<p>Britain's Royal Mail is commemorating an LGBTQI+ event in London considered landmark development for gay rights in the UK. Royal Mail has released a set of eight illustrate stamps. These illustrations are made by award-winning artist Sofie Birkin.</p>

<p>On July 1, 1972, a group of people gathered in London's famed Trafalgar Square. The group then marched to Hyde Park chanting &nbsp;“Gay is fun! Gay is proud! Gay is beautiful!”.</p>

<p>Although events of the community had been taking place before, this one was first with the name 'Gay Pride'. The event was inspired by such events that had been taking place in the US.</p>

<p>Homosexuality had been decriminalised in the UK 1967 but police arrests of gay and homosexual men continued even after that. The Pride march of 1973 was organised to demand greater equality in the eye of law for gay people.</p>

<p>“The vibrant, colourful Pride events that take place in towns and cities across the UK today trace their origins to a small number of people who marched through central London half a century ago to raise awareness of discrimination and inequality," said David Gold, the director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail. He was quoted by The Guardian.<br />
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Britain's Royal Mail is commemorating an LGBTQI+ event in London considered landmark development for gay rights in the UK. Royal Mail has released a set of eight illustrate stamps.

Britain's Royal Mail is commemorating an LGBTQI+ event in London considered landmark development for gay rights in the UK. Royal Mail has released a set of eight illustrate stamps. These illustrations are made by award-winning artist Sofie Birkin. On July 1, 1972, a group of people gathered in London's famed Trafalgar Square. The group then marched to Hyde Park chanting “Gay is fun! Gay is proud! Gay is beautiful!”. Although events of the community had been taking place before, this one was first with the name 'Gay Pride'. The event was inspired by such events that had been taking place in the US. Homosexuality had been decriminalised in the UK 1967 but police arrests of gay and homosexual men continued even after that. The Pride march of 1973 was organised to demand greater equality in the eye of law for gay people. “The vibrant, colourful Pride events that take place in towns and cities across the UK today trace their origins to a small number of people who marched through central London half a century ago to raise awareness of discrimination and inequality," said David Gold, the director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail. He was quoted by The Guardian. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Royal Mail releases stamps to commemorate Gay Pride march

<p>Fifty years on from the first Gay Pride march, the LGBT community and their supporters have taken many of their events online, responding to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>The pandemic has forced organisers to move parades, marches and forums online across the world in June for Pride Month, an annual celebration of the LGBTQ community and a renewed call for equal rights.</p>

<p>The first Gay Pride march was held in 1970 in&nbsp;New York, to mark the first anniversary of the city's Stonewall riots, a landmark event in the gay rights struggle.</p>

<p><strong>TAIWAN</strong></p>

<p>Taiwan hosted one of the few pride marches around the world on Sunday as the island's LGTBQ community and their supporters took to the streets.</p>

<p>Taiwan usually holds its main pride march in October but many in the island's LGTBQ community felt it was important to hit the streets in June when so many others around the world could not.</p>

<p>Hundreds of people marched inside Taipei's Liberty Square after summer afternoon rainfall delayed the celebration for an hour as music blasted and many participants wore rainbow coloured face masks.</p>

<p>Many of those attending held placards with the names of major global cities that have been unable to celebrate Pride Month this June because of the coronavirus.</p>

<p><strong>NEW YORK</strong></p>

<p>On Sunday in New York City, the Reclaim Pride Coalition, a group of queer and trans activists, will hold its second annual Queer Liberation March which this year will focus on a protest against racial injustice and demands for police reform.</p>

<p>In the United States, former president Barack Obama released a video message paying tribute to the gay New Yorkers who rioted at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, effectively launching the modern gay rights movement.</p>

<p>"Because of the movement they sparked and the decades of work that followed, marriage equality became the law of the land five years ago and just this month the Supreme Court ruled that employers can no longer discriminate against LGBTQ workers," he said.</p>

<p>Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden issued his own message on video, in which he referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling reaffirming LGBT workers.</p>

<p>"Pride is particularly poignant this year," he said.</p>

<p><img alt="Gay Pride march in New York" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c78c1c5e-c4e8-4b72-9d67-762f09d41814" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/gay%20pride%203.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>BERLIN</strong></p>

<p>In Berlin, police estimated that around 3,500 people marched in temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).</p>

<p>Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted a message of support to the Global Pride event: "Be proud of yourself! No matter who you love, no matter where you live."</p>

<p><strong>VIENNA</strong></p>

<p>In Vienna, around 200 cars and motorbikes decked out in rainbow flags and inflatable unicorns paraded down the city’s famous Ringstrasse on Saturday afternoon.</p>

<p>Organisers said around 5,000 people turned out to watch the scaled-down event. Vienna's Rainbow Parade, which normally attracts hundreds of thousands of people, was otherwise replaced by online events.</p>

<p><strong>LONDON</strong></p>

<p>The online Global Pride event -- running with the slogan "Exist, persist, resist" -- got underway at 0500 GMT in London.</p>

<p>Some events were broadcast on the giant screen in Piccadilly Square and London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, tweeted his support. "We may be apart, but we are still united, as neighbours, as allies, and as one city."</p>

<p>Fronted by singer and drag queen Todrick Hall, known for his role on the American Idol talent show, it also featured stars such as Kesha and Ava Max.</p>

<p>Politicians were also appearing, including Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, whose country has just legalised gay marriage.</p>

<p><img alt="Gay Pride march in Europe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cfa36377-d1b2-4820-bf05-d2d906e74a01" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/gay%20pride%202.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>ARGENTINA</strong></p>

<p>In Argentina, public buildings and monuments will be lit in the rainbow colours of the gay rights movement, and local activists have organised a week of online events, even though Gay Pride is normally celebrated there in November.</p>

<p><strong>MEXICO</strong></p>

<p>In Mexico, some 200 people marched along Paseo de la Reforma, the main avenue in Mexico City, breaking rules to help contain the pandemic which has killed more than 25,000 people in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(with inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>


Fifty years on from the first Gay Pride march, the LGBT community and their supporters have taken many of their events online, responding to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Fifty years on from the first Gay Pride march, the LGBT community and their supporters have taken many of their events online, responding to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has forced organisers to move parades, marches and forums online across the world in June for Pride Month, an annual celebration of the LGBTQ community and a renewed call for equal rights. The first Gay Pride march was held in 1970 in New York, to mark the first anniversary of the city's Stonewall riots, a landmark event in the gay rights struggle. TAIWAN Taiwan hosted one of the few pride marches around the world on Sunday as the island's LGTBQ community and their supporters took to the streets. Taiwan usually holds its main pride march in October but many in the island's LGTBQ community felt it was important to hit the streets in June when so many others around the world could not. Hundreds of people marched inside Taipei's Liberty Square after summer afternoon rainfall delayed the celebration for an hour as music blasted and many participants wore rainbow coloured face masks. Many of those attending held placards with the names of major global cities that have been unable to celebrate Pride Month this June because of the coronavirus. NEW YORK On Sunday in New York City, the Reclaim Pride Coalition, a group of queer and trans activists, will hold its second annual Queer Liberation March which this year will focus on a protest against racial injustice and demands for police reform. In the United States, former president Barack Obama released a video message paying tribute to the gay New Yorkers who rioted at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, effectively launching the modern gay rights movement. "Because of the movement they sparked and the decades of work that followed, marriage equality became the law of the land five years ago and just this month the Supreme Court ruled that employers can no longer discriminate against LGBTQ workers," he said. Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden issued his own message on video, in which he referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling reaffirming LGBT workers. "Pride is particularly poignant this year," he said. BERLIN In Berlin, police estimated that around 3,500 people marched in temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted a message of support to the Global Pride event: "Be proud of yourself! No matter who you love, no matter where you live." VIENNA In Vienna, around 200 cars and motorbikes decked out in rainbow flags and inflatable unicorns paraded down the city’s famous Ringstrasse on Saturday afternoon. Organisers said around 5,000 people turned out to watch the scaled-down event. Vienna's Rainbow Parade, which normally attracts hundreds of thousands of people, was otherwise replaced by online events. LONDON The online Global Pride event -- running with the slogan "Exist, persist, resist" -- got underway at 0500 GMT in London. Some events were broadcast on the giant screen in Piccadilly Square and London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, tweeted his support. "We may be apart, but we are still united, as neighbours, as allies, and as one city." Fronted by singer and drag queen Todrick Hall, known for his role on the American Idol talent show, it also featured stars such as Kesha and Ava Max. Politicians were also appearing, including Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado, whose country has just legalised gay marriage. ARGENTINA In Argentina, public buildings and monuments will be lit in the rainbow colours of the gay rights movement, and local activists have organised a week of online events, even though Gay Pride is normally celebrated there in November. MEXICO In Mexico, some 200 people marched along Paseo de la Reforma, the main avenue in Mexico City, breaking rules to help contain the pandemic which has killed more than 25,000 people in the country. (with inputs from agencies)

LGBTQ Pride Month events go online to mark 50th anniversary; Taiwan holds march

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a landmark civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment, a resounding victory for LGBT rights from a conservative court.

LGBT community applaud Supreme Court ruling

Floats, all-night parties and parades may be out, but the LGBTQ community is returning to its roots by teaming up with black activists for Pride month celebrations in the United States.

Gay Pride embraces its roots by teaming up with U.S. black activists

<p>Floats, all-night parties and parades may be out, but the LGBTQ community is returning to its roots by teaming up with black activists for Pride month celebrations in the United States.</p>

<p>While the coronavirus epidemic has forced the cancellation of traditional Pride events in June, US&nbsp;gay groups are using virtual gatherings to amplify the voices of people of color, whose demands for social justice are taking the nation by storm.</p>

<p>"Pride started as a riot that was led by two women of color at Stonewall 51 years ago," said Sarah Kate Ellis, chief executive of LGBTQ group GLAAD. "It is part protest, part celebration. I am thrilled that we can really be an ally and can be a presenter of pushing for change and locking arms with the Black Lives Matter movement."</p>

<p>Riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969 were spearheaded by transgender activists Marsha P. Johnson, who was black, and Latina Sylvia Rivera.</p>

<p>This year, GLAAD has turned plans for an online drag celebration into a "more substantive discussion around black queer lives," Ellis said.</p>

<p>J. August Richards, a gay black actor on television's "Council of Dads," said he doesn't mind missing out on the usual celebrations because of the momentum from protests sparked by the death of African American George Floyd after a white police kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.</p>

<p>"Right now, this uprising that is occurring - my entire attention is consumed by it," Richards said.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, he is delighted that the LGBTQ community has thrown its weight behind black causes.</p>

<p>"I think it's amazing and I pray it doesn't end here. I hope there is a continued conversation and a continued inclusion," he said.</p>

<p>Not everyone has been so welcoming. Plans by LA Pride to team up with Black Lives Matter for a gathering in Los Angeles were shelved after black activists said they hadn't been sufficiently consulted. Instead, black LGBTQ leaders are organizing a solidarity march to protest racial injustice, and LA Pride is supporting the effort.</p>

<p>But other initiatives are multiplying. Some 100 black, gay executives and entrepreneurs gathered this week for a virtual leadership forum on topics like health and social justice organized by Emil Wilbekin, founder of the Native Son black gay empowerment group.</p>

<p>"Black gay men are stepping up and leading. And I think it's our time, not just to lead, but to actually be the light and to empower our own community," said Wilbekin.</p>


Floats, all-night parties and parades may be out, but the LGBTQ community is returning to its roots by teaming up with black activists for Pride month celebrations in the United States. While the coronavirus epidemic has forced the cancellation of traditional Pride events in June, US gay groups are using virtual gatherings to amplify the voices of people of color, whose demands for social justice are taking the nation by storm. "Pride started as a riot that was led by two women of color at Stonewall 51 years ago," said Sarah Kate Ellis, chief executive of LGBTQ group GLAAD. "It is part protest, part celebration. I am thrilled that we can really be an ally and can be a presenter of pushing for change and locking arms with the Black Lives Matter movement." Riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969 were spearheaded by transgender activists Marsha P. Johnson, who was black, and Latina Sylvia Rivera. This year, GLAAD has turned plans for an online drag celebration into a "more substantive discussion around black queer lives," Ellis said. J. August Richards, a gay black actor on television's "Council of Dads," said he doesn't mind missing out on the usual celebrations because of the momentum from protests sparked by the death of African American George Floyd after a white police kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. "Right now, this uprising that is occurring - my entire attention is consumed by it," Richards said. Nevertheless, he is delighted that the LGBTQ community has thrown its weight behind black causes. "I think it's amazing and I pray it doesn't end here. I hope there is a continued conversation and a continued inclusion," he said. Not everyone has been so welcoming. Plans by LA Pride to team up with Black Lives Matter for a gathering in Los Angeles were shelved after black activists said they hadn't been sufficiently consulted. Instead, black LGBTQ leaders are organizing a solidarity march to protest racial injustice, and LA Pride is supporting the effort. But other initiatives are multiplying. Some 100 black, gay executives and entrepreneurs gathered this week for a virtual leadership forum on topics like health and social justice organized by Emil Wilbekin, founder of the Native Son black gay empowerment group. "Black gay men are stepping up and leading. And I think it's our time, not just to lead, but to actually be the light and to empower our own community," said Wilbekin.

Gay Pride embraces its roots by teaming up with US black activists

<p>Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe.</p>

<p>The marchers converged on the Spanish capital's main Atocha train station for the start of the festivities. The 400,000 figure was later given by police.</p>

<p>The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" and participants marked 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 which were the foundation of the gay rights movement worldwide.</p>

<p>Catholic Spain at the time was controlled by dictator General Francisco Franco and homosexual acts were illegal. Thousands of gay people were shipped off to rehabilitation centres or even jailed.</p>

<p>Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1978, three year's after Franco's death, since when Spain has become one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world, authorising gay marriage and adoptions by gay couples in 2005.</p>

<p>"I'm 53 years old and I have suffered," said Manuel Carmona, carrying a large rainbow flag for Saturday's march.</p>

<p>"But those who are 63-years-old suffered more and those who are 73-years-old even more and I want us to recognise these people who have helped us," added Carmona, who has been attending the pride march for 30 years.</p>

<p><strong>Resurgent homophobia</strong></p>

<p>Madrid's city hall swung to the right in June after a conservative candidate was elected mayor with the support of newly-emerged far-right party Vox, in a move that has caused concern in Spain.</p>

<p>Vox has said that the Madrid Gay Pride Parade should be moved to a park in the suburbs and opposes public subsidies for the event.</p>

<p>"They do not want to understand that when we talk about LGBT rights, we are talking about human rights," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who is himself gay and took part in the march.</p>

<p>Activists say organised opposition against LGBT rights is growing across the continent, with populist politicians in Poland, Hungary and other European countries presenting gay rights as a threat to family values.</p>

<p>Resurgent homophobia made the headlines in Britain recently after a lesbian couple became the high-profile victims of a homophobic attack after refusing to kiss for a gang of youths on a London night bus.</p>

<p>The couple joined the annual Pride march through the heart of the British capital Saturday, which organisers said drew hundreds of thousands.</p>

<p>In the Hungarian capital Budapest, marchers carried rainbow banners and flew balloons at a rally that passed from parliament through the city centre.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, bishops in conservative, Catholic-majority Poland on Saturday denounced Swedish furniture giant Ikea for what they called "LGBT indoctrination" after an employee was sacked for refusing to take down a homophobic comment he had posted on the firm's internal website.</p>

<p>The bishops congratulated the man -- who had quoted passages from the Old Testament in the post -- on his "courage" in defending his faith in everyday life in an "exemplary" way.</p>


Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe.

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe. The marchers converged on the Spanish capital's main Atocha train station for the start of the festivities. The 400,000 figure was later given by police. The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" and participants marked 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 which were the foundation of the gay rights movement worldwide. Catholic Spain at the time was controlled by dictator General Francisco Franco and homosexual acts were illegal. Thousands of gay people were shipped off to rehabilitation centres or even jailed. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1978, three year's after Franco's death, since when Spain has become one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world, authorising gay marriage and adoptions by gay couples in 2005. "I'm 53 years old and I have suffered," said Manuel Carmona, carrying a large rainbow flag for Saturday's march. "But those who are 63-years-old suffered more and those who are 73-years-old even more and I want us to recognise these people who have helped us," added Carmona, who has been attending the pride march for 30 years. Resurgent homophobia Madrid's city hall swung to the right in June after a conservative candidate was elected mayor with the support of newly-emerged far-right party Vox, in a move that has caused concern in Spain. Vox has said that the Madrid Gay Pride Parade should be moved to a park in the suburbs and opposes public subsidies for the event. "They do not want to understand that when we talk about LGBT rights, we are talking about human rights," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who is himself gay and took part in the march. Activists say organised opposition against LGBT rights is growing across the continent, with populist politicians in Poland, Hungary and other European countries presenting gay rights as a threat to family values. Resurgent homophobia made the headlines in Britain recently after a lesbian couple became the high-profile victims of a homophobic attack after refusing to kiss for a gang of youths on a London night bus. The couple joined the annual Pride march through the heart of the British capital Saturday, which organisers said drew hundreds of thousands. In the Hungarian capital Budapest, marchers carried rainbow banners and flew balloons at a rally that passed from parliament through the city centre. Meanwhile, bishops in conservative, Catholic-majority Poland on Saturday denounced Swedish furniture giant Ikea for what they called "LGBT indoctrination" after an employee was sacked for refusing to take down a homophobic comment he had posted on the firm's internal website. The bishops congratulated the man -- who had quoted passages from the Old Testament in the post -- on his "courage" in defending his faith in everyday life in an "exemplary" way.

Hundreds of thousands march across Europe for Gay Pride

Thousands of people waving rainbow flags poured onto the streets of Madrid for one of the world's largest gay pride events on Saturday (July 6), celebrating and asserting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Gay pride floats parade through Madrid

<p>Rainbow-colored flags, balloons, feathers and fringe filled the streets of New York on Sunday as the city commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with its annual gay pride parade.</p>

<p>Thousands turned out for the event, cheering on LGBTQ activists as they passed in elaborates floats and costumes.</p>

<p>This year's parade marks the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ rights movement, which began in 1969 with the so-called Stonewall uprising.</p>

<p>Early on June 28, 1969, patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar called the Stonewall Inn rose up in defiance of police harassment, triggering days of rioting. Their resistance gave birth to the national and global movement for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer people.</p>

<p>Gay pride activists and supporters all over the world have been celebrating the day with parades and events during the month of June, which is known as LGBT Pride Month.</p>


Rainbow-colored flags, balloons, feathers and fringe filled the streets of New York on Sunday as the city commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with its annual gay pride parade.

Rainbow-colored flags, balloons, feathers and fringe filled the streets of New York on Sunday as the city commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots with its annual gay pride parade. Thousands turned out for the event, cheering on LGBTQ activists as they passed in elaborates floats and costumes. This year's parade marks the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ rights movement, which began in 1969 with the so-called Stonewall uprising. Early on June 28, 1969, patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar called the Stonewall Inn rose up in defiance of police harassment, triggering days of rioting. Their resistance gave birth to the national and global movement for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer people. Gay pride activists and supporters all over the world have been celebrating the day with parades and events during the month of June, which is known as LGBT Pride Month.

Rainbows fill New York's streets as gay pride parade celebrates 50 year anniversary of Stonewall riots

Hundreds of thousands of revellers flooded Sao Paulo's Avenida Paulista Sunday (June 3) with a festive atmosphere as they sang and danced at the 23rd annual Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade, which organizers bill as the largest gay pride parade in the world.

Sao Paulo celebrates gay pride with massive, colourful parade

Ukraine hosts biggest ever gay pride parade

<p>Indian sprinter Duttee Chand said that her sister is blackmailing her because of which she&nbsp;came out in public about her same-sex relationship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Duttee said, "My own sister is blackmailing me, she asked me for Rs 25 lakh. She had once beaten me, I'd reported to the police."</p>

<p>"Since she was blackmailing me, I was forced to come out about my relationship," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier her eldest sister Saraswati, who is also an athlete had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dutee-chand-was-pressurised-and-blackmailed-for-admitting-same-sex-relation-claims-her-sister-220068">threatened to not only expel her from the family</a> but also send her to jail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saraswati even claimed, "With great sorrow, I have to say that the decision taken by Dutee is not of her own. She's been pressurised and blackmailed into marriage by that girl and her family. All of this has been done to grab the property and wealth of Dutee."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Dutee's life and property are in danger. That's why I request the government to provide protection and security to Dutee," Saraswati added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Dutee won a landmark 'gender' case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being banned for one year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CAS suspended the IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism for two years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later the world body changed the policy, which applicable only on female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.</p>


Indian sprinter Duttee Chand said that her sister is blackmailing her because of which she came out in public about her same-sex relationship. Duttee said, "My own sister is blackmailing me, she asked me for Rs 25 lakh.

Indian sprinter Duttee Chand said that her sister is blackmailing her because of which she came out in public about her same-sex relationship. Duttee said, "My own sister is blackmailing me, she asked me for Rs 25 lakh. She had once beaten me, I'd reported to the police." "Since she was blackmailing me, I was forced to come out about my relationship," she added. Earlier her eldest sister Saraswati, who is also an athlete had threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail. Saraswati even claimed, "With great sorrow, I have to say that the decision taken by Dutee is not of her own. She's been pressurised and blackmailed into marriage by that girl and her family. All of this has been done to grab the property and wealth of Dutee." "Dutee's life and property are in danger. That's why I request the government to provide protection and security to Dutee," Saraswati added. × Dutee won a landmark 'gender' case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being banned for one year. The CAS suspended the IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism for two years. Later the world body changed the policy, which applicable only on female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.

Dutee Chand: My own sister is blackmailing me, she asked me for Rs 25 lakh

<p>Indian sprinter Dutee Chand recently <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sprinter-dutee-chand-faces-expulsion-from-family-after-revealing-same-sex-relationship-219884">opened up about her same-sex relationship</a> with a younger relative, however, the revelation did not go well with her family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said that her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship but her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, the elder sister Saraswati, who is also an athlete, is claiming that the sprinter's partner "pressurised and blackmailed" her for wealth and property.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"With great sorrow, I have to say that the decision taken by Dutee is not of her own. She's been pressurised and blackmailed into marriage by that girl and her family. All of this has been done to grab the property and wealth of Dutee," Saraswati Chand, elder sister of the Asian Games medalist told ANI.</p>

<p>"Dutee's life and property are in danger. That's why I request the government to provide protection and security to Dutee," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked if the family is supportive of Dutee's relation, Saraswati said, "She is an adult. It's her decision whether she wants to marry a girl or a boy. But Dutee has been forced to speak all this. Otherwise, a decision about marriage could have been discussed later."&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"Those people who claim to have played a role in Dutee's success are the culprits. It's them who are deviating her from sports and miring her into controversy. She's been led into a trap. Instead of focusing on the 2020 Olympics and World Championship, she's been dragged into this. Every government department has been encouraging her for sports," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When a child excels, family members are happy. They get social prestige and people congratulate parents as well. On the contrary, if a child commits wrong deeds then the only family will take the responsibility," Saraswati opined. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian sprinter Dutee Chand recently opened up about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, however, the revelation did not go well with her family. She said that her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship but her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail.

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand recently opened up about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, however, the revelation did not go well with her family. She said that her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship but her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail. Now, the elder sister Saraswati, who is also an athlete, is claiming that the sprinter's partner "pressurised and blackmailed" her for wealth and property. "With great sorrow, I have to say that the decision taken by Dutee is not of her own. She's been pressurised and blackmailed into marriage by that girl and her family. All of this has been done to grab the property and wealth of Dutee," Saraswati Chand, elder sister of the Asian Games medalist told ANI. "Dutee's life and property are in danger. That's why I request the government to provide protection and security to Dutee," she added. When asked if the family is supportive of Dutee's relation, Saraswati said, "She is an adult. It's her decision whether she wants to marry a girl or a boy. But Dutee has been forced to speak all this. Otherwise, a decision about marriage could have been discussed later." × "Those people who claim to have played a role in Dutee's success are the culprits. It's them who are deviating her from sports and miring her into controversy. She's been led into a trap. Instead of focusing on the 2020 Olympics and World Championship, she's been dragged into this. Every government department has been encouraging her for sports," she added. "When a child excels, family members are happy. They get social prestige and people congratulate parents as well. On the contrary, if a child commits wrong deeds then the only family will take the responsibility," Saraswati opined. (With inputs from agencies)

Dutee Chand was 'pressurised and blackmailed' for admitting same-sex relation, claims her sister

100,000 people from all over Europe took part in the 24th edition of the Belgian Pride Parade in Brussels on Saturday, holding rainbow flags and dancing to the sound of techno music. The event aims to promote equality and fight discrimination in the LGBTI community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex).

Over 100,000 at Belgian gay pride parade

<p>Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit same-sex relationship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am having a relationship with a 19-year-old woman from my village for the past five years. She is studying B.A. 2nd year in a Bhubaneswar college. She is a relative of mine and whenever I come to home, I spend time with her. She is a kind of soul-mate for me and I want to settle down with her in future," Chand, 23, told PTI from Hyderabad where she is training.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court last year had made the same-sex relationship between consenting adults a non-criminal act though marriage between such individuals is still not legal in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutee, the 100m national record holder (11.24 seconds), says while her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship, her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"My eldest sister kind of wields power and authority in my family. She has thrown out my elder brother from home because she does not like his wife. She has threatened me that same will happen to me. But I am also an adult who has individual freedom. So, I decided to go ahead with this and make it public.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"My eldest sister feels that my partner is interested in my property. She has told me that she will send me to jail for having this relationship," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutee said her partner is free to marry whoever she wants to if she decides to do so in future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will continue my athletics career. I am going to take part in the World University Games next month and hope to qualify for the World Championships later this year. My aim to qualify for next year's Olympics, so I am training hard," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Dutee refused to name her partner, she said the Supreme Court judgement on the issue gave her the courage to go public. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"My partner also agreed that we should make this public and face whatever repercussions it may bring to us. I believe in individual freedom and right to decide how and with whom I will live my life."&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said another reason for coming out in the open was that she did not want something which happened with sprinter Pinki Pramanik, who was accused of rape by her live-in partner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pinki was a member of the 2006 Asian Games 4x400m relay gold winning team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We did not want this kind of situation happening in future," Dutee said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutee, who was banned for one year by the international athletics federation in 2014 for having higher testosterone (male sex hormone) level than permissible, hails from Chaka Gopalpur village at Jajpur district of Odisha and she was born to Chakradhar Chand and Akhuji Chand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutee won a landmark 'gender' case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being banned for one year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CAS suspended the IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism for two years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later the world body changed the policy, which applicable only on female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.</p>


Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family. Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit same-sex relationship.

Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family. Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit same-sex relationship. "I am having a relationship with a 19-year-old woman from my village for the past five years. She is studying B.A. 2nd year in a Bhubaneswar college. She is a relative of mine and whenever I come to home, I spend time with her. She is a kind of soul-mate for me and I want to settle down with her in future," Chand, 23, told PTI from Hyderabad where she is training. The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court last year had made the same-sex relationship between consenting adults a non-criminal act though marriage between such individuals is still not legal in India. Dutee, the 100m national record holder (11.24 seconds), says while her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship, her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail. "My eldest sister kind of wields power and authority in my family. She has thrown out my elder brother from home because she does not like his wife. She has threatened me that same will happen to me. But I am also an adult who has individual freedom. So, I decided to go ahead with this and make it public. "My eldest sister feels that my partner is interested in my property. She has told me that she will send me to jail for having this relationship," she said. Dutee said her partner is free to marry whoever she wants to if she decides to do so in future. "I will continue my athletics career. I am going to take part in the World University Games next month and hope to qualify for the World Championships later this year. My aim to qualify for next year's Olympics, so I am training hard," she said. While Dutee refused to name her partner, she said the Supreme Court judgement on the issue gave her the courage to go public. "My partner also agreed that we should make this public and face whatever repercussions it may bring to us. I believe in individual freedom and right to decide how and with whom I will live my life." She said another reason for coming out in the open was that she did not want something which happened with sprinter Pinki Pramanik, who was accused of rape by her live-in partner. Pinki was a member of the 2006 Asian Games 4x400m relay gold winning team. "We did not want this kind of situation happening in future," Dutee said. Dutee, who was banned for one year by the international athletics federation in 2014 for having higher testosterone (male sex hormone) level than permissible, hails from Chaka Gopalpur village at Jajpur district of Odisha and she was born to Chakradhar Chand and Akhuji Chand. Dutee won a landmark 'gender' case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being banned for one year. The CAS suspended the IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism for two years. Later the world body changed the policy, which applicable only on female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.

Sprinter Dutee Chand faces expulsion from family after revealing same sex relationship

<p>Australian cricketer James Faulkner Tuesday cleared the air after being misunderstood as gay when he shared a picture with his "best mate" on the occasion of his 29th birthday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, the Australian cricketer shared a photo posing with his mother and friend Rob Jubb. The caption read, "Birthday dinner with the boyfriend (best mate!!!)" and added #togetherfor5years with his post. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The caption led many to think that Faulkner has revealed his sexual orientation and was widely interpreted as a landmark coming-out statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The post prompted hundreds of positive messages, including from fellow Australian cricketers Glenn Maxwell, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw1epixh7hN/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Birthday dinner with the boyfriend (best mate!!!) @robjubbsta and my mother @roslyn_carol_faulkner ❤️❤️❤️ #togetherfor5years</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jfaulkner44/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> James Faulkner</a> (@jfaulkner44) on <time datetime="2019-04-29T10:10:44+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 29, 2019 at 3:10am PDT</time></p>
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<p>Maxwell said, "Happy Birthday mate! Great courage."</p>

<p>"Great courage mate, bet u feel better," Tait wrote.</p>

<p>But as reaction to Faulkner's post gained momentum, he took to social media again saying "there seems to be a misunderstanding".</p>

<p>"I am not gay... (Jubb) is just a great friend. Last night marked five years of being house mates!" he wrote.</p>

<p>He also praised the response to the coming-out that never was.</p>

<p>"It has been fantastic to see the support from and for the LBGT community. Let's never forget love is love," he wrote.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw2-aefB63J/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">There seems to be a misunderstanding about my post from last night, I am not gay, however it has been fantastic to see the support from and for the LBGT community. Let’s never forget love is love, however @robjubbsta is just a great friend. Last night marked five years of being house mates! Good on everyone for being so supportive.</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jfaulkner44/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> James Faulkner</a> (@jfaulkner44) on <time datetime="2019-04-30T00:07:32+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 29, 2019 at 5:07pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>Cricket Australia denied Faulkner's post was a misguided attempt at humour, saying both the player and the organisation recognised coming out could be "an incredibly emotional time".</p>

<p>"The post was not in any way meant to make light of this and, though the support from the community was overwhelming and positive, Cricket Australia apologises for any unintended offence," it said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cricket Australia statement regarding James Faulkner Instagram post: <a href="https://t.co/9d7jBTYx58">https://t.co/9d7jBTYx58</a></p>
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/1123036541465419776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Faulkner has played one Test, 69 one-dayers and 24 Twenty20 matches for Australia, last representing his country in late 2017.</p>

<p>He was man-of-the-match when Australia won the Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand in 2015, taking three crucial wickets.</p>

<p>Faulkner still plays T20 for the Hobart Hurricanes in Australia and Lancashire in England.</p>

<p>The incident comes as Australian rugby moves to sack Wallabies star Israel Folau over a social media post saying "hell awaits" gays, with the matter set to go before a code of conduct hearing this weekend.</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from AFP)</em></p>


Australian cricketer James Faulkner Tuesday cleared the air after being misunderstood as gay when he shared a picture with his "best mate" on the occasion of his 29th birthday.

Australian cricketer James Faulkner Tuesday cleared the air after being misunderstood as gay when he shared a picture with his "best mate" on the occasion of his 29th birthday. On Monday, the Australian cricketer shared a photo posing with his mother and friend Rob Jubb. The caption read, "Birthday dinner with the boyfriend (best mate!!!)" and added #togetherfor5years with his post. The caption led many to think that Faulkner has revealed his sexual orientation and was widely interpreted as a landmark coming-out statement. The post prompted hundreds of positive messages, including from fellow Australian cricketers Glenn Maxwell, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. View this post on Instagram Birthday dinner with the boyfriend (best mate!!!) @robjubbsta and my mother @roslyn_carol_faulkner ❤️❤️❤️ #togetherfor5years A post shared by James Faulkner (@jfaulkner44) on Apr 29, 2019 at 3:10am PDT × Maxwell said, "Happy Birthday mate! Great courage." "Great courage mate, bet u feel better," Tait wrote. But as reaction to Faulkner's post gained momentum, he took to social media again saying "there seems to be a misunderstanding". "I am not gay... (Jubb) is just a great friend. Last night marked five years of being house mates!" he wrote. He also praised the response to the coming-out that never was. "It has been fantastic to see the support from and for the LBGT community. Let's never forget love is love," he wrote. View this post on Instagram There seems to be a misunderstanding about my post from last night, I am not gay, however it has been fantastic to see the support from and for the LBGT community. Let’s never forget love is love, however @robjubbsta is just a great friend. Last night marked five years of being house mates! Good on everyone for being so supportive. A post shared by James Faulkner (@jfaulkner44) on Apr 29, 2019 at 5:07pm PDT × Cricket Australia denied Faulkner's post was a misguided attempt at humour, saying both the player and the organisation recognised coming out could be "an incredibly emotional time". "The post was not in any way meant to make light of this and, though the support from the community was overwhelming and positive, Cricket Australia apologises for any unintended offence," it said. Cricket Australia statement regarding James Faulkner Instagram post: https://t.co/9d7jBTYx58 — Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) April 30, 2019 × Faulkner has played one Test, 69 one-dayers and 24 Twenty20 matches for Australia, last representing his country in late 2017. He was man-of-the-match when Australia won the Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand in 2015, taking three crucial wickets. Faulkner still plays T20 for the Hobart Hurricanes in Australia and Lancashire in England. The incident comes as Australian rugby moves to sack Wallabies star Israel Folau over a social media post saying "hell awaits" gays, with the matter set to go before a code of conduct hearing this weekend. (with inputs from AFP)

Australian cricketer James Faulkner clarifies after being misunderstood as gay

<p>The first official LGBT monument in Los Angeles gets a beachfront view.</p>

<p>It began as a temporary project at the Venice Pride festival of 2017. It has now become a permanent monument to Los Angeles&rsquo;s LGBT history as well as future.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles&rsquo;s First Official LGBT&nbsp;Monument <a href="https://t.co/yCIhsw8dn2">https://t.co/yCIhsw8dn2</a> <a href="https://t.co/A5ji9kZ9hK">pic.twitter.com/A5ji9kZ9hK</a></p>
&mdash; Pinksixty (@Pinksixty_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pinksixty_News/status/905298186285309952">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>This June, the blue lifeguard tower was painted with the colors of the rainbow, that represents pride of the LGBTQ. The result marveled tourists, locals, and activists to come together at the multicolored monument, posting selfies and documenting the temporary art project. The original plan was to repaint the tower with its original color on September 8.</p>

<p>But the citizens came up with a different idea altogether.</p>

<p>A petition filed on Change.org to keep the tower as is garnered more than 10 thousand signatures.</p>

<p>L.A. City Council member Mike Bonin, Venice Pride President Grant Turck, and members of the public met on Tuesday to discuss the lifeguard tower&rsquo;s new status as LA&rsquo;s first LGBT monument.<br />
The tower was initially ideated as a monument to honour late Bill Rosendahl, the first openly gay person to serve on the City Council.</p>

<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was temporary, too, at first, only planned to stand tall for 20 years before being dismantled.&rdquo; Turck said, according to a local report in The Pride LA. &ldquo;But it found new purpose through telecommunications, transmitting live-saving military radio frequencies and television broadcasts. And now travelers from far and wide gather to marvel at the romantic symbol of France&rsquo;s science and culture more than a century later.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The vote to keep the rainbow tower as-is was passed unanimously.</p>

<p>LA has taken a step forward to celebrate diversity.</p>


The tower was initially ideated as a monument to honour late Bill Rosendahl, the first openly gay person to serve on the City Council

The first official LGBT monument in Los Angeles gets a beachfront view. It began as a temporary project at the Venice Pride festival of 2017. It has now become a permanent monument to Los Angeles’s LGBT history as well as future. Los Angeles’s First Official LGBT Monument https://t.co/yCIhsw8dn2 pic.twitter.com/A5ji9kZ9hK — Pinksixty (@Pinksixty_News) September 6, 2017 × This June, the blue lifeguard tower was painted with the colors of the rainbow, that represents pride of the LGBTQ. The result marveled tourists, locals, and activists to come together at the multicolored monument, posting selfies and documenting the temporary art project. The original plan was to repaint the tower with its original color on September 8. But the citizens came up with a different idea altogether. A petition filed on Change.org to keep the tower as is garnered more than 10 thousand signatures. L.A. City Council member Mike Bonin, Venice Pride President Grant Turck, and members of the public met on Tuesday to discuss the lifeguard tower’s new status as LA’s first LGBT monument. The tower was initially ideated as a monument to honour late Bill Rosendahl, the first openly gay person to serve on the City Council. “There’s the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was temporary, too, at first, only planned to stand tall for 20 years before being dismantled.” Turck said, according to a local report in The Pride LA. “But it found new purpose through telecommunications, transmitting live-saving military radio frequencies and television broadcasts. And now travelers from far and wide gather to marvel at the romantic symbol of France’s science and culture more than a century later.” The vote to keep the rainbow tower as-is was passed unanimously. LA has taken a step forward to celebrate diversity.

Celebrating diversity: Here is what LA's first official LGBT monument looks like

<p>This month, hundreds of thousands of people around the world will join gay pride marches in cities big and small. In many cities, pride marches are controversial. In some &ndash; like Moscow &ndash; they are even banned. But for many people in North America, parts of Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, attending the local pride march has become an unremarkable ritual of summer.</p>

<p>There are still good reasons to march. Few countries around the world have robust protections for gay and transgender rights. And pride marches, the LGBTQ political rallies that take the form of exuberant, outrageous parades, often meet hostile counterdemonstrators.</p>

<p>But such expressions of pride have faced another sort of opposition: from within the queer and trans communities themselves. One reason is that gay and trans rights doesn&rsquo;t describe a single, unitary political movement.</p>

<p>I am a historian of queer and trans politics. My research, together with that of James Steakley, Katie Sutton, Robert Beachy and many others, shows that there are several traditions of gay and trans activism. These traditions have not always gotten along. And some of them hate what pride is all about.</p>

<p><strong>A history of multiple movements</strong></p>

<p>Gay and trans rights movements are quite old. For more than 100 years, political groups have been fighting on behalf of same-sex desires, gender nonconformity and transition from one gender to the other &ndash; although the terms &ldquo;gay rights&rdquo; and &ldquo;trans rights&rdquo; are relatively recent inventions.</p>

<p>By the late 1800s, a movement that called itself &ldquo;homosexual emancipation&rdquo; formed in Germany. It boomed after World War I and flourished in the 1920s under the democracy that existed before the Nazis took over. The movement included people who called themselves &ldquo;transvestites.&rdquo; Were they alive today, many would probably use the term transgender.</p>

<p>From the beginning, gay and transgender activists split into a dizzying array of factions. All were in favor of greater legal and social tolerance for same-sex relationships. But beyond that narrow common ground, they were a political hodgepodge.</p>

<p>Some were leftists. One prominent leader of a gay rights group was also an important player in Berlin&rsquo;s communist party. Others were middle-of-the road, calling for the end of Germany&rsquo;s law against sodomy but otherwise content with the status quo. There were even right-wing, explicitly racist gay rights activists.</p>

<p>The Nazi Party itself was zealously anti-gay. Once in power, the Nazis murdered thousands of men for the &ldquo;crime&rdquo; of male-male sex. Yet, the historical record shows that a small number of men quietly belonged to both the homosexual emancipation movement and the Nazi Party, though they were not open about their sexuality within the party. Historians are still debating the significance of homosexuality in the Nazi Party. The small faction of gay fascists lauded erotic relationships between manly, &ldquo;Aryan&rdquo; soldier types while loathing feminists, Jews and leftists.</p>

<p>As you might imagine, these different camps within the homosexual emancipation movement did not agree on lots of things.</p>

<p><strong>A debate about discretion</strong></p>

<p>One of their big disagreements was about discretion: Was it acceptable for same-sex couples and gender nonconformists to cavort in view of the straight public?</p>

<p><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/moOamKxW844" width="560"></iframe>The 1972 film &lsquo;Cabaret&rsquo; is set in Berlin prior to the Nazi seizure of power. The story deals with homosexuality and the rise of Nazism.<br />
Fifty years before pride marches began, 1920s Berlin had a jumping nightlife of gay male, lesbian and transvestite establishments featuring clubs like the Eldorado &ndash; known for its cross-dressing wait staff &ndash; and dance palaces like the Magic Flute. There was even a yearly all-women moonlight cruise. The pre-Nazi government&rsquo;s approach was live and let live.</p>

<p>Not all advocates of gay rights, however, liked this public culture.</p>

<p>One man, a self-professed gay Nazi, wrote that Berlin&rsquo;s clubs were &ldquo;insalubrious&rdquo; places where people surrendered to their animal lusts, and that &ldquo;the general public inevitably gets the impression that it&rdquo; &ndash; that is, the gay rights movement &ndash; &ldquo;is all about sex.&rdquo; This man wanted to celebrate homoerotic comradeship, a spiritual love, as he described it, as well as a physical one. However, he wanted to celebrate this manly love with maximum discretion, and certainly not in public. He wrote: &ldquo;What two men do in the barracks,&rdquo; by which he meant the barracks of the Nazi Party militia, &ldquo;is no one&rsquo;s business.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Such complaints were not limited to the far right. Moderate activists had their own doubts about the bars and dance halls. One leader of transvestites warned, &ldquo;When we demand that the public acknowledge us, then we have the duty to dress and conduct ourselves publicly in an inconspicuous manner.&rdquo; Transvestites were told to avoid gaudy accessories like costume rings or oversized earrings.</p>

<p>To admit that one was homosexual or a transvestite in public in the 1920s was to court serious social and legal consequences. Activists of that era probably could not have imagined that one day people would march in large groups down public streets celebrating their homosexual and transgender selves.</p>

<p><strong>&lsquo;We&rsquo;re here, we&rsquo;re queer&rsquo;</strong><br />
<br />
In 1970, activists organized the first pride marches to mark the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Those riots occurred the summer before when people fought back against a police raid of a queer bar called the Stonewall Inn in New York&rsquo;s Greenwich Village.</p>

<p>Pride exploded the old worries about discretion when it arrived in cities around the world in the 1970s.</p>

<p>Pride reveled in gaudy accessories. It had lots of scanty dress, too, from drag queens in slinky gowns to shirtless dykes with political slogans scrawled in marker across their chests. By bringing the party &ndash; along with the politics &ndash; into the streets in broad daylight, pride fought against homophobia. At the same time, it flatly rejected the old fears about overt public displays.</p>

<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re here, we&rsquo;re queer, get used to it,&rdquo; a favorite chant at pride, was not only directed at mainstream, straight society. It was also, in my opinion, an answer-back to the debate about discretion that had marked the long history of gay and trans activism.</p>

<p><strong>More debates about pride</strong></p>

<p>By the 1990s, pride marches had run into more controversy within activist circles. They were criticized as too commercial, too male-dominated, too devoid of a broader left-of-center political agenda and insufficiently inclusive of people of color &ndash; or indeed downright racist and Islamophobic. Alternative demonstrations cropped up, like Berlin&rsquo;s Alternative Pride and New York City&rsquo;s Dyke March. Debates about pride continue to this day.</p>

<p>Pride is in part what people make of it. A pride march can have a social justice agenda. Or it can have a pro-Trump agenda.</p>

<p>Yet pride&rsquo;s history is a story of a radical break with right-wing and even middle-of-the-road gay and trans politics. Pride rejected respectability and discretion.</p>

<p>Traces of that history probably survive in your local pride march. Look for the people who are not worried about alarming the straights.</p>


Few countries around the world have robust protections for gay and transgender rights. And pride marches, the LGBTQ political rallies that take the form of exuberant, outrageous parades, often meet hostile counterdemonstrators.

This month, hundreds of thousands of people around the world will join gay pride marches in cities big and small. In many cities, pride marches are controversial. In some – like Moscow – they are even banned. But for many people in North America, parts of Europe, Latin America and elsewhere, attending the local pride march has become an unremarkable ritual of summer. There are still good reasons to march. Few countries around the world have robust protections for gay and transgender rights. And pride marches, the LGBTQ political rallies that take the form of exuberant, outrageous parades, often meet hostile counterdemonstrators. But such expressions of pride have faced another sort of opposition: from within the queer and trans communities themselves. One reason is that gay and trans rights doesn’t describe a single, unitary political movement. I am a historian of queer and trans politics. My research, together with that of James Steakley, Katie Sutton, Robert Beachy and many others, shows that there are several traditions of gay and trans activism. These traditions have not always gotten along. And some of them hate what pride is all about. A history of multiple movements Gay and trans rights movements are quite old. For more than 100 years, political groups have been fighting on behalf of same-sex desires, gender nonconformity and transition from one gender to the other – although the terms “gay rights” and “trans rights” are relatively recent inventions. By the late 1800s, a movement that called itself “homosexual emancipation” formed in Germany. It boomed after World War I and flourished in the 1920s under the democracy that existed before the Nazis took over. The movement included people who called themselves “transvestites.” Were they alive today, many would probably use the term transgender. From the beginning, gay and transgender activists split into a dizzying array of factions. All were in favor of greater legal and social tolerance for same-sex relationships. But beyond that narrow common ground, they were a political hodgepodge. Some were leftists. One prominent leader of a gay rights group was also an important player in Berlin’s communist party. Others were middle-of-the road, calling for the end of Germany’s law against sodomy but otherwise content with the status quo. There were even right-wing, explicitly racist gay rights activists. The Nazi Party itself was zealously anti-gay. Once in power, the Nazis murdered thousands of men for the “crime” of male-male sex. Yet, the historical record shows that a small number of men quietly belonged to both the homosexual emancipation movement and the Nazi Party, though they were not open about their sexuality within the party. Historians are still debating the significance of homosexuality in the Nazi Party. The small faction of gay fascists lauded erotic relationships between manly, “Aryan” soldier types while loathing feminists, Jews and leftists. As you might imagine, these different camps within the homosexual emancipation movement did not agree on lots of things. A debate about discretion One of their big disagreements was about discretion: Was it acceptable for same-sex couples and gender nonconformists to cavort in view of the straight public? The 1972 film ‘Cabaret’ is set in Berlin prior to the Nazi seizure of power. The story deals with homosexuality and the rise of Nazism. Fifty years before pride marches began, 1920s Berlin had a jumping nightlife of gay male, lesbian and transvestite establishments featuring clubs like the Eldorado – known for its cross-dressing wait staff – and dance palaces like the Magic Flute. There was even a yearly all-women moonlight cruise. The pre-Nazi government’s approach was live and let live. Not all advocates of gay rights, however, liked this public culture. One man, a self-professed gay Nazi, wrote that Berlin’s clubs were “insalubrious” places where people surrendered to their animal lusts, and that “the general public inevitably gets the impression that it” – that is, the gay rights movement – “is all about sex.” This man wanted to celebrate homoerotic comradeship, a spiritual love, as he described it, as well as a physical one. However, he wanted to celebrate this manly love with maximum discretion, and certainly not in public. He wrote: “What two men do in the barracks,” by which he meant the barracks of the Nazi Party militia, “is no one’s business.” Such complaints were not limited to the far right. Moderate activists had their own doubts about the bars and dance halls. One leader of transvestites warned, “When we demand that the public acknowledge us, then we have the duty to dress and conduct ourselves publicly in an inconspicuous manner.” Transvestites were told to avoid gaudy accessories like costume rings or oversized earrings. To admit that one was homosexual or a transvestite in public in the 1920s was to court serious social and legal consequences. Activists of that era probably could not have imagined that one day people would march in large groups down public streets celebrating their homosexual and transgender selves. ‘We’re here, we’re queer’ In 1970, activists organized the first pride marches to mark the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Those riots occurred the summer before when people fought back against a police raid of a queer bar called the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village. Pride exploded the old worries about discretion when it arrived in cities around the world in the 1970s. Pride reveled in gaudy accessories. It had lots of scanty dress, too, from drag queens in slinky gowns to shirtless dykes with political slogans scrawled in marker across their chests. By bringing the party – along with the politics – into the streets in broad daylight, pride fought against homophobia. At the same time, it flatly rejected the old fears about overt public displays. “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,” a favorite chant at pride, was not only directed at mainstream, straight society. It was also, in my opinion, an answer-back to the debate about discretion that had marked the long history of gay and trans activism. More debates about pride By the 1990s, pride marches had run into more controversy within activist circles. They were criticized as too commercial, too male-dominated, too devoid of a broader left-of-center political agenda and insufficiently inclusive of people of color – or indeed downright racist and Islamophobic. Alternative demonstrations cropped up, like Berlin’s Alternative Pride and New York City’s Dyke March. Debates about pride continue to this day. Pride is in part what people make of it. A pride march can have a social justice agenda. Or it can have a pro-Trump agenda. Yet pride’s history is a story of a radical break with right-wing and even middle-of-the-road gay and trans politics. Pride rejected respectability and discretion. Traces of that history probably survive in your local pride march. Look for the people who are not worried about alarming the straights.

From Nazis to Trump, Gay pride rallies have always been under attack

Gay men race in 10 cm heels in Madrid as a part of Gay Pride Walk.

High on Spirit. High on Heels

Turkish police fired tear gas in central Istanbul today to disperse dozens of activists attempting to gather to mark the annual Gay Pride week after authorities banned their march.<br />
<br />
The Gay Pride march, which had taken place without incident every year since 2003 with the exception of last year, had been called off on Friday, but hundreds of policemen were still deployed near Taksim Square.<br />
<br />
At least seven activists were detained, protesters said, while police chased others into side streets, some of which were shut to traffic.<br />
<br />
The Istanbul governor&#39;s office last week said the march had been banned out of concern for public order. Security in the city is already tight after a series of bombings in recent months blamed on Islamic State and Kurdish militants.<br />
<br />
But an ultra-nationalist youth group had also threatened violence if the march went ahead, calling it immoral.<br />
<br />
Last Sunday, Istanbul riot police used tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse a march for transgender people, which had also been banned.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

Activists gathered after Istanbul's governor banned the annual Gay Pride march out of concern for public order

Turkish police fired tear gas in central Istanbul today to disperse dozens of activists attempting to gather to mark the annual Gay Pride week after authorities banned their march. The Gay Pride march, which had taken place without incident every year since 2003 with the exception of last year, had been called off on Friday, but hundreds of policemen were still deployed near Taksim Square. At least seven activists were detained, protesters said, while police chased others into side streets, some of which were shut to traffic. The Istanbul governor's office last week said the march had been banned out of concern for public order. Security in the city is already tight after a series of bombings in recent months blamed on Islamic State and Kurdish militants. But an ultra-nationalist youth group had also threatened violence if the march went ahead, calling it immoral. Last Sunday, Istanbul riot police used tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse a march for transgender people, which had also been banned. (Reuters)

Turkish police fire tear gas in Istanbul to disperse Gay Pride activists

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