homosexual acts only stopped being a federal crime in the US following the 2003 Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas, though many states had already scrapped their sodomy laws by this time. The 2014 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalized same-sex marriage, which had been illegal across the US since 1996. Individual states have since been required to license and perform such marriages, while same-sex couples have been able to adopt children. Just 35 UN member states allow same-sex marriage. While the PRRI’s numbers echoed previous surveys showing Generation Z is the most LGBT and liberal group to come of age in the US yet, the percentage who identified as something other than heterosexual was significantly higher in this week’s findings than in a similar poll by Gallup last year, which found 19.7% of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 26 self-identified as LGBTQ, compared to 7.2% of the general population. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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