Fridae

Commonwealth countries will be urged to repeal anti-gay laws, which are still on the books in 41 of 54 Commonwealth member countries, at a leaders' summit to be held in Perth, Australia this week.

Religious authorities in the Indonesian province of Aceh say they are unsure of how to handle a case involving the marriage of two lesbians as same-sex marriages are not dealt with under local Islamic laws.

Fridae's Hong Kong correspondent Nigel Collett provides a long list of examples where the Hong Kong government is seen to have discriminated against its citizens on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and says it's time the government shows leadership and roots out the discrimination practised in its ranks.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stunned many on Monday by calling homosexuality "unnatural", and a "disease" which is "spreading fast" in the country.

The newly proposed criminal code in Nepal is reported to contain provisions which will criminalise "unnatural" sexual acts including same-sex sexual relations. Fridae speaks to Sunil Pant, an activist and Nepal’s first openly gay MP, about the impact of the new laws if approved.

Prominent Singapore gay activist and social commentator Alex Au draws on two recent news stories and cautions against over-focusing on the health benefits and/or the power of the pink dollar in arguing for the repeal of gay sex laws.

"I think it is important for it to be said here in Singapore that there are gay people everywhere and if suddenly all them stood up and said: 'This is me. It's like left-handedness, it's no big deal. Get over it. Have an aspirin. Have a lie down. You'll feel better tomorrow.' And things will be different." – The Hon. Michael Kirby

Defamation and privacy laws are the twin tools of a media lawyer to help his clients control their image. Both try to prevent information or expressions from being published in an attempt to shield a public figure from potential dip in popularity polls. Fridae’s legal columnist George Hwang explains the two.

A group of 19 parents of LGBTs led by Mrs Minna Saran, mother of a young gay filmmaker who died in a road accident, is among the six parties who have filed petitions in support of the 2009 Delhi High Court ruling that decriminalised gay sex.

While it is easy, and often necessary, to express our anger and abhorrence at laws motivated by homophobia, we have to ask where does this bigotry come from...