LGBTQ+ rights
On a hot New York night in 1969, a police raid on a gay bar reshaped millions of lives. The raid on the Stonewall Inn led to riots as hundreds of members of the LGBTQ+ community fought back. At that time, same-sex relationships were criminalised in most US states and across many other countries. Couples had to meet in secret, unable to express their sexuality and feelings openly. Today, Pride events take place in over 150 cities around the world, and same-sex marriage is legal in 26 countries. But there remain 72 countries where same-sex marriage is illegal, and 1,612 trans people were killed in hate crimes between 2008 and 2014. Read about LGBTQ+ rights, their history and their future in the stories below.
Stories
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Elliot Page: I am transgender, says Juno star
Could this be a turning point for the film industry? A Hollywood icon has embraced his gender identity. Some say it is a landmark not only for him, but for the trans actors of tomorrow.
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‘It doesn’t matter about your sexuality’
Is Strictly Come Dancing a force for good? Some see its same-sex announcement as profit-driven publicity-seeking, while others celebrate it as a positive step towards social change.
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Virtual Pride keeps flame alive despite virus
Is Pride more important than ever this year? As evidence emerges showing LGBTQ+ people suffer disproportionately during the lockdown, the event tomorrow will keep celebrations alive.
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‘Third gender’ model becomes Vogue cover star
Is there really a third gender? Estrella Vazquez says her appearance in Vogue is a ‘huge moment’, just weeks after a stunning photo exhibition spotlighted Tahiti’s genderless Mahu community.
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Nearly 50% are open to same-sex experiences
Is everyone a little bit gay? A new poll has found that four in 10 people are open to a same-sex experience. The number rises among young people. Is sexuality more fluid than we think?
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The struggle for the true meaning of Pride
Should Pride be a protest or a party? We are halfway through LGBT Pride Month. But alongside the parades and celebrations, there are fears that hard-won gay rights are under threat.
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Queer Eye takes on the world’s ‘miserable men’
Can five gay men save masculinity? The third season of Netflix’s Queer Eye is released today. Its mission: to help struggling men who “can’t articulate what they’re truly feeling.”
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Straight actors get Oscar nods for gay roles
Yesterday, seven straight actors received Oscar nominations for playing LGBT film roles — more than a third of the total. And yet there were no openly gay actors on the list. Is this fair?
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LGBT pupils and the long fight for acceptance
Are LGBT relationships truly accepted in 2018? Almost half of LGBT pupils are bullied at school, but campaigners say inclusive sex education could be the key to ending discrimination.
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Final phase in fight to decide your own gender
Should you be able to choose your own gender? As public consultation on the Gender Recognition Act closes, some feminists claim that letting trans people “self-identify” could harm women’s...
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‘Android’ Janelle Monáe comes out as pansexual
Do labels matter? For years, singer Janelle Monáe insisted that she “only dates androids”. Now, in an interview with Rolling Stone, she has said that she is pansexual....
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Meet Hollywood’s first gay teen blockbuster
Did Love, Simon arrive too late? The romantic comedy is the first mainstream teen movie to feature a gay character in the leading role. But some...
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How LGBT icon Edie Windsor changed America
Is history made by sudden changes, or “countless small acts of persistence”? For Barack Obama, it is the latter — and Edith “Edie” Windsor, who died on Tuesday, was the perfect example.
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‘Now for Britain’s first gay footballer’
The chairman of the FA has said it would be ‘impossible’ for a gay football player to come out. Homosexuality has been legal for 49 years, so why has football not moved with the times?
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Orlando attack: gay rights progress in doubt
Last weekend saw the worst hate crime against LGBT people in the West since the Holocaust. Gay people around the world face a struggle for acceptance and tolerance. Is progress slowing down?
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Vanity Fair cover hailed as trans landmark
Transgender Olympic medallist Caitlyn Jenner has revealed her new name and look on the cover of Vanity Fair. How can celebrity culture help us to understand minority identities?
