HRC Outraged at Bangladesh Arrests, Outing of 28 Men

Post submitted by Jay Gilliam, Senior Global Programs Officer, with contributions from HRC Global Fellow

On Thursday, May 18, Bangladeshi authorities stormed a community center on the outskirts of Dhaka and arrested 28 men who were attending a private gathering. Even more shocking than the arrests, authorities outed these men, and local media published information on their identities. Despite being charged with illegal drug use, police forcefully made them stand in front of the media during a press conference where police outed them as ‘homosexual’ men. This is the first time police held a press conference where they publicly outed members of the LGBTQ community. Local media continue to show videos and pictures of arrestees from the press conference, videos of which have since gone viral and further jeopardize the lives of these men.

In a country where LGBTQ people face tremendous violence and discrimination, private gatherings and parties have long served as a safe shelter for the community to meet, socialize, and organize. While this isn’t the first time police have raided LGBTQ gatherings, this is one of the first times police have made arrests after a raid.

This is a gross violation of the basic human rights, putting the lives of these men in extreme danger. This is also a new level of pressure on the LGBTQ community in Bangladesh, and the community is terrified. Bangladeshis recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of the murders of two gay men, Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy, for their LGBTQ work. Given last year’s murders, this brazen act will no doubt threaten the lives of these 28 men.

Police detained all men, mostly aged 20-25, for two days before going to court on May 20. Police sought to remand each of the 28 arrestees for 10 days to get more information on gay groups in Bangladesh, which had nothing to do with the original charge of possessing illegal drugs. (Remand is when a court sends an accused person back into custody to await further proceedings. This procedure has been used by police in Bangladesh to extract confessions through coercion.) The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka rejected bail petition for all and approved two days remand for four men in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.

Bangladesh is one of several South Asian countries that continue to criminalize LGBTQ people using an archaic British colonial-era law known as Section 377. Despite the presence of several LGBTQ rights organizations in the country, sexual and gender minorities in the country face severe social and economic challenges as well as violence, discrimination and even murder.

HRC urges the Bangladeshi government to take immediate action to uphold the human rights of these men by stopping targeted arrests of people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, respecting their rights to privacy, and releasing them immediately.

HRC Global advocates for LGBTQ equality around the world through fellowships, partnerships and research. We stand with Bangladeshi advocates as they continue their important work to bring equality for LGBTQ people in their country. Read more about our work here.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-outraged-at-bangladesh-arrests-outing-of-28-men?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

This pop star wants to come out — but producers think staying in the closet is best
Producers warn that stars who come out as gay wind up pigeonholed into “the gay scene.”

www.queerty.com/pop-star-wants-come-producers-think-staying-closet-best-20170522?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Marriage Equality May Arrive in Taiwan This Week, Possibly Making It a First In Asia

The decades-long work of activists across the vast continent of Asia to achieve marriage equality may finally bear fruit this week in Taiwan. The country’s Constitutional Court is expected to issue a ruling on May 24 on a marriage equality case brought by a veteran LGBTQ activist with support from authorities in the capital city, Taipei.

Two HRC Global Innovators —  Jennifer Lu, from the inaugural HRC’s Global Innovative Advocacy Summit class in 2016, and Sean Sih-Cheng Du, from this year’s class — have been working with the Marriage Equality Coalition in Taiwan.

Lu, who represents the coalition in a national marriage equality dialogue with the government, is also a former candidate for a parliamentary seat. In recent messages to HRC Global, she has expressed optimism about the coming decision. “In our prediction, the result…might stand closer to our side,” she said.

Regardless of the court’s ruling, the National Yuan, or legislature, will need to enact legislation or reconcile an existing bill to facilitate the decision. The three potential outcomes are full marriage equality, civil unions, or some other form of recognition for same-sex relationships.

Lu, Du and the Marriage Equality Coalition plan to launch a campaign on the day of the verdict to press the National Yuan for swift action to carry out the letter and spirit of the ruling.

The odds of achieving marriage equality in Taiwan increased dramatically last January when Taiwan elected pro-equality candidate Tsai Ing-Wen as the country’s first female president. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party, the president publicly declared her support for marriage equality in a short video in October 2015 on the day of Taipei Pride. Three HRC staff were on the ground in Taipei that day, marching alongside more than 80,000 people. Taipei Pride that year set the record as Asia’s largest ever Pride gathering.

Polls show that a large majority of the Taiwanese public support marriage equality, despite vocal opposition from a small, but influential, Christian fundamentalist minority.   

HRC Global sends our best wishes to Global Innovators Lu, Du and their LGBTQ colleagues in Taiwan through a video message as they await the outcome of the court’s decision.

Read more about our work supporting Taiwanese activists and advocates all around the world here.

www.hrc.org/blog/marriage-equality-may-arrive-in-taiwan-this-week-possibly-making-it-a-first?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

A milestone year: fifth annual Bisexual Book Awards announced

www.glaad.org/blog/milestone-year-fifth-annual-bisexual-book-awards-announced

NYT: Gay Russians Face Discrimination in Brooklyn

Gay Russians gathered to speak about the importance of being out in their communities at Brighton Beach Pride.

www.advocate.com/politics/2017/5/22/nyt-gay-russians-face-discrimination-brooklyn

We identified the performers in Katy Perry’s ‘Swish Swish’ on SNL
The girls were out in force.

www.queerty.com/identified-performers-katy-perrys-swish-swish-snl-20170522?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Festival Funtime: Now It’s a Party in Las Vegas

Why watch one performance when you can watch dozens in one place? That’s the beauty of a music festival, and it’s even better when it takes place in Las Vegas.

 ENJOY AN OVERLOAD FOR THE SENSES AT EDC

Three nights of nonstop electronic dance music on multiple stages from the top music producers on the planet. There’s nothing like the Electric Daisy Carnival, June 16−18, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Multiple stages pumping out pulsating sounds, combined with carnival rides you won’t believe, art installations, and more. It’s where technology meets nature, where you can follow a path from a green garden into an expansive, majestic field, filled with other kindred music-lovers, all moving to the same beat.

Wander, explore, and unlock the energy while you make your way to Carnival Square, a social hangout with more free games, a central stage for performers, photo ops, a light painting booth and much more. It’s a weekend you’ll be talking about year-round.

SEE WHY LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL IN LAS VEGAS

Downtown Las Vegas becomes one huge party Sept. 22−24 when Life Is Beautiful returns. Along with some of music’s top acts like Chance the Rapper, Muse, and the Gorillaz performing on four stages throughout Fremont Street and neighboring blocks in the heart of historic downtown Las Vegas, Life Is Beautiful features the best local cuisine in the culinary villages. You can listen to powerful speakers in an amplified setting, laugh at the comedy showcase, and be visually stimulated by murals and immersive artwork throughout the festival grounds.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROUTE 91 HARVEST FESTIVAL

Country music fans, giddy up to Las Vegas from Sept. 29−Oct. 1 for three days and nights of singing, dancing and celebrating with your favorite artists! The Route 91 Harvest Festival returns to the Las Vegas Village and features such country superstars as Sam Hunt, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, Maren Morris, Lauren Alaina, Big & Rich, and many more. It’s a party you won’t wanna miss, right on the Las Vegas Strip!

EXPERIENCE ALL-DAY FUN AT IHEARTRADIO DAYTIME VILLAGE

There’s no need to wait until dark to have fun in the Entertainment Capital of the World. On September 23, the music begins at 11 a.m. at the Las Vegas Village as Flume, French Montana, Noah Cyrus, Judah & The Lion, Kelsea Ballerini, Hey Violet and All Time Low headline a day of outdoor fun during the iHeartRadio Daytime Village, all part of the massive iHeartRadio weekend in Las Vegas.

Make your plans to take part in a Las Vegas music festival for an experience you’ll never forget! To learn more about all things Vegas go to VisitLasVegas.com.

The post Festival Funtime: Now It’s a Party in Las Vegas appeared first on Towleroad.

Festival Funtime: Now It’s a Party in Las Vegas

HRC Mourns the Loss of Sherrell Faulkner, a Trans Woman Attacked in November

HRC mourns the tragic loss of Sherrell Faulkner, a transgender woman of color, who died last week of injuries sustained during an attack last November in Charlotte, North Carolina. Faulkner was 46.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Faulkner was found near a dumpster in a LGBTQ-friendly part of the city. Her death marks the 11th transgender person to die as a result of violence in the U.S. in 2017. Twenty-two trans women were killed in the U.S. last year.

“Our hearts are heavy with the news of the death of Sherrell Faulkner,” said Ames Simmons, the Director of Transgender Policy at Equality NC and a member of HRC’s Board of Directors. “We must address the root causes of violence against our community, and we cannot rest until the violence stops.”

At the time of the attack, North Carolina’s House Bill (HB) 2 was still on the books. HB2 was an outrageous and unprecedented anti-LGBTQ law that eliminated existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people and living wage ordinances and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. The legislation also barred transgender people from some public restrooms and other facilities matching their gender identity.

HB2 has since been replaced by HB142 , which still prohibits LGBTQ people from achieveing full equality. The legislation passed would effectively ban LGBTQ non-discrimination protections statewide through 2020 and permanently bar cities from passing laws that ensure transgender people can access facilities in accordance with their identity.

Police are now treating the assault as a homicide. No arrests have been made at this point.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or visit their website here.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-mourns-the-loss-of-sherrell-faulkner-a-trans-woman-attacked-in-november?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

104 Pics That Prove Long Beach Has the Nation’s Best Pride

www.advocate.com/pride/2017/5/22/104-pics-prove-long-beach-has-nations-best-pride