Michael Lavers
Three LGBTI Activists Killed in Mexico
Three well-known LGBTI rights advocates in the Mexican state of Guerrero were killed over the weekend. Authorities on Sunday found the bodies of Rubén Estrada, Roberto Vega and Carlos Uriel L√≥pez in Taxco, a city between the state capital of [...]
UK Ambassador Urges Countries to Decriminalize Homosexuality
British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch on Friday urged Commonwealth countries that have yet to decriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations to do so. "We just urge all of our friends and partners in other countries around the world to move [...]
Cuba LGBTI Delegation Includes Christine Quinn, D.C. Activist
A 14-member delegation that included former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and an LGBTI rights activist from D.C. traveled to Cuba earlier this month. The Center for Democracy in the Americas delegation arrived in Havana on May 11 and [...]
N.H. Governor Signs Two Pro-LGBT Bills
Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Friday signed two LGBT rights bills into law. Sununu signed House Bill 1319, which adds gender identity to New Hampshire's nondiscrimination law. He also signed House Bill 587, which bans so-called [...]
Bermuda Marriage Repeal Law Declared Unconstitutional
Bermuda Supreme Court Chief Justice Ian R. C. Kawaley on Wednesday ruled a law that rescinded marriage rights for same-sex couples in the British island territory is unconstitutional. Kawaley issued his ruling five days after the Domestic [...]
Pope to gay sex abuse victim: 'God Loves You'
A gay man from Chile who was sexually abused by a priest said Pope Francis told him earlier this month that God "loves you." Juan Carlos Cruz and two other victims of Rev. Fernando Karadima — José Murillo and James Hamilton — met with Francis at the [...]
Canada Joins Global LGBTI Rights Initiative
Canada is the latest country to join a U.S. initiative that seeks to promote LGBTI rights around the world. The State Department and the Canadian government in a May 17 press release that announced Canada joined the Global Equality Fund said both [...]
N.H. Senate Approves Transgender Rights Bill
The New Hampshire Senate on Wednesday by a 14-10 vote margin approved a bill that would add gender identity to the state's nondiscrimination law. State Sen. Bette Lasky (D-Nashua) described House Bill 1319 as "a common sense New Hampshire bill." [...]
Daniela Vega to Attend IDAHOT Events in Cuba
The transgender actress who starred in "A Fantastic Woman" will travel to Cuba next month for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The National Center for Sexual Education — the group known by the Spanish acronym CENESEX that [...]
Power Restored to Gay Puerto Rico Hairdresser's Hurricane-Damaged Home
A gay hairdresser in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico who the Washington Blade profiled in February has had electricity restored to his home. Electricity was restored to the house in which Ricky Santiago and his family live in the Candelero [...]
Vocal Marriage Opponent Loses Costa Rica Presidential Election
A vocal opponent of marriage rights for same-sex couples on Sunday lost the second round of Costa Rica's presidential election. Official results indicate Fabricio Alvarado lost to Carlos Alvarado by a 39-61 percent margin. Fabricio Alvarado — a [...]
Widow of Pulse Nightclub Gunman Acquitted
A jury on Friday acquitted Noor Salman of charges that she helped her husband carry out the 2016 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Federal prosecutors charged Salman with obstruction of justice and providing material support to a [...]