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Image: Sofia Toscano/colprensa/dpa/picture alliance

LGBTQ+ rights

LGBTQ+ rights are human and civil rights, but the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people vary worldwide. In June and July, LGBTQ+ people and their allies across the globe celebrate Pride.

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All Content on this topic

A hand holds onto a police tape which ready 'police line, do not cross'

Gay-rights lawyer uses fiery death to fight pollution

David Buckel's body was found in a New York City park with an apparent suicide note in a nearby shopping cart.
Law and JusticeApril 15, 2018
Weibo

China's Weibo bans homosexual content

A rallying cry by users saw the hashtag "I am gay" also blocked by Chinese internet censors.
MediaApril 15, 2018
Protesters in Zagreb

Croatia ratifies women's rights convention

Croatian lawmakers have backed a treaty safeguarding women and girls despite right-wing and Catholic opposition.
Law and JusticeApril 13, 2018
Two Kenyan men kissing

Kenyan court case seeks to legalize homosexuality.

Homosexual relationships are a crime in most African countries. A court case in Kenya seeks to change this.
SocietyApril 6, 2018
Photographic series "NAKED", by Romanian artist Tiberiu Capudean

Naked against homophobia

The photo series "Naked" shows over 200 nude gay men, in an effort to tackle homophobia, body shaming and racism.
SocietyApril 4, 2018
“My father was born between the two World Wars. I never told him about my sexuality. I never told my mother either. I studied medicine. Soon after graduating university, I fell in love with a man. (...) My family thought that he was my best friend. Unfortunately, he died 16 years later. After a while, I met my second partner. We were together for six years and we decided to open a bistro in the center of Paris. It was a great time. (...) Then, after 14 years together, he died also. We were never married. Not because we didn’t want to. We did. But we couldn’t. It was illegal. Therefore, I’m not entitled to survivorship pension. I work as a tailor now. Luckily, I can take care of myself. But I don’t think it’s fair. I’m happy that nowadays in France men can marry other men. I think it should have been possible long ago.”

One photographer and 200 naked men fighting for diversity

Artist Tiberiu Capudean captured black and white photographs of 200 naked gay men, in an effort to tackle homophobia.
SocietyApril 4, 201812 images
The first homosexual male wedding in New Zealand

New Zealand passes law to clear gay sex convictions

The law will allow hundreds of men to have convictions for homosexual offences erased from their criminal records.
Law and JusticeApril 4, 2018
Candidates Fabricio Alvarado and Carlos Alvarado during a TV debate

Costa Rica votes in presidential run-off

A regional court ruling in January that mandated gay marraiges be allowed sparked the national divide.
PoliticsApril 1, 2018
Marvia Malik, Pakistan's first transgender news anchor

Transgender anchor: 'I struggled a lot to be accepted'

In a DW interview, Marvia Malik says she had to work very hard to be accepted by Pakistani society.
SocietyMarch 28, 2018
Protest against Trump's transgender ban

Trump reissues order banning transgender troops

In a revised directive, President Trump has said transgender troops are a considerable risk to military effectiveness
PoliticsMarch 24, 2018
Kenyan supporters of the LGBT community stage a protest

LGBT rights: Kenya court outlaws anal exams

Rights groups have hailed the ruling as a "tremendous step" for gay rights in the conservative country.
Human RightsMarch 22, 2018
DW MIG

Ise Bosch, heiress and benefactor

Ise Bosch uses her wealth to support projects that benefit women and LGBTQI communities worldwide.
BusinessMarch 14, 201804:03 min
London Gay Pride 2017

LGBT tourism eyes new horizons

Tourism has long catered to LGBT travellers. But as acceptance grows.
TravelMarch 12, 2018

Berlin Globals: Finn Ballard

This week's Berlin Global does tours in Berlin which cover all elements of the city’s history from its medieval beginnings to the present day. Groups of tourists book the experienced guide to explore Berlin on foot, by bike, or car. Our reporter Ana Lopez Escudero went with Finn Ballard Tours on a journey discovering Berlin's queer history.
CultureMarch 9, 201802:09 min
Male and female pictograms

Berlin row about sex ed guide for kindergarten teachers

Conservatives are protesting a primer for educators they say teaches kids too much too soon about gender and sex.
PoliticsFebruary 27, 2018
Indonesia LGBT parade in Jakarta

Indonesia could criminalize gay sex, sex outside of marriage

Indonesia's parliament speaker has called for legislative reforms that would outlaw sex outside of marriage and gay sex.
Law and JusticeFebruary 6, 2018
Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning changes face at Berlin's Transmediale show

The whistleblower and transgender activist Chelsea Manning is the subject of key exhibits at this year’s Transmediale.
CultureJanuary 31, 2018
Twitter Screenshot showing Indonesian police conducting raids in Aceh

Indonesian police cut transgender women's hair

Police said the crackdown was aimed at "educating" the transgender women to behave like "normal" men.
SocietyJanuary 29, 2018
Two women hold a baby

European court rules lesbian can't take paternity leave

The European Court of Human Rights dismissed the case, saying paternity leave was only intended for biological fathers.
Law and JusticeJanuary 18, 2018
big grey cement block, man peeers into window

New film for Berlin's memorial to persecuted homosexuals

A film by Israeli multimedia artist Yael Bartana will replace the current loop video at the memorial.
CultureJanuary 12, 2018
2018 Australian Open - Billie Jean King

Australian Open: King wants 'homophobe' stadium renamed

The tennis legend demands Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena be renamed amid backlash over Court's views on sexuality.
SportsJanuary 12, 2018
EU and rainbow flags hanging out of windows

ECJ advised to give residency to gay man's partner

A legal advisor said that according to the freedom of movement directive, the term "spouse" includes same-sex partners.
Law and JusticeJanuary 11, 2018
Transgender model Giuliana Farfalla on the cover of the German edition of Playboy magazine

German Playboy features first transgender model

The magazine has put Giuliana Farfalla on the cover of this month's issue. It is a first for the German publication.
MediaJanuary 11, 2018
Men's Health Cover

Transgender models on magazine covers

Transgender models on magazine covers have been making a splash for years.
CultureJanuary 11, 20189 images
Indian homosexuals demonstrate for their rights

Renewed hope for gay rights in India

India's LGBT community has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to reconsider a ban on gay sex.
SocietyJanuary 9, 2018
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Gay couples wed in Australia

Dozens of same-sex couples have wed in Australia as new laws legalizing gay marriage come into effect.
January 9, 201801:23 min
Australien Hochzeit von Craig Burns und Luke Sullivan in Summergrove Estate

Australians wed as gay marriage reform kicks in

Same-sex couples in Australia tied the knot in midnight ceremonies as the last legal obstacles to gay marriage expired.
SocietyJanuary 9, 2018
Homosexualität in Indien nach 150 Jahren legalisiert

India's top court to reconsider ban on gay sex

Activists have argued that the colonial-era law undermines the constitutional rights of India's LGBT community.
Human RightsJanuary 8, 2018
Sperm

German court deems transgender woman child's legal father

The court ruled that a transgender parent who donated sperm before becoming a woman cannot be a child's mother.
PoliticsJanuary 4, 2018
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Gay in Russia: Freedom in dance

Natalia's mother admits she felt a physical aversion when she learned that her daughter was gay.
December 29, 201702:37 min
Rainbow-colored bracelet placed on Berlin memorial for homosexuals prosecuted under the Nazis

Gay Nazi victim dies without state compensation

The 99-year-old German activist Wolfgang Lauinger, imprisoned in both Nazi Germany and postwar West Germany, has died.
Law and JusticeDecember 22, 2017
Junge Frau und junger Mann lachen

Meet a Palestinian-Canadian lesbian Muslim comedian

Being Muslim in the US these days can actually provide plenty of fodder for a rising comedian.
SocietyDecember 15, 201705:49 min
Symbolbild EU-Erweiterung

Inside Europe 14.12.2017

On today's programme: The EU remains firm on its stance on Jerusalem - Which way will Catalonia vote in the upcoming election? - France introduces drones to catch dangerous drivers - A hitch for gay marriage in Greece - Homelessness in Germany - The Iraqi refugee who doesn’t want to leave Serbia - Migrants adapt to Glaswegian life – Looking for work on the Bus to Go.
PoliticsDecember 15, 201754:59 min
Symbolbild Homosexualität Schwules Paar

Inside Europe: A hitch for gay marriage in Greece

Ten years after the first same-sex, civil marriage was performed on a tiny island in Greece, the country’s Supreme Court has ruled to annul the union. Greece remains one of the last countries in the Europe to bar same-sex marriages. But as Anthee Carassava reports from Athens, activists want to push Greece out of what they call its medieval mindset.
PoliticsDecember 15, 201702:49 min
Symbolbild Deutschland Bundeswehr Soldaten

Transgender troops in Germany's army

A US court ruled that transgender recruits can serve in the military. Germany took that step years ago.
SocietyDecember 13, 2017
A protester against Trump's transgender ban on military service holds up a sign calling for the protection of transgender service members.

US judge clears way for transgender recruits

The ruling means new recruits will be able to join the military as openly transgender as of January 1.
PoliticsDecember 12, 2017
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PrEP pill - the new safe sex?

A new antiviral strategy is taking the gay community by storm: a pill to prevent HIV infection.
HealthDecember 9, 201701:30 min
Russland Sankt Petersburg Umzug von LGBT-Aktivisten

Russian lesbians live with discrimination

About 600,000 women in Russia experience domestic abuse annually, including many lesbians.
SocietyDecember 7, 201703:27 min
Two people hold up signs in favor of same-sex marriage.

Australia passes same-sex marriage bill

The first weddings could take place early next year, after Australia's parliament voted 146 to 4 in favor of the bill.
PoliticsDecember 7, 2017
Demonstrators march through the streets of Vienna to raise awareness of Austrian, Europe and global LGBTI issues.

Austria to legalize gay marriage

A court has ruled that current laws are discriminatory and must be lifted by 2019.
Law and JusticeDecember 5, 2017
LGBTI activists disperse to avoid detention by Turkish police officers in Istanbul

Turkish LGBTI activists fight on

Sexual minorities are among those to feel increasing pressure from authorities in Turkey. But resistance is growing.
SocietyNovember 24, 2017
Rosa von Praunheim wird 75

Filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim turns 75

Shrill, campy and brutally honest: Director Rosa von Praunheim is a pioneer and icon of gay rights in Germany.
CultureNovember 24, 2017
Jeffrey Tambor verlässt die Serie Transparent

'Transparent' actor Jeffrey Tambor leaves series

After allegations of sexual misconduct, Jeffrey Tambor resigns from award-winning Amazon TV series "Transparent."
CultureNovember 20, 2017
Türkei Polizei verhindert Gay Pride-Parade in Istanbul

Ankara bans LGBTI events

A ban on all LGBTI events in Ankara has been issued by its governor's office, citing public safety.
PoliticsNovember 19, 2017
Turkey LGBTI film festival poster

Ankara bans German-language LGBTI festival

Turkish authorities have banned the German LGBTI Film Days festival, citing public security concerns.
CultureNovember 16, 2017
Australia marriage equality

Australian lawmakers start gay marriage law debate

A gay senator has opened the debate in Australia’s parliament on legislation that will lift a ban on same-sex marriage.
Human RightsNovember 16, 2017
external

@dwnews - Australians voted 'yes' to same-sex marriage

SocietyNovember 15, 201704:11 min
external

Tears, glitter and rainbows: Australians celebrate 'Yes' vote

Australians have celebrated across the nation as the country voted overwhelmingly for same-sex marriage on Wednesday, paving the way for legislation by the end of 2017
SocietyNovember 15, 201701:28 min
Tears as voters support an end to the gay marriage ban

Australians vote 'Yes' for gay marriage

Results of a two-month nationwide survey reveal that most of the public support lifting a ban on same-sex marriage.
Human RightsNovember 15, 2017
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@dwnews - Twitter criticised for 'erasing' bisexual content

SocietyNovember 7, 201703:33 min