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Pussy Riot Members Sentenced to 2 Years for Offending Russian Orthodox Church

By The Editors

…that… We are grateful to all those who, free themselves, speak out in our support. There are a vast number, I know. I know that a huge number of Orthodox people are standing up for us. They are praying for us outside the courtroom, for the members of Pussy Riot who are incarcerated. We’ve seen the little booklets Orthodox people are handing out with prayers for those in prison. This shows that there isn’t a unified social group of Orthodox believ…

‘Anti-Romeo’ Vigilante Squads Target Men Suspected Of Being Gay; More in the Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…iamentary vote on marriage equality even though polls show strong majority support. Business leaders have been among vocal supporters of equality, and the Sydney Morning Herald reports that they have launched a new campaign, which came “in stark defiance of Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s advice to ‘stick to their knitting’.” The initiative invites customers to order one of 250,000 specially-commissioned rings bearing the phrase “until we all…

Intolerance in Indonesia Extends to Religious Minorities; Lutheran Church in Norway OK’s Same-Sex Marriage, But Not in Finland; Catholic Church Warns Australian CEOs to Back Off Marriage Equality Support; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…. Australia: Catholic Church Urges Companies to Back Off Marriage Equality Support The Catholic Church in Australia continues its aggressive campaign to block marriage equality. Fairfax Media reported that the Archdiocese of Sydney contacted corporate CEOs who have publicly spported the Australian Marriage Equality (AME) campaign urging them to back off. Archdiocese of Sydney business manager Michael Digges previously wrote to corporations feature…

Religious Traditionalists Resist Marriage Equality, Artist Questions What Is “Un-African” & More in This Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…are rotten, corrupt and unhappy people, and they are condemned to death.” Australia: Interview with openly gay imam on Islamophobia and homophobia At Vice, Mahmood Fazal profiles and interviews Imam Nur, “Australia’s first openly gay Imam,” who discusses the prejudice he has received both for being Muslim and for being gay. We don’t need to tell you that being a gay Imam—the Islamic equivalent of a priest—is controversial. As Australia throws its…

Spiritual Unplugging, Or What to Do When There is Wifi at the Ashram

By Matt Hamilton

…self-interrogation boiled, my hand extended to the right. I reached for my phone, but I found nothing. At first I laughed at my instinct, my muscle memory. The phone, with its glowing screen, gave me solace and control. But I was tied to my cushion for another hour, and in this ashram for another day, so email would have to wait. I panicked. My heart raced. Would my editor be asking for me? Would a reply from that politician’s secretary sit unansw…

Marriage Vote ‘Transforms’ Not-So-Catholic Ireland; Activist to Malaysian PM – ‘Love Is Not Terrorism’; LGBTs Find Growing Acceptance in Colombia, Not At World Meeting of Families; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…he schools are legally permitted to discriminate on the basis of religion. Australia: Marriage opponents claim their voices are stifled; former PM shifts to support The BBC’s Wendy Frew reports from the ongoing marriage equality debate in Australia that Lyle Shelton, managing director of a Christian lobby group, said that earlier legal changes to address discrimination against same-sex couples had allowed “people to have dignity,” but marriage equ…

Indonesian Court Rejects Religious Conservatives’ Bid To Criminalize Gay Sex; More in Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…t all for same-sex couples who want to marry or have a civil partnership.” Australia: Marriage equality take effect; continuing debate expected on religious exemptions Capping a years-long lobbying effort, a national referendum-by-mail, and a quick post-vote legislative push, marriage equality became law on December 9 with an overwhelming vote in parliament. Just after the vote, Australia’s ambassador to France popped the question to his partner o…

Will International Criminal Court Bring Charges Against ISIS For Gender-Based Persecution?; And More in Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…ed on religious beliefs. A Lonergan Research poll found that 65 percent of Australians support marriage equality and that 49 percent of Australians believe that service providers with religious objections to same-sex marriage should be permitted to refuse to serve same-sex couples’ weddings. At New Ways Ministry, Robert Shine reviews recent comments by several Catholic leaders in Australia and New Zealand. that several Catholics in Australia and N…

‘Open Mosque’ in South Africa Receives Threats; ‘Blood Test’ for ‘Degeneratism’: Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…en married in the city since the marriage equality law took effect in May. Australia: Independent Territory Set to Pass Marriage Equality Law Last year, Australia’s High Court struck down marriage equality legislation that had been passed by the Australian Capital Territory, saying it conflicted with federal legislation that does not recognize marriage by same-sex couples. But this week the self-governing territory of Norfolk Island – about halfwa…

More Bleak Times For Indonesian LGBTs; South Africa Bans Extremist Anti-Gay US Pastor; Mexican Marriage Struggle Heats Up; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…buke from lesbian comedian Rebecca Shaw. According to a report by Guardian Australia, the government is planning to include “extensive exemptions” to nondiscrimination laws in the event that the plebiscite endorses marriage equality. A government note said the amendments would “include appropriate protections for religious freedom and conscientious objections.” Long-time marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome told Guardian Australia he was “deep…