As part of a crackdown on homosexuality, Saudi Arabian officials are taking rainbow-colored toys and clothing from businesses in the capital, according to state television. According to a report broadcast on Tuesday evening by the state-run Al-Ekhbariya news station, the items targeted include rainbow-colored ribbons, skirts, caps, and pencil bags, the majority of which appear to be designed for young children.

"We are giving a tour of the items that contradict the Islamic faith and public morals and promote homosexuality, targeting the younger generation," says an official from the Commerce Ministry, which is involved in the campaign.

Gesturing towards a rainbow flag, a journalist says: "The homosexuality flag is present in one of the Riyadh markets."

The colours send a "poisoned message" to children, the report says.

In Saudi Arabia, which is notorious for its severe interpretation of Islamic sharia law, which forms the foundation of the whole court system, homosexuality is a potential capital offence.

Watch | LGBTQI+: Bias and Discrimination | WION Wideangle

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The kingdom announced in April that it had asked Disney to remove "LGBTQ allusions" from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the most recent Marvel film, but Disney had refused.

In the end, the film was not shown in Saudi cinemas.

According to a source close to Disney, the film Lightyear, which involves a same-sex kiss, has been banned in Saudi Arabia and more than a dozen other countries, though Riyadh has not commented on the matter.

Stills of Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange and supposedly foreign children waving rainbow flags were also included in Tuesday's Al-Ekhbariya programme.

The article did not say how many businesses were targeted or what was confiscated in the Commerce Ministry raid, and Saudi officials did not respond to an AFP request for comment on Wednesday. 
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As part of a crackdown on homosexuality, Saudi Arabian officials are taking rainbow-colored toys and clothing from businesses in the capital, according to state television.

As part of a crackdown on homosexuality, Saudi Arabian officials are taking rainbow-colored toys and clothing from businesses in the capital, according to state television. According to a report broadcast on Tuesday evening by the state-run Al-Ekhbariya news station, the items targeted include rainbow-colored ribbons, skirts, caps, and pencil bags, the majority of which appear to be designed for young children. "We are giving a tour of the items that contradict the Islamic faith and public morals and promote homosexuality, targeting the younger generation," says an official from the Commerce Ministry, which is involved in the campaign. Gesturing towards a rainbow flag, a journalist says: "The homosexuality flag is present in one of the Riyadh markets." The colours send a "poisoned message" to children, the report says. In Saudi Arabia, which is notorious for its severe interpretation of Islamic sharia law, which forms the foundation of the whole court system, homosexuality is a potential capital offence. Watch | LGBTQI+: Bias and Discrimination | WION Wideangle The kingdom announced in April that it had asked Disney to remove "LGBTQ allusions" from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the most recent Marvel film, but Disney had refused. In the end, the film was not shown in Saudi cinemas. According to a source close to Disney, the film Lightyear, which involves a same-sex kiss, has been banned in Saudi Arabia and more than a dozen other countries, though Riyadh has not commented on the matter. Stills of Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange and supposedly foreign children waving rainbow flags were also included in Tuesday's Al-Ekhbariya programme. The article did not say how many businesses were targeted or what was confiscated in the Commerce Ministry raid, and Saudi officials did not respond to an AFP request for comment on Wednesday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Homosexuality' crackdown in Saudi Arabia: Authorities seize rainbow toys

Authorities in Saudi Arabia are cracking down on homosexuality-related goods in the country. Shops in the national capital of Riyadh were raided by the officials where they seized rainbow-colored toys and articles of clothing.

Saudi officials conduct raid in capital, seizes Rainbow toys

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the United States Embassy's top diplomat over tweets the embassy published that "support homosexuality", the ministry said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait tweeted earlier Thursday: "All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love."

The US embassy in Kuwait had published a picture of an LGBTQI+ flag on its Instagram and Twitter accounts to mark the start of Pride Month on June 1.

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“All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.” <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> is a champion for the human rights of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGBTQI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LGBTQI</a> persons. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pride2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pride2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YouAreIncluded?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YouAreIncluded</a> <a href="https://t.co/gdPPBDlHZH">pic.twitter.com/gdPPBDlHZH</a>
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Many in Kuwait took to social media to express their discontent over the posts, saying they went against the country's Muslim beliefs.

Kuwait said it handed the charge d'affaires a memorandum stating its rejection of what was published and stressing the need for the embassy to respect the laws and regulations in force in the State of Kuwait and the obligation not to publish such tweets.

Homosexuality is punishable by law in a number of majority Muslim countries, includingKuwait.&nbsp;

But in February Kuwait's constitutional court overturned a law that criminalises "imitation of the opposite sex" in a move Amnesty International said was a breakthrough for transgender rights in the region.

The US embassies in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also shared similar posts marking Pride Month.

The U.S Embassy in Saudi Arabia published on June 1 a tweet that included support for the LGBTQI+ community, saying: "During #Pride2022, @StateDept celebrates the contributions members of the LGBTQI+ community make to our nation. We are committed to ending violence, discrimination, and stigma against LGBTQI+ persons worldwide".

[With inputs from agencies] 
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Kuwait's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the United States Embassy's top diplomat over tweets the embassy published that "support homosexuality", the ministry said in a statement.

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the United States Embassy's top diplomat over tweets the embassy published that "support homosexuality", the ministry said in a statement. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait tweeted earlier Thursday: "All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love." The US embassy in Kuwait had published a picture of an LGBTQI+ flag on its Instagram and Twitter accounts to mark the start of Pride Month on June 1. “All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.” @POTUS is a champion for the human rights of #LGBTQI persons. #Pride2022 #YouAreIncluded pic.twitter.com/gdPPBDlHZH — U.S. Embassy Kuwait (@USEmbassyQ8) June 2, 2022 × Many in Kuwait took to social media to express their discontent over the posts, saying they went against the country's Muslim beliefs. Kuwait said it handed the charge d'affaires a memorandum stating its rejection of what was published and stressing the need for the embassy to respect the laws and regulations in force in the State of Kuwait and the obligation not to publish such tweets. Homosexuality is punishable by law in a number of majority Muslim countries, includingKuwait. But in February Kuwait's constitutional court overturned a law that criminalises "imitation of the opposite sex" in a move Amnesty International said was a breakthrough for transgender rights in the region. The US embassies in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also shared similar posts marking Pride Month. The U.S Embassy in Saudi Arabia published on June 1 a tweet that included support for the LGBTQI+ community, saying: "During #Pride2022, @StateDept celebrates the contributions members of the LGBTQI+ community make to our nation. We are committed to ending violence, discrimination, and stigma against LGBTQI+ persons worldwide". [With inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kuwait summons US Embassy over pro-homosexuality tweets

Cooma, a small Australian town, has a dark secret: a prison that was used to imprison individuals for "homosexual offences" and supposedly served as a human experimentation ground with the purpose of treating homosexuality.

According to historical archives, New South Wales (NSW) Justice Minister Reg Downing is credited with founding the prison.

BBC reports that Downing described Cooma prison as the only criminal institution in the world, devoted only to the incarceration of gay offenders in a press statement in 1958.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-leaders-send-their-warmest-congratulations-to-emmanuel-macron-check-out-the-wishes-473583" hreflang="en">World leaders send their 'warmest congratulations' to Emmanuel Macron. Check out the wishes!</a>

In the jail which was reopened in 1957, as per the podcast ‘The Greatest Menace’ many of the prison staff didn’t even know the real reason that gay prisoners were segregated there.

Les Strzelecki, 66, who began working at the prison as a custodial services officer in 1979 and later founded the Corrective Services Museum in Cooma believes that inmates were put there, for their own safety.

"Cooma was a protective institution. We'd red stamp homosexual prisoners with 'N/A': non-association with mainstream prisons," he told BBC. "They were at risk of violence at bigger prisons like Long Bay [in Sydney]."

However, Cliff New, a former employee, maintains it was for less humane motives. He told a podcast series that psychologists and psychiatrists were coming in all the time.

New interpreted these as conversion attempts, as per him these doctors were attempting to put the gay men on the correct path, hoping to "cure them".

Watch |&nbsp;How netizens are reacting to Apple's 'pregnant man' emoji&nbsp;

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Draconian state laws in the mid-1950s cracked down on homosexuality; in New South Wales homosexuality was a crime until 1984.

While soliciting was a crime, even chatting up another man was a criminal offence for which a man could be jailed.&nbsp;

Historian Garry Wotherspoon while talking to the BBC told of the punishment that buggery or anal sex carried. If proved, it carried a sentence of 14 years and a mere attempt could earn men five years in the Cooma jail.

According to the BBC, the podcast voiced evidence suggesting that the police would actually incite men to commit homosexual acts.

"They'd use hunky policemen to entrap gay men by enticing them to have sex, usually in public toilets," claims Wotherspoon.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-beary-interesting-tale-california-family-finds-a-family-of-bears-sleeping-under-their-house-473571" hreflang="en">A 'beary' interesting tale: Plagued by mysterious noise, California family finds 5 bears under their house</a>

The NSW government established a commission to investigate the "cause and treatment of homosexuality" in 1958. A statement stated it would include "experts in the fields of medicine, psychiatry, penology, and social and moral welfare."

As per Patrick Abboud, the podcast’s developer, psychiatrists addressed issues such as 'did your mother's power drive you to despise other women?'. He also said that "over mothering" was concluded to be a significant cause of homosexuality.

Even so, the mission against homosexuality failed despite all the efforts. Gay men had ongoing relationships in prison and would actually commit offences to go back to their boyfriends.

(With inputs from agencies)

Cooma, a small Australian town, has a dark secret: a prison that was used to imprison individuals for "homosexual offences" and supposedly served as a human experimentation ground with the purpose of treating homosexuality.

Cooma, a small Australian town, has a dark secret: a prison that was used to imprison individuals for "homosexual offences" and supposedly served as a human experimentation ground with the purpose of treating homosexuality. According to historical archives, New South Wales (NSW) Justice Minister Reg Downing is credited with founding the prison. BBC reports that Downing described Cooma prison as the only criminal institution in the world, devoted only to the incarceration of gay offenders in a press statement in 1958. Also read | World leaders send their 'warmest congratulations' to Emmanuel Macron. Check out the wishes! In the jail which was reopened in 1957, as per the podcast ‘The Greatest Menace’ many of the prison staff didn’t even know the real reason that gay prisoners were segregated there. Les Strzelecki, 66, who began working at the prison as a custodial services officer in 1979 and later founded the Corrective Services Museum in Cooma believes that inmates were put there, for their own safety. "Cooma was a protective institution. We'd red stamp homosexual prisoners with 'N/A': non-association with mainstream prisons," he told BBC. "They were at risk of violence at bigger prisons like Long Bay [in Sydney]." However, Cliff New, a former employee, maintains it was for less humane motives. He told a podcast series that psychologists and psychiatrists were coming in all the time. New interpreted these as conversion attempts, as per him these doctors were attempting to put the gay men on the correct path, hoping to "cure them". Watch | How netizens are reacting to Apple's 'pregnant man' emoji Draconian state laws in the mid-1950s cracked down on homosexuality; in New South Wales homosexuality was a crime until 1984. While soliciting was a crime, even chatting up another man was a criminal offence for which a man could be jailed. Historian Garry Wotherspoon while talking to the BBC told of the punishment that buggery or anal sex carried. If proved, it carried a sentence of 14 years and a mere attempt could earn men five years in the Cooma jail. According to the BBC, the podcast voiced evidence suggesting that the police would actually incite men to commit homosexual acts. "They'd use hunky policemen to entrap gay men by enticing them to have sex, usually in public toilets," claims Wotherspoon. Also read | A 'beary' interesting tale: Plagued by mysterious noise, California family finds 5 bears under their house The NSW government established a commission to investigate the "cause and treatment of homosexuality" in 1958. A statement stated it would include "experts in the fields of medicine, psychiatry, penology, and social and moral welfare." As per Patrick Abboud, the podcast’s developer, psychiatrists addressed issues such as 'did your mother's power drive you to despise other women?'. He also said that "over mothering" was concluded to be a significant cause of homosexuality. Even so, the mission against homosexuality failed despite all the efforts. Gay men had ongoing relationships in prison and would actually commit offences to go back to their boyfriends. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia's dark secret: A gay men's prison that conducted experiments to abolish homosexuality

Iran's&nbsp;Supreme Leader Ali&nbsp;Khamenei&nbsp;described&nbsp;homosexuality&nbsp;as part of the "moral deprivation" widespread in Western civilisation, during a televised speech on Tuesday.

"There is severe moral deprivation in the world today such as&nbsp;homosexuality&nbsp;and things that one cannot bring oneself to even talk about. Some have rightly called Western civilisation a new age of ignorance,"&nbsp;Khamenei&nbsp;said.

Western rights groups have often criticised Iran, where homosexual acts among men can be punished by the death penalty.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-deal-talks-iran-says-west-still-not-making-political-decisions-457494">Nuclear deal talks: Iran says West still not making 'political decisions'</a>&nbsp;

Tehran has dismissed the criticism as baseless and due to a lack of understanding of its Islamic laws.

"The same moral vices of the age of ignorance (in pre-Islamic Arabia) exist today in the so-called civilised Western world in an organised and more widespread way. Life in Western civilisation is based on greed, and money is the basis of all Western values,"&nbsp;Khamenei&nbsp;said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described homosexuality as part of the "moral deprivation" widespread in Western civilisation, during a televised speech on Tuesday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described homosexuality as part of the "moral deprivation" widespread in Western civilisation, during a televised speech on Tuesday. "There is severe moral deprivation in the world today such as homosexuality and things that one cannot bring oneself to even talk about. Some have rightly called Western civilisation a new age of ignorance," Khamenei said. Western rights groups have often criticised Iran, where homosexual acts among men can be punished by the death penalty. Also read | Nuclear deal talks: Iran says West still not making 'political decisions' Tehran has dismissed the criticism as baseless and due to a lack of understanding of its Islamic laws. "The same moral vices of the age of ignorance (in pre-Islamic Arabia) exist today in the so-called civilised Western world in an organised and more widespread way. Life in Western civilisation is based on greed, and money is the basis of all Western values," Khamenei said.

Iran's Khamenei says homosexuality example of West's immorality

Starring in the buddy stoner comedy 'Harold &amp; Kumar Go to White Castle'&nbsp;is good material for a memoir. One might think that serving as a staffer in Barack Obama’s White House is good material for another memoir, by a different person. But the actor Kal Penn writes about both experiences in 'You Can’t Be Serious,'&nbsp;which Gallery Books will publish Tuesday.

The book has attracted early attention for its most personal detail: Penn is gay, and engaged to Josh, his partner of 11 years. Their relationship is conveyed in one chapter that is mostly about their earliest dates, during which they seemed comically mismatched. Penn also writes about growing up in suburban New Jersey and fully catching the acting bug while performing in a middle-school staging of 'The Wiz.'&nbsp;

He is candid about his fight against the entertainment industry’s tendency to cast actors of colour in stereotypical roles. And he recounts the “sabbatical” he took after establishing a Hollywood career to campaign for Obama and then serve in the public engagement arm of his administration. Below, Penn talks about finding the story he wanted to tell, the self-loathing he first felt while writing it and the filmmaker who inspired his career.

Q: When did you first get the idea to write this book?

A: The first idea, which I rejected, came the day I left the White House. My manager called me. I describe him in the book as like every character from the TV show 'Entourage'&nbsp;in one person. Heart of gold but also a lion. And he said, “You need to write a book. I’ll set you up with meetings.” I said, “Dan, what am I going to write a book about?” He said, “There aren’t many actors who have been in politics.” I said, “The governor is literally Arnold Schwarzenegger.” And the reason I took the sabbatical was not to write a book. I don’t like the optics of that and, more importantly, I don’t have a story to tell. Later I thought, maybe I do have a story to tell: I’d love to write a book for the 20-year-old version of me. There was never a book that said, “This is how you navigate the entertainment industry as a young man of color.” And I’ve met a lot of people who were told they’re crazy for having multiple passions. We’re in a society that just doesn’t encourage that kind of thing. So I thought maybe my experiences might make somebody smile or feel a little more connected, and I had a chance to put it together and write it during the pandemic.

Q: What’s the most surprising thing you learned while writing it?

A: There was a point three months into writing it when I felt the kind of self-loathing that I haven’t felt since middle school. I texted a bunch of my writer friends, and they all either said, “Yeah, buddy, welcome to being an author,” or “Why do you think so many of us drink so much Scotch?” Just a sea of those types of responses. Up until that point, I’d written fiction, essentially scripts and characters. It’s very different when you’re creating a character or a plotline: That’s not you, you can take a break from it. With this process, it’s “Oh my God, there’s no escaping my own brain.” I was not prepared for it.

Q: In what way is the book you wrote different from the book you set out to write?

A: I was sure that I wanted to share two stories: one about my parents and their upbringing; and the story of how Josh and I met. He showed up with an 18-pack of Coors and turned my TV from 'SpongeBob'&nbsp;to NASCAR. I thought, “This guy’s leaving here in 40 minutes with 16 beers.” So the fact that we’re together 11 years later is funny because so many people have stories of dates that went awry but now they’re married and have kids. In the book’s outline, there was no ending. I always struggled with that. I thought there was going to have to be some kind of a positive wrap-up, a story of triumph after years of typecasting and racism. And then 'Sunnyside'&nbsp;happened. I sold this show after I had already started writing the book. There’s a chapter I write about how it’s truly my dream show: a big network (NBC), a diverse, patriotic comedy that would hopefully bring people together and make them laugh. And then it slowly unraveled. With everything else in the book, I have the perspective of time. This was still raw. I ended up putting it as the last real chapter because it’s a perfect example of how much has changed and how much has yet to change. We often think of goals as: Everything has now been fixed, so end of story. In reality, everything is a constant mess of back and forth.

Q: What creative person who isn’t a writer has influenced you and your work?

A: I always say Mira Nair, and I would have said this years ago before this book was ever on the table. Her second film, 'Mississippi Masala,'&nbsp;came out when I was in eighth grade. It was the first time I’d seen South Asian characters onscreen that weren’t stereotypes or cartoon characters. They were deeply flawed, deeply interesting humans. They make love, they have financial problems. And that happened around the time 'The Wiz'&nbsp;happened, so she was one of the people who inspired me to pursue a career in the arts. So when I got a chance to work with her on 'The Namesake,'&nbsp;it meant a lot to me. And 'The Namesake,'&nbsp;the novel — Jhumpa Lahiri’s writing was introduced to me by John Cho, from 'Harold &amp; Kumar.'&nbsp;All of those influences intersecting are very meaningful to me.

Q: Persuade someone to read 'You Can’t Be Serious' in 50 words or fewer.

A: If you want to feel like you’re having a beer with somebody who smoked weed with a fake president and served a real one, whose grandparents marched with Gandhi and whose parents certainly didn’t move to America for him to slide off a naked woman’s back in his first film.

Starring in the buddy stoner comedy 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' is good material for a memoir. One might think that serving as a staffer in Barack Obama’s White House is good material for another memoir, by a different person.

Starring in the buddy stoner comedy 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' is good material for a memoir. One might think that serving as a staffer in Barack Obama’s White House is good material for another memoir, by a different person. But the actor Kal Penn writes about both experiences in 'You Can’t Be Serious,' which Gallery Books will publish Tuesday. The book has attracted early attention for its most personal detail: Penn is gay, and engaged to Josh, his partner of 11 years. Their relationship is conveyed in one chapter that is mostly about their earliest dates, during which they seemed comically mismatched. Penn also writes about growing up in suburban New Jersey and fully catching the acting bug while performing in a middle-school staging of 'The Wiz.' He is candid about his fight against the entertainment industry’s tendency to cast actors of colour in stereotypical roles. And he recounts the “sabbatical” he took after establishing a Hollywood career to campaign for Obama and then serve in the public engagement arm of his administration. Below, Penn talks about finding the story he wanted to tell, the self-loathing he first felt while writing it and the filmmaker who inspired his career. Q: When did you first get the idea to write this book? A: The first idea, which I rejected, came the day I left the White House. My manager called me. I describe him in the book as like every character from the TV show 'Entourage' in one person. Heart of gold but also a lion. And he said, “You need to write a book. I’ll set you up with meetings.” I said, “Dan, what am I going to write a book about?” He said, “There aren’t many actors who have been in politics.” I said, “The governor is literally Arnold Schwarzenegger.” And the reason I took the sabbatical was not to write a book. I don’t like the optics of that and, more importantly, I don’t have a story to tell. Later I thought, maybe I do have a story to tell: I’d love to write a book for the 20-year-old version of me. There was never a book that said, “This is how you navigate the entertainment industry as a young man of color.” And I’ve met a lot of people who were told they’re crazy for having multiple passions. We’re in a society that just doesn’t encourage that kind of thing. So I thought maybe my experiences might make somebody smile or feel a little more connected, and I had a chance to put it together and write it during the pandemic. Q: What’s the most surprising thing you learned while writing it? A: There was a point three months into writing it when I felt the kind of self-loathing that I haven’t felt since middle school. I texted a bunch of my writer friends, and they all either said, “Yeah, buddy, welcome to being an author,” or “Why do you think so many of us drink so much Scotch?” Just a sea of those types of responses. Up until that point, I’d written fiction, essentially scripts and characters. It’s very different when you’re creating a character or a plotline: That’s not you, you can take a break from it. With this process, it’s “Oh my God, there’s no escaping my own brain.” I was not prepared for it. Q: In what way is the book you wrote different from the book you set out to write? A: I was sure that I wanted to share two stories: one about my parents and their upbringing; and the story of how Josh and I met. He showed up with an 18-pack of Coors and turned my TV from 'SpongeBob' to NASCAR. I thought, “This guy’s leaving here in 40 minutes with 16 beers.” So the fact that we’re together 11 years later is funny because so many people have stories of dates that went awry but now they’re married and have kids. In the book’s outline, there was no ending. I always struggled with that. I thought there was going to have to be some kind of a positive wrap-up, a story of triumph after years of typecasting and racism. And then 'Sunnyside' happened. I sold this show after I had already started writing the book. There’s a chapter I write about how it’s truly my dream show: a big network (NBC), a diverse, patriotic comedy that would hopefully bring people together and make them laugh. And then it slowly unraveled. With everything else in the book, I have the perspective of time. This was still raw. I ended up putting it as the last real chapter because it’s a perfect example of how much has changed and how much has yet to change. We often think of goals as: Everything has now been fixed, so end of story. In reality, everything is a constant mess of back and forth. Q: What creative person who isn’t a writer has influenced you and your work? A: I always say Mira Nair, and I would have said this years ago before this book was ever on the table. Her second film, 'Mississippi Masala,' came out when I was in eighth grade. It was the first time I’d seen South Asian characters onscreen that weren’t stereotypes or cartoon characters. They were deeply flawed, deeply interesting humans. They make love, they have financial problems. And that happened around the time 'The Wiz' happened, so she was one of the people who inspired me to pursue a career in the arts. So when I got a chance to work with her on 'The Namesake,' it meant a lot to me. And 'The Namesake,' the novel — Jhumpa Lahiri’s writing was introduced to me by John Cho, from 'Harold & Kumar.' All of those influences intersecting are very meaningful to me. Q: Persuade someone to read 'You Can’t Be Serious' in 50 words or fewer. A: If you want to feel like you’re having a beer with somebody who smoked weed with a fake president and served a real one, whose grandparents marched with Gandhi and whose parents certainly didn’t move to America for him to slide off a naked woman’s back in his first film.

'Maybe I do have a story to tell': Kal Penn on his memoir

North Carolina Lt Gov Mark Robinson is in news as he is facing calls for resignation after a video emerged, where he called transgenderism and homosexuality "filth". &nbsp;

Robinson, who belongs to Republican Party, said students should not be taught about "transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth" in classrooms. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;

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North Carolina's Lt. Governor, Mark Robinson, just angrily referred to the LGBTQ community as "filth." 
 
Then he says, "Yes, I called it filth." 
 
There's no debate here. This is open discrimination. It is completely unacceptable. 
 
Mark Robinson should resign. <a href="https://t.co/rUhzXZm8Jd">pic.twitter.com/rUhzXZm8Jd</a>
— Sen. Jeff Jackson (@JeffJacksonNC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffJacksonNC/status/1446212836703842306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The remark has prompted calls for his resignation as administrators and parents battle over the oversight of school curricula. &nbsp;

In the video filmed in June at Asbury Baptist Church, Robinson said, “There’s no reason anybody, anywhere in America should be telling children about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth. And yes, I called it filth.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-links-bidens-bad-polling-on-the-nations-inability-to-overcome-covid-19-419683" hreflang="en">White House links Biden's bad polling on the nation's inability to overcome COVID-19</a>

Several gay and transgender rights groups along with the White House, condemned his statement and called for him to resign. &nbsp;

According to reports, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, who is a native of North Carolina, said, “These words are repugnant and offensive. The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone, not to spread hate and undermine their own office.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-iowa-rally-trump-slams-bidens-socialist-spending-package-419661" hreflang="en">At Iowa rally, Trump slams Biden's 'socialist' spending package</a>

The Human Rights Campaign called Robinson’s statement “disgraceful” and “hateful” and said he should resign. However, Robinson refused to retract his words on Friday. &nbsp;

"We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We will not change our language," Robinson said, as per reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

North Carolina Lt Gov Mark Robinson is in news as he is facing calls for resignation after a video emerged, where he called transgenderism and homosexuality "filth".

North Carolina Lt Gov Mark Robinson is in news as he is facing calls for resignation after a video emerged, where he called transgenderism and homosexuality "filth". Robinson, who belongs to Republican Party, said students should not be taught about "transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth" in classrooms. Watch: North Carolina's Lt. Governor, Mark Robinson, just angrily referred to the LGBTQ community as "filth." Then he says, "Yes, I called it filth." There's no debate here. This is open discrimination. It is completely unacceptable. Mark Robinson should resign. pic.twitter.com/rUhzXZm8Jd — Sen. Jeff Jackson (@JeffJacksonNC) October 7, 2021 × The remark has prompted calls for his resignation as administrators and parents battle over the oversight of school curricula. In the video filmed in June at Asbury Baptist Church, Robinson said, “There’s no reason anybody, anywhere in America should be telling children about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth. And yes, I called it filth.” Also Read: White House links Biden's bad polling on the nation's inability to overcome COVID-19 Several gay and transgender rights groups along with the White House, condemned his statement and called for him to resign. According to reports, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, who is a native of North Carolina, said, “These words are repugnant and offensive. The role of a leader is to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone, not to spread hate and undermine their own office.” Also Read: At Iowa rally, Trump slams Biden's 'socialist' spending package The Human Rights Campaign called Robinson’s statement “disgraceful” and “hateful” and said he should resign. However, Robinson refused to retract his words on Friday. "We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. We will not change our language," Robinson said, as per reports. (With inputs from agencies)

After calling homosexuality 'filth', US leader faces calls for resignation

It is 2021 and some people still find it hard to believe that there can be more than two genders, and a gynaecologist in Spain seems to be one of these people.

A woman visited the Reina Sofía hospital in the city of Murcia for a check-up. When she was handed over the report, a piece of paper read "Current illness: homosexual".

This 'diagnosis' left the girl and her mother shocked. "At first, I thought it was funny, but it just isn't," the 19-year-old woman said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/diversity-spaces-germany-reserves-parking-spots-for-lgbt-community-and-migrants-417550">'Diversity spaces': Germany reserves parking spots for LGBT community and migrants</a>

The mother-daughter duo lodged a formal complaint with the Murcia's regional government, the regional health ministry, and the regional health service with the help of local LGBT collective, Galactyco.

It has been alleged that the doctor still views homosexuality as an illness, which is now not only illegal but also defies human rights.

"The World Health Organization&nbsp;removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses in 1990, and yet, 31 years on, there are still some professionals in Murcia’s health service who view sexual orientation as an illness,"&nbsp;Galactyco said in&nbsp;a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-locals-send-record-100000-submissions-to-ban-lgbt-conversion-practices-413343">New Zealand locals send record 100,000 submissions to ban LGBT conversion practices</a>

Highlighting the discrimination, violence and the denigrating treatment that the LGTBQ community face on a daily basis because of such mindset, the group said it is seeking an explanation and an apology from the doctor and the hospital.

"Given that for centuries this error involved stigmatizing, discriminatory, violent and denigrating treatment towards all people whose sexual orientation was different from heterosexuality, from this group we publicly denounce the manifest ignorance with lgtbiphobic overtones that involves relating sexual orientation with disease," the statement read. "Likewise, we accuse the Regional Government of Murcia, the Ministry of Health, and the Murcian Health System, of institutional neglect to apply Law 8/2016 of May 27, of social equality of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender and intersex, and public policies against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, which after 5 years passed remains as a legislative ornament."

The group has sent letters to the Ministry and the SMS demanding apology and have also asked that all employees be trained with proper information and sensitivity on homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality and intersexuality.

It is 2021 and some people still find it hard to believe that there can be more than two genders, and a gynaecologist in Spain seems to be one of these people. A woman visited the Reina Sofía hospital in the city of Murcia for a check-up.

It is 2021 and some people still find it hard to believe that there can be more than two genders, and a gynaecologist in Spain seems to be one of these people. A woman visited the Reina Sofía hospital in the city of Murcia for a check-up. When she was handed over the report, a piece of paper read "Current illness: homosexual". This 'diagnosis' left the girl and her mother shocked. "At first, I thought it was funny, but it just isn't," the 19-year-old woman said. Also read | 'Diversity spaces': Germany reserves parking spots for LGBT community and migrants The mother-daughter duo lodged a formal complaint with the Murcia's regional government, the regional health ministry, and the regional health service with the help of local LGBT collective, Galactyco. It has been alleged that the doctor still views homosexuality as an illness, which is now not only illegal but also defies human rights. "The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses in 1990, and yet, 31 years on, there are still some professionals in Murcia’s health service who view sexual orientation as an illness," Galactyco said in a statement. Also read | New Zealand locals send record 100,000 submissions to ban LGBT conversion practices Highlighting the discrimination, violence and the denigrating treatment that the LGTBQ community face on a daily basis because of such mindset, the group said it is seeking an explanation and an apology from the doctor and the hospital. "Given that for centuries this error involved stigmatizing, discriminatory, violent and denigrating treatment towards all people whose sexual orientation was different from heterosexuality, from this group we publicly denounce the manifest ignorance with lgtbiphobic overtones that involves relating sexual orientation with disease," the statement read. "Likewise, we accuse the Regional Government of Murcia, the Ministry of Health, and the Murcian Health System, of institutional neglect to apply Law 8/2016 of May 27, of social equality of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender and intersex, and public policies against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, which after 5 years passed remains as a legislative ornament." The group has sent letters to the Ministry and the SMS demanding apology and have also asked that all employees be trained with proper information and sensitivity on homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality and intersexuality.

Spanish doctor writes 'current illness: homosexual' for a gay woman

Today in History: South African PM assassinated, Jews asked to wear star, more

The issue of LGBTQ rights has divided European Union. Hungary is pushing a law that allegedly discriminates against LGBTQ. The Vatican is pushing Italy to drop a new law on gay rights. Even football has become embroiled in the debate. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: In Europe, a fight for LGBTQ rights

German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised a new law in Hungary banning LGBTQ educational content for children as 'wrong'. The German leader said she saw it as a contradiction that single-sex partnerships are allowed in Hungary but education about them is restricted.

Angela Merkel condemns Hungary's new LGBTQ law as 'wrong'

Two transgender women in Cameroon have been sentenced to five years in prison for “attempted homosexuality”. According to their lawyers, they were also charged for other things including the clothes that they were wearing at a restaurant.

One of the trans women is a local social media celebrity known as Shakiro, also identified as Loic Njeukam. The other woman was identified as Patricia, and as Roland Mouthe. Both were taken into custody on February 8.

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Both of them received the maximum sentence of five years in prison. In addition, they were fined $372.44 (200,000 CFA francs), Reuters reported. They were also convinced of causing public indecency and the failure to bear identification documents.

Reuters cited one of the lawyers, Alice Nkom as saying that “this is a political decision”. Nkom has vowed to appeal the verdict. "It's Yaounde (the central government) that said these people must not bring homosexuality to Cameroon”, Nkom further said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/chinese-court-backs-publisher-of-textbook-calling-homosexuality-psychological-disorder-366440" hreflang="en">Chinese court backs publisher of textbook calling homosexuality 'psychological disorder'</a>

Many activists claim that Cameroon is growing increasingly hostile for sexual minorities and criminalisation continues to put them at risk.

Consensual same-sex relations remain illegal in over 30 African countries including Cameroon. Earlier, the country’s courts sentenced many people to prison time for their “alleged homosexuality”. Last month, Human Rights Watch said that the arrests of Shakiro and Patricia signify a worrying trend in the country, where an overall surge in police action against sexual minorities has been recorded.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/bhutan-parliament-decriminalises-homosexuality-to-delight-of-activists-348910" hreflang="en">Bhutan parliament decriminalises homosexuality, to delight of activists</a>

It doesn’t end there. The country has gone as far as raiding HIV/AIDS organisations where over 53 arrests were made in May 2020.

Many people reported to have been violently thrashed by the police after being taken into custody. In addition, forced “anal examinations” were undertaken in many cases to ascertain the veracity of homosexuality claims, according to HRW.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two transgender women in Cameroon have been sentenced to five years in prison for “attempted homosexuality”. According to their lawyers, they were also charged for other things including the clothes that they were wearing at a restaurant.

Two transgender women in Cameroon have been sentenced to five years in prison for “attempted homosexuality”. According to their lawyers, they were also charged for other things including the clothes that they were wearing at a restaurant. One of the trans women is a local social media celebrity known as Shakiro, also identified as Loic Njeukam. The other woman was identified as Patricia, and as Roland Mouthe. Both were taken into custody on February 8. Both of them received the maximum sentence of five years in prison. In addition, they were fined $372.44 (200,000 CFA francs), Reuters reported. They were also convinced of causing public indecency and the failure to bear identification documents. Reuters cited one of the lawyers, Alice Nkom as saying that “this is a political decision”. Nkom has vowed to appeal the verdict. "It's Yaounde (the central government) that said these people must not bring homosexuality to Cameroon”, Nkom further said. Also read: Chinese court backs publisher of textbook calling homosexuality 'psychological disorder' Many activists claim that Cameroon is growing increasingly hostile for sexual minorities and criminalisation continues to put them at risk. Consensual same-sex relations remain illegal in over 30 African countries including Cameroon. Earlier, the country’s courts sentenced many people to prison time for their “alleged homosexuality”. Last month, Human Rights Watch said that the arrests of Shakiro and Patricia signify a worrying trend in the country, where an overall surge in police action against sexual minorities has been recorded. Also read: Bhutan parliament decriminalises homosexuality, to delight of activists It doesn’t end there. The country has gone as far as raiding HIV/AIDS organisations where over 53 arrests were made in May 2020. Many people reported to have been violently thrashed by the police after being taken into custody. In addition, forced “anal examinations” were undertaken in many cases to ascertain the veracity of homosexuality claims, according to HRW. (With inputs from agencies)

Cameroon sentences 2 transgender women to prison time for 'attempted homosexuality'

Despite being hailed as a reformist Pope, Pope Francis signed off on a Vatican decree that bars priests from blessing same-sex unions. The decree described homosexuality as a sin that cannot be blessed by God. WION's Palki Sharma decodes the Vatican's aversion to reform.

Gravitas: The Vatican shuts the door on same-sex unions

A court in China's eastern Jiangsu province has ruled in favour of a publisher that described homosexuality as a "psychological disorder" in a university textbook.

According to a report published in Reuters, Suyu District Intermediate Court in the city of Suqian said the description resulted from "perceptual differences" and was not a factual error, upholding a judgment made in September last year.

In 2017, the plaintiff, who uses the pseudonym XiXi, had sued Jinan University Press and a company owned by retailer JD.com for publishing and distributing factually incorrect content in the 2013 book on mental health education for university students.

"The teaching material classifies homosexuality as a psychological disorder, which it isn't," the 24-year-old NGO worker said, adding that she only found out about the ruling on her appeal through her lawyer on February 22.

Homosexuality was decategorised as a mental disorder by the Chinese Psychiatric Association in 2001.

A court in China's eastern Jiangsu province has ruled in favour of a publisher that described homosexuality as a "psychological disorder" in a university textbook.

A court in China's eastern Jiangsu province has ruled in favour of a publisher that described homosexuality as a "psychological disorder" in a university textbook. According to a report published in Reuters, Suyu District Intermediate Court in the city of Suqian said the description resulted from "perceptual differences" and was not a factual error, upholding a judgment made in September last year. In 2017, the plaintiff, who uses the pseudonym XiXi, had sued Jinan University Press and a company owned by retailer JD.com for publishing and distributing factually incorrect content in the 2013 book on mental health education for university students. "The teaching material classifies homosexuality as a psychological disorder, which it isn't," the 24-year-old NGO worker said, adding that she only found out about the ruling on her appeal through her lawyer on February 22. Homosexuality was decategorised as a mental disorder by the Chinese Psychiatric Association in 2001.

Chinese court backs publisher of textbook calling homosexuality 'psychological disorder'

An Iranian cleric Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian has issued a homophobic rant against people vaccinated for COVID-19, claiming that they become gay after receiving the vaccine.

Iranian cleric claims COVID-19 vaccine turns people gay

Bhutan has become the latest country to roll back archaic anti-homosexuality laws. A joint sitting of country's parliament has decided to decriminalise homosexuality.

Bhutan Parliament scraps anti-gay laws, change awaits Bhutanese king's assent

Is there any role Ayushmann Khurrana can't do? Perhaps not. After being a part of films that have tackled various societal issues like castism, erectile dysfunction, body shaming- the actor's new film 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' takes on a homophobic society and tries to break the taboo around same sex love stories.&nbsp; 
 
The trailer of the film was released on Monday and has Khurrana romancing internet star Jeetendra Kumar in what appears to be a rib-tickling comedy. The two actors play lovers who have to convince Jeetendra's conservative parents- played by Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta- to accept their love and subsequent marriage.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6r8UYU7Zcs" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Khurrana plays the more brazen of the two who convinces his partner, Jeetendra, to fight for love. The trailer also shows the two men sharing a kiss- perhaps a first for a mainstream Hindi film hero to do that on screen.&nbsp; 
 
The film also features Manurishi Chaddha, Maanvi Gagroo and TV actress Pankhuri Awasthy. The film is a sequel of Khurrana's earlier hit 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' which dealt with erectile dysfunction and co-starred Bhumi Pednekar. 
 
Slated to release on February 21, the film has been directed by Hitesh Kewalya.&nbsp;

Is there any role Ayushmann Khurrana can't do? Perhaps not. After being a part of films that have tackled various societal issues like castism, erectile dysfunction, body shaming- the actor's new film 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' takes on a homophobic society and tries to break the taboo around same sex love stories.

Is there any role Ayushmann Khurrana can't do? Perhaps not. After being a part of films that have tackled various societal issues like castism, erectile dysfunction, body shaming- the actor's new film 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' takes on a homophobic society and tries to break the taboo around same sex love stories. The trailer of the film was released on Monday and has Khurrana romancing internet star Jeetendra Kumar in what appears to be a rib-tickling comedy. The two actors play lovers who have to convince Jeetendra's conservative parents- played by Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta- to accept their love and subsequent marriage. Khurrana plays the more brazen of the two who convinces his partner, Jeetendra, to fight for love. The trailer also shows the two men sharing a kiss- perhaps a first for a mainstream Hindi film hero to do that on screen. The film also features Manurishi Chaddha, Maanvi Gagroo and TV actress Pankhuri Awasthy. The film is a sequel of Khurrana's earlier hit 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' which dealt with erectile dysfunction and co-starred Bhumi Pednekar. Slated to release on February 21, the film has been directed by Hitesh Kewalya.

'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' trailer: Ayushman Khurrana now takes on a homophobic society

Several&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;school districts held impromptu tolerance classes on Sunday after the country's&nbsp;education&nbsp;minister, an Orthodox rabbi, angered <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/asias-first-lgbt-focused-streaming-service-tackles-taboos-one-film-at-a-time-270940">LGBT</a> campaigners by implying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indias-first-openly-gay-prince-celebrating-world-pride-in-nyc-231667">homosexuality</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;unnatural.

The furore over the remarks by&nbsp;Education&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Rafael Peretz, who last year spoke favourably about gay "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/many-lgbtq-people-in-china-forced-into-illegal-conversion-therapy-groups-263636">conversion therapy</a>", a widely discredited method, reached into the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-right-to-self-defence-says-israels-benjamin-netanyahu-after-soleimanis-killing-271977">Israeli&nbsp;cabinet</a>, one of whose members is openly homosexual.

Asked by the weekend edition of the top-selling Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper what he would do if one his children had a "different sexual orientation", Peretz said: "Thank God, my children grew up in a natural and healthy way. They are building their homes on the basis of Jewish values. I don't bother my head with 'what if' thinking."

Several&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;municipalities said they would open the new school week with tolerance classes in response.

"I will promote within the municipal&nbsp;educational system a programme of democracy, equality, recognition of the other and acceptance of differences. In short, everything that is the opposite of Rabbi Rafi," Amir Kochavi, mayor of the city of Hod Hasharon near <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-punish-americans-wherever-they-are-within-its-reach-guards-commander-272154">Tel Aviv</a>, said on Facebook.

Peretz, who heads the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, assumed the&nbsp;education&nbsp;portfolio within Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-in-apparent-stumble-calls-israel-a-nuclear-power-272310">Benjamin Netanyahu's</a> conservative coalition government in June.

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אני מגנה את דבריו האומללים של השר פרץ, ולא בפעם הראשונה. התבטאויותיו אינן משקפות את עמדת הממשלה. 
 
זהו קרב מאסף של קולות שלשמחתי הולכים ומתמעטים בציבור הרחב. גדלתי במשפחה בריאה, טובה ואוהבת, כך גדלים גם ילדיי וילדיהם של להט״בים רבים בכל חלקי הארץ, המצויים על כל הספקטרום הפוליטי. <a href="https://t.co/S3EN54JJIC">pic.twitter.com/S3EN54JJIC</a>
— אמיר אוחנה (@AmirOhana) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmirOhana/status/1216109139023233024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Justice&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Amir Ohana, a member of Netanyahu's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-wins-likud-party-leadership-race-270464">Likud party</a> who has children with a same-sex partner, condemned his cabinet colleague's remarks as "wretched, and not for the first time," adding that they "do not reflect the government's position".

"I grew up in a healthy, good and loving family, as are my children and the children of many LGBTs from all parts of the country, from all over the political spectrum," Ohana tweeted.

Several Israeli school districts held impromptu tolerance classes on Sunday after the country's education minister, an Orthodox rabbi, angered LGBT campaigners by implying homosexuality was unnatural.

Several Israeli school districts held impromptu tolerance classes on Sunday after the country's education minister, an Orthodox rabbi, angered LGBT campaigners by implying homosexuality was unnatural. The furore over the remarks by Education Minister Rafael Peretz, who last year spoke favourably about gay "conversion therapy", a widely discredited method, reached into the Israeli cabinet, one of whose members is openly homosexual. Asked by the weekend edition of the top-selling Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper what he would do if one his children had a "different sexual orientation", Peretz said: "Thank God, my children grew up in a natural and healthy way. They are building their homes on the basis of Jewish values. I don't bother my head with 'what if' thinking." Several Israeli municipalities said they would open the new school week with tolerance classes in response. "I will promote within the municipal educational system a programme of democracy, equality, recognition of the other and acceptance of differences. In short, everything that is the opposite of Rabbi Rafi," Amir Kochavi, mayor of the city of Hod Hasharon near Tel Aviv, said on Facebook. Peretz, who heads the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party, assumed the education portfolio within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative coalition government in June. אני מגנה את דבריו האומללים של השר פרץ, ולא בפעם הראשונה. התבטאויותיו אינן משקפות את עמדת הממשלה. זהו קרב מאסף של קולות שלשמחתי הולכים ומתמעטים בציבור הרחב. גדלתי במשפחה בריאה, טובה ואוהבת, כך גדלים גם ילדיי וילדיהם של להט״בים רבים בכל חלקי הארץ, המצויים על כל הספקטרום הפוליטי. pic.twitter.com/S3EN54JJIC — אמיר אוחנה (@AmirOhana) January 11, 2020 × Justice Minister Amir Ohana, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party who has children with a same-sex partner, condemned his cabinet colleague's remarks as "wretched, and not for the first time," adding that they "do not reflect the government's position". "I grew up in a healthy, good and loving family, as are my children and the children of many LGBTs from all parts of the country, from all over the political spectrum," Ohana tweeted.

Israeli education minister Rafael Peretz implies homosexuality 'unnatural'

Bhumi Pednekar is set to make a special appearance in Ayushmann Khurrana's '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shubh-mangal-zyada-saavdhan-teaser-ayushmann-khurrana-finds-his-love-interest-in-jitendra-kumar-250599">Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan</a>'. The actor had also shared screen space with Ayushmann in the previous installment of the franchise, 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'. 
 
Film critic and Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, shared the first glimpse from the movie in which Pednekar is seen riding a bike. The flick is helmed by Hitesh Kewalya and produced by Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L Rai.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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First glimpse... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BhumiPednekar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BhumiPednekar</a> makes a special appearance in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan</a>... Stars <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AyushmannKhurrana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AyushmannKhurrana</a>... Directed by Hitesh Kewalya... Produced by Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L Rai... 21 Feb 2020 release. <a href="https://t.co/jgI2EE1ZEg">pic.twitter.com/jgI2EE1ZEg</a>
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) <a href="https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1212966851119968256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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It will hit the theatres on February 21, 2020. The film based on homosexuality aims at delivering a social message by narrating the journey of love for same-sex couples in a light-hearted manner. The movie stars Neena Gupta, Manvi Gagroo, and Gajraj Rao besides Ayushmann Khurrana.

Bhumi Pednekar is set to make a special appearance in Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'. The actor had also shared screen space with Ayushmann in the previous installment of the franchise, 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'.

Bhumi Pednekar is set to make a special appearance in Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'. The actor had also shared screen space with Ayushmann in the previous installment of the franchise, 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'. Film critic and Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, shared the first glimpse from the movie in which Pednekar is seen riding a bike. The flick is helmed by Hitesh Kewalya and produced by Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L Rai. First glimpse... #BhumiPednekar makes a special appearance in #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan... Stars #AyushmannKhurrana... Directed by Hitesh Kewalya... Produced by Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L Rai... 21 Feb 2020 release. pic.twitter.com/jgI2EE1ZEg — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 3, 2020 × It will hit the theatres on February 21, 2020. The film based on homosexuality aims at delivering a social message by narrating the journey of love for same-sex couples in a light-hearted manner. The movie stars Neena Gupta, Manvi Gagroo, and Gajraj Rao besides Ayushmann Khurrana.

Bhumi Pednekar to make special appearance in 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'

The president of Brazil, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-believe-god-is-brazilian-made-me-president-jair-bolsonaro-268197">Jair Bolsonaro</a> claimed that it was wrong for him to tell a journalist that he had ''the face of a homosexual''.

According to the news website G1, Bolsonaro told reporters, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have said it''.

The original comment by the president came in response to a reporter's question about an investigation into his eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, for alleged money laundering when he was a regional deputy.

"You have the face of a homosexual, but that doesn't mean I'm going to accuse you of being a homosexual", Bolsonaro had told him.

Watch:&nbsp;Brazil’s Bolsonaro says ‘worst is yet to come’ on oil spill

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/brazils-bolsonaro-says-worst-is-yet-to-come-on-oil-spill-260025/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He had earlier told Playboy magazine that he "wouldn't be able to love a gay son... I'd prefer a son to die in an accident".

"The investigation began last year and they've still found nothing," the president had recently said while referring to the case against his son.

Flavio Bolsonaro is suspected of having employed phantom employees whose salaries were then used to buy an apartment and a chocolate store. He denies all the charges.

The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI) accused Bolsonaro of "promoting the moral harassment of journalists... (whose work) is fundamental for democracy." <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-says-he-has-a-possible-skin-cancer-267766">Bolsonaro</a> has been a frequent critic of the press.

The statement added that "[Bolsonaro] shames citizens and compromises the country's reputation."

The president is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-president-blames-leonardo-dicaprio-for-financing-amazon-fires-offers-no-evidence-265337">nearing the end of his first year</a> in office.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro claimed that it was wrong for him to tell a journalist that he had ''the face of a homosexual''. According to the news website G1, Bolsonaro told reporters, "I was wrong.

The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro claimed that it was wrong for him to tell a journalist that he had ''the face of a homosexual''. According to the news website G1, Bolsonaro told reporters, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have said it''. The original comment by the president came in response to a reporter's question about an investigation into his eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, for alleged money laundering when he was a regional deputy. "You have the face of a homosexual, but that doesn't mean I'm going to accuse you of being a homosexual", Bolsonaro had told him. Watch: Brazil’s Bolsonaro says ‘worst is yet to come’ on oil spill He had earlier told Playboy magazine that he "wouldn't be able to love a gay son... I'd prefer a son to die in an accident". "The investigation began last year and they've still found nothing," the president had recently said while referring to the case against his son. Flavio Bolsonaro is suspected of having employed phantom employees whose salaries were then used to buy an apartment and a chocolate store. He denies all the charges. The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI) accused Bolsonaro of "promoting the moral harassment of journalists... (whose work) is fundamental for democracy." Bolsonaro has been a frequent critic of the press. The statement added that "[Bolsonaro] shames citizens and compromises the country's reputation." The president is nearing the end of his first year in office. (With inputs from agencies)

Wrong to say reporter had a 'homosexual face': Brazilian President Bolsonaro

&nbsp;The release date of Ayushmann Khurrana's upcoming romantic comedy 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'&nbsp;has been moved to an earlier date of February 21, 2020. 
 
The film which is based on the subject of homosexuality and the taboo surrounding it was earlier scheduled to release on March 13, next year. Ayushmann announced the new release date of the flick on his Twitter handle.&nbsp;'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shubh-mangal-zyada-saavdhan-teaser-ayushmann-khurrana-finds-his-love-interest-in-jitendra-kumar-250599">Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' teaser: Look who is playing Ayushmann Khurrana's love interest</a> 
 
"Bhaagte Bhagate aa rahe hain hum, #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan - Releasing on 21st FEB 2020," he wrote. 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan'&nbsp;seems to be about 'Pyaar vs Sanskaar'&nbsp;where the 35-year-old star will be seen romancing Jitendra Kumar as he is playing a homosexual in the film.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Bhaagte Bhagate aa rahe hain hum, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan</a> 👬- Releasing on 21st FEB 2020 <a href="https://twitter.com/cypplOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cypplOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aanandlrai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aanandlrai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSeries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/itsBhushanKumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@itsBhushanKumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hiteshkewalya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hiteshkewalya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/raogajraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@raogajraj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Neenagupta001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neenagupta001</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Farjigulzar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Farjigulzar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iammanurishi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iammanurishi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/maanvigagroo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@maanvigagroo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SunitaRajwar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunitaRajwar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Panawasthy_31?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Panawasthy_31</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeerajSingh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NeerajSingh</a> <a href="https://t.co/1pzBDviNrD">pic.twitter.com/1pzBDviNrD</a>
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ayushmannk/status/1195212037107748864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In September, Ayushmann introduced the characters of the film wherein Jitendra is playing Aman Tripathi and the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bala-review-ayushmann-khurranas-film-tackles-societal-prejudices-head-on-260673"> 'Bala'</a>&nbsp;star is will be seen as Kartik Singh.&nbsp; 
 
The upcoming film also stars Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao. The two had earlier shared screen space with Ayushmann in the 2018 hit 'Badhaai Ho'. Directed by Hitesh Kewalya, the upcoming film is a sequel of 2017 blockbuster 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'.&nbsp;

The much-awaited film is being produced by Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L Rai, who also bankrolled the prequel.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-eid-to-christmas-a-year-full-of-b-town-movie-clashes-see-pics-259917">Chhapaak, Prithviraj, Laxmmi Bomb: From Eid to Christmas, 2020 is a year full of box office clashes</a>

The release date of Ayushmann Khurrana's upcoming romantic comedy 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' has been moved to an earlier date of February 21, 2020. The film which is based on the subject of homosexuality and the taboo surrounding it was earlier scheduled to release on March 13, next year.

The release date of Ayushmann Khurrana's upcoming romantic comedy 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' has been moved to an earlier date of February 21, 2020. The film which is based on the subject of homosexuality and the taboo surrounding it was earlier scheduled to release on March 13, next year. Ayushmann announced the new release date of the flick on his Twitter handle. 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' teaser: Look who is playing Ayushmann Khurrana's love interest "Bhaagte Bhagate aa rahe hain hum, #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan - Releasing on 21st FEB 2020," he wrote. 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' seems to be about 'Pyaar vs Sanskaar' where the 35-year-old star will be seen romancing Jitendra Kumar as he is playing a homosexual in the film. Bhaagte Bhagate aa rahe hain hum, #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan 👬- Releasing on 21st FEB 2020 @cypplOfficial @aanandlrai @TSeries @itsBhushanKumar @hiteshkewalya @raogajraj @Neenagupta001 @Farjigulzar @iammanurishi @maanvigagroo @SunitaRajwar @Panawasthy_31 #NeerajSingh pic.twitter.com/1pzBDviNrD — Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) November 15, 2019 × In September, Ayushmann introduced the characters of the film wherein Jitendra is playing Aman Tripathi and the 'Bala' star is will be seen as Kartik Singh. The upcoming film also stars Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao. The two had earlier shared screen space with Ayushmann in the 2018 hit 'Badhaai Ho'. Directed by Hitesh Kewalya, the upcoming film is a sequel of 2017 blockbuster 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'. The much-awaited film is being produced by Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L Rai, who also bankrolled the prequel. Chhapaak, Prithviraj, Laxmmi Bomb: From Eid to Christmas, 2020 is a year full of box office clashes

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan: Ayushmann Khurrana's film will now release on this date

By Mallika Singh

Amidst Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's efforts to liberalise the conservative Muslim Kingdom, a promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas.

The verified account of the State Security Presidency tweeted an animated video on the weekend, declaring that "all forms of extremism and perversion are unacceptable". 
&nbsp; 
Takfir was enlisted alongside the ideologies, which is a controversial concept in Islamist discourse, symbolising ex-communication, pronouncing that someone is an unbeliever and no longer Muslim. &nbsp;

"Don't forget that excess of anything at the expense of the homeland is considered extremism," stated the video.

In the Kingdom's efforts to promote tolerance, attract foreigners and foreign investment into the oil-dependent economy, the Crown Prince has pushed for a more moderate approach in his attempts to invoke nationalist sentiment among its countrymen.

Saudi Arabia this year embarked on loosening social restrictions with Riyadh doing away with the guardianship system that prevailed in the country, which stripped women of taking any major decisions about themselves without the consent of the assigned man.

The Kingdom also launched a tourist visa in the country's attempt to take over the presidency of the Group-20 countries next year.

The authorities have also cracked down on dissent, as a large number of women's rights advocates were arrested prior to the uplifting of a ban on women drivers last year, which led to people speculating it was a message that reform can only take place at the government's initiative. &nbsp;

According to Saudi law, groups classified as extremist organisations can be punished with imprisonment.

Homosexuality and atheism are considered to be illegal offences punishable by death in the absolute monarchy, where free media is still an alien concept. &nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

By Mallika Singh Amidst Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's efforts to liberalise the conservative Muslim Kingdom, a promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas.

By Mallika Singh Amidst Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's efforts to liberalise the conservative Muslim Kingdom, a promotional video published by Saudi Arabia's state security agency categorises feminism, homosexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas. The verified account of the State Security Presidency tweeted an animated video on the weekend, declaring that "all forms of extremism and perversion are unacceptable". Takfir was enlisted alongside the ideologies, which is a controversial concept in Islamist discourse, symbolising ex-communication, pronouncing that someone is an unbeliever and no longer Muslim. "Don't forget that excess of anything at the expense of the homeland is considered extremism," stated the video. In the Kingdom's efforts to promote tolerance, attract foreigners and foreign investment into the oil-dependent economy, the Crown Prince has pushed for a more moderate approach in his attempts to invoke nationalist sentiment among its countrymen. Saudi Arabia this year embarked on loosening social restrictions with Riyadh doing away with the guardianship system that prevailed in the country, which stripped women of taking any major decisions about themselves without the consent of the assigned man. The Kingdom also launched a tourist visa in the country's attempt to take over the presidency of the Group-20 countries next year. The authorities have also cracked down on dissent, as a large number of women's rights advocates were arrested prior to the uplifting of a ban on women drivers last year, which led to people speculating it was a message that reform can only take place at the government's initiative. According to Saudi law, groups classified as extremist organisations can be punished with imprisonment. Homosexuality and atheism are considered to be illegal offences punishable by death in the absolute monarchy, where free media is still an alien concept. (With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's State Security categorises feminism, homosexuality, atheism as extremist ideas

An Indian transgender couple who both underwent sex re-assignment have tied the knot in a traditional Bengali ceremony, in what is believed to be the state's first "rainbow wedding". 
 
Surrounded by family and friends, bride Tista Das, 38, and groom Dipan Chakravarthy, 40, took part in rituals and pledged their love for each other in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. 
 
"We are feeling awesome actually. We are out of the gender box and we love to be an exception and we think this is a strong bond between us," Tista Das told AFP on Monday. 
 
"It's a bond of love. It's a bond of liberty also," she said. "And this is the solidarity of our souls." 
 
Das said she battled for a long time to "achieve her identity as a woman, as a human being", adding: "I was not even considered as a human being in this brutal society." 
 
A transgender friend of the couple, Anurag Maitrayee, said the ceremony was a "beautiful, emotional union of two hearts and two souls". 
 
"Despite all the oddities and all the atrocities, I have seen how Tista and her journey from a man into a woman and her relation, emotion, love with a person with a soul whose journey is from a woman to a man," Maitrayee said. 
 
Official estimates for India's transgender population are not known but they are thought to number several million.

Transgenders often live on the extreme fringes of Indian society, with many forced into prostitution, begging or menial jobs. 
 
Over the centuries transgenders have assumed different roles in society, from royal courtesans to participants in birth ceremonies and other auspicious occasions.&nbsp; 
 
They have waged a lengthy battle to protect their rights and end discrimination. 
&nbsp; 
India's Supreme Court recognised them as a third gender in a historic 2014 ruling. 
 
On Tuesday, India's lower house passed a transgender bill to enshrine the rights of transgender people in law. The bill is currently being discussed in the upper house. 
 
But the community as well as human rights activists have raised concerns that the bill's language is unclear over whether it allows transgender people to self-identify. 
 
"The Transgender Persons Bill should be a remarkable achievement for a long-persecuted community, but the current draft fails on the fundamental right to self-identify," Human Rights Watch South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly said last month. 
 
"It's crucial that the law be in line with the Supreme Court's historic ruling on transgender rights."

An Indian transgender couple who both underwent sex re-assignment have tied the knot in a traditional Bengali ceremony, in what is believed to be the state's first "rainbow wedding".

An Indian transgender couple who both underwent sex re-assignment have tied the knot in a traditional Bengali ceremony, in what is believed to be the state's first "rainbow wedding". Surrounded by family and friends, bride Tista Das, 38, and groom Dipan Chakravarthy, 40, took part in rituals and pledged their love for each other in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. "We are feeling awesome actually. We are out of the gender box and we love to be an exception and we think this is a strong bond between us," Tista Das told AFP on Monday. "It's a bond of love. It's a bond of liberty also," she said. "And this is the solidarity of our souls." Das said she battled for a long time to "achieve her identity as a woman, as a human being", adding: "I was not even considered as a human being in this brutal society." A transgender friend of the couple, Anurag Maitrayee, said the ceremony was a "beautiful, emotional union of two hearts and two souls". "Despite all the oddities and all the atrocities, I have seen how Tista and her journey from a man into a woman and her relation, emotion, love with a person with a soul whose journey is from a woman to a man," Maitrayee said. Official estimates for India's transgender population are not known but they are thought to number several million. Transgenders often live on the extreme fringes of Indian society, with many forced into prostitution, begging or menial jobs. Over the centuries transgenders have assumed different roles in society, from royal courtesans to participants in birth ceremonies and other auspicious occasions. They have waged a lengthy battle to protect their rights and end discrimination. India's Supreme Court recognised them as a third gender in a historic 2014 ruling. On Tuesday, India's lower house passed a transgender bill to enshrine the rights of transgender people in law. The bill is currently being discussed in the upper house. But the community as well as human rights activists have raised concerns that the bill's language is unclear over whether it allows transgender people to self-identify. "The Transgender Persons Bill should be a remarkable achievement for a long-persecuted community, but the current draft fails on the fundamental right to self-identify," Human Rights Watch South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly said last month. "It's crucial that the law be in line with the Supreme Court's historic ruling on transgender rights."

Transgender couple marry in traditional ceremony in Bengal; create history

Turkish police on Sunday fired tear gas at gay rights groups and activists who defied authorities to march for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-tear-gas-gay-pride-paraders-in-istanbul-231958">Istanbul pride parade</a>, banned for the fifth year in a row.

Thousands of people rallied close to the popular Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square where organisers originally planned to hold the parade, an AFP correspondent said.

The parade was banned by the Istanbul governor's office but the police allowed people to gather in a side street nearby where a public statement was made by the organisers, Istanbul <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-thousands-march-across-europe-for-gay-pride-233705">LGBT+ Pride Week</a>.

Riot police then fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, the correspondent said.

There was a heavy police presence near Taksim Square, including police water cannon vehicles. Other streets were closed off by officers.

There were chants of "shoulder to shoulder against fascism" and "we will not be quiet" among the crowd filled with rainbow flags and umbrellas.

Amnesty International on Friday dismissed authorities' claims of security or public order concerns after the ban was issued.

"It is... a naked attempt to erase the public collective presence of a group which, in the words of the governorate, is deemed to be 'societally objectionable'," the human rights group said in a statement.

Amnesty said the governors of the Aegean region of Izmir and the southern province of Antalya also banned all pride events earlier this month.

Istanbul pride had taken place every year since 2003.&nbsp;

The last parade which took place without a ban in 2014 drew tens of thousands of participants in one of the biggest LGBTI events in the majority Muslim region.

Although homosexuality has been legal throughout the period of the modern Turkish republic, LGBTI individuals point to regular harassment and abuse.

But many opposition-run district municipalities including Kadikoy in Istanbul and Datca in southwestern Turkey tweeted on Saturday in support of LGBTI rights.

Turkish police on Sunday fired tear gas at gay rights groups and activists who defied authorities to march for the Istanbul pride parade, banned for the fifth year in a row.

Turkish police on Sunday fired tear gas at gay rights groups and activists who defied authorities to march for the Istanbul pride parade, banned for the fifth year in a row. Thousands of people rallied close to the popular Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square where organisers originally planned to hold the parade, an AFP correspondent said. The parade was banned by the Istanbul governor's office but the police allowed people to gather in a side street nearby where a public statement was made by the organisers, Istanbul LGBT+ Pride Week. Riot police then fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, the correspondent said. There was a heavy police presence near Taksim Square, including police water cannon vehicles. Other streets were closed off by officers. There were chants of "shoulder to shoulder against fascism" and "we will not be quiet" among the crowd filled with rainbow flags and umbrellas. Amnesty International on Friday dismissed authorities' claims of security or public order concerns after the ban was issued. "It is... a naked attempt to erase the public collective presence of a group which, in the words of the governorate, is deemed to be 'societally objectionable'," the human rights group said in a statement. Amnesty said the governors of the Aegean region of Izmir and the southern province of Antalya also banned all pride events earlier this month. Istanbul pride had taken place every year since 2003. The last parade which took place without a ban in 2014 drew tens of thousands of participants in one of the biggest LGBTI events in the majority Muslim region. Although homosexuality has been legal throughout the period of the modern Turkish republic, LGBTI individuals point to regular harassment and abuse. But many opposition-run district municipalities including Kadikoy in Istanbul and Datca in southwestern Turkey tweeted on Saturday in support of LGBTI rights.

Police tear gas gay pride paraders in Istanbul

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.

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

Fearing persecution after being outed as gay, Adil fled Malawi.

Leaving behind his well-off Muslim family and four-year-old son, he headed for South Africa, where he became a sex worker to survive.

"The laws that we have in Malawi are incriminating. I wanted to get away from here. I had to take my chances," the 29-year-old told AFP. His full name is withheld for fear of homophobic retribution.

For two years Adil laboured as a male sex worker in the tough streets of downtown Johannesburg, eventually returning home.

His case highlights the problems in Malawi, a holdout in southern Africa where legal liberalisation for gays is otherwise gaining speed.

Botswana this week joined Angola, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa on the path towards decriminalising homosexuality, with a verdict by its High Court to scrap decades-old anti-gay laws.

These landmark cases "set an important framework... which will hopefully be emulated elsewhere in Africa," Anneke Meerkotter of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) told AFP.

But "hopefully" is the keyword. Elsewhere on the continent, the picture is quite different.

Last month, Kenya's High Court upheld laws punishing "carnal knowledge... against the order of nature" by up to 14 years in jail. Chad and Uganda have also introduced or toughened legislation.

'Unnatural offence'

In Malawi, a conservative religious country, the situation seems particularly entrenched, say campaigners.

Its penal code expressly criminalises same-sex relations as an "unnatural offence", punishable by up to 14 years in prison.&nbsp;

Human Rights Watch (HRW) last October said Malawi's laws fuelled a climate of fear, arbitrary arrest, violence and discrimination against gays. Many young people, like Adil, are cast out of their families because of their sexual orientation.

Gay rights burst into the news in 2010 when a couple was jailed for gross indecency after holding the country's first same-sex public "wedding".

Then-president Bingu wa Mutharika said the pair had committed a crime against Malawi's culture, religion and laws. He later pardoned them on "humanitarian grounds" after a meeting with the UN secretary-general.

When Joyce Banda succeeded him as president in 2012, she promised widespread reforms to the colonial-era legislation and even announced a moratorium on arrests for those breaking laws that criminalise consensual same-sex conduct. &nbsp;

'Ignored'

But after Banda lost a 2014 bid to stay on as president, these gains were reversed, say campaigners.

Under Bingu wa's brother Peter Mutharika, who recently won his second presidential term in office, "this group of people have just tended to be ignored," gender activist Beatrice Mateyo said.

Activists have been waiting since 2013 for the courts to set a date for a hearing to repeal the anti-gay laws.

"Malawi has several court cases that are lying in the courts and we hope the case scenario of Botswana is also going to inform the legal processes here in Malawi," Gift Trapence, head of Malawian rights group Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) told AFP.

Mateyo believes religious conservatism has played a core part in perpetuating stereotypes and anti-gay hostility.

Most of the 18 million people in Malawi are Christian or Muslim, whose religious education often describes homosexuality as taboo or a sin.

In 2016, about 3,000 Christians marched through Blantyre and Lilongwe, carrying signs saying "Homosexuality is abomination".&nbsp;

"We are seen as a God-fearing nation, so society tends to skew towards religion where you are seen as a sinner... And if you are of different sexuality then you are perceived as a sinner," Mateyo said.

People who are not heterosexual, "will rather remain in the closet -- hidden."

"For the very few people that are open, life is very difficult because people tend to label them."

'Just want to be safe'

Twenty-eight-year-old Sarah, a lesbian who is also intersex, meaning there is no self-assignment to gender, said everyday tasks in Malawi were like walking on eggshells.

"I'm scared of being attacked, even in public spaces," said Sarah. "You go to the bank, they look at your ID... you have to prove that you're this particular sex that was assigned to you at birth."

Sarah has a three-month-old relationship with a local woman but said, "I cannot take her to the local market to buy vegetables because that's going to start another issue."

CEDP, working with activists, set up four drop-in centres in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Mangochi in 2016.

Equipped with a recreation room, gym, large kitchen, medical centre and 24-hour security, the centres support around 2,000 people.

"When we are here, we know each other," a 27-year-old carpenter who declined to be named told AFP at the centre, his partner seated next to him.

Once a week, he walks 30 kilometres (20 miles) to the Lilongwe drop-in house to collect condoms, thus escaping condemnation by people in his neighbourhood.

Adil returned to Malawi after contracting HIV in South Africa. He was unable to stay there because as an illegal, he had no access to treatment.

The centre has been a haven of hope in Malawi, he said.

"In this space you can wear whatever you want, you can feel any way you want because this is the only safe space that you have."&nbsp;

"But out there it is hard."

Fearing persecution after being outed as gay, Adil fled Malawi. Leaving behind his well-off Muslim family and four-year-old son, he headed for South Africa, where he became a sex worker to survive.

Fearing persecution after being outed as gay, Adil fled Malawi. Leaving behind his well-off Muslim family and four-year-old son, he headed for South Africa, where he became a sex worker to survive. "The laws that we have in Malawi are incriminating. I wanted to get away from here. I had to take my chances," the 29-year-old told AFP. His full name is withheld for fear of homophobic retribution. For two years Adil laboured as a male sex worker in the tough streets of downtown Johannesburg, eventually returning home. His case highlights the problems in Malawi, a holdout in southern Africa where legal liberalisation for gays is otherwise gaining speed. Botswana this week joined Angola, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa on the path towards decriminalising homosexuality, with a verdict by its High Court to scrap decades-old anti-gay laws. These landmark cases "set an important framework... which will hopefully be emulated elsewhere in Africa," Anneke Meerkotter of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) told AFP. But "hopefully" is the keyword. Elsewhere on the continent, the picture is quite different. Last month, Kenya's High Court upheld laws punishing "carnal knowledge... against the order of nature" by up to 14 years in jail. Chad and Uganda have also introduced or toughened legislation. 'Unnatural offence' In Malawi, a conservative religious country, the situation seems particularly entrenched, say campaigners. Its penal code expressly criminalises same-sex relations as an "unnatural offence", punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Human Rights Watch (HRW) last October said Malawi's laws fuelled a climate of fear, arbitrary arrest, violence and discrimination against gays. Many young people, like Adil, are cast out of their families because of their sexual orientation. Gay rights burst into the news in 2010 when a couple was jailed for gross indecency after holding the country's first same-sex public "wedding". Then-president Bingu wa Mutharika said the pair had committed a crime against Malawi's culture, religion and laws. He later pardoned them on "humanitarian grounds" after a meeting with the UN secretary-general. When Joyce Banda succeeded him as president in 2012, she promised widespread reforms to the colonial-era legislation and even announced a moratorium on arrests for those breaking laws that criminalise consensual same-sex conduct. 'Ignored' But after Banda lost a 2014 bid to stay on as president, these gains were reversed, say campaigners. Under Bingu wa's brother Peter Mutharika, who recently won his second presidential term in office, "this group of people have just tended to be ignored," gender activist Beatrice Mateyo said. Activists have been waiting since 2013 for the courts to set a date for a hearing to repeal the anti-gay laws. "Malawi has several court cases that are lying in the courts and we hope the case scenario of Botswana is also going to inform the legal processes here in Malawi," Gift Trapence, head of Malawian rights group Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) told AFP. Mateyo believes religious conservatism has played a core part in perpetuating stereotypes and anti-gay hostility. Most of the 18 million people in Malawi are Christian or Muslim, whose religious education often describes homosexuality as taboo or a sin. In 2016, about 3,000 Christians marched through Blantyre and Lilongwe, carrying signs saying "Homosexuality is abomination". "We are seen as a God-fearing nation, so society tends to skew towards religion where you are seen as a sinner... And if you are of different sexuality then you are perceived as a sinner," Mateyo said. People who are not heterosexual, "will rather remain in the closet -- hidden." "For the very few people that are open, life is very difficult because people tend to label them." 'Just want to be safe' Twenty-eight-year-old Sarah, a lesbian who is also intersex, meaning there is no self-assignment to gender, said everyday tasks in Malawi were like walking on eggshells. "I'm scared of being attacked, even in public spaces," said Sarah. "You go to the bank, they look at your ID... you have to prove that you're this particular sex that was assigned to you at birth." Sarah has a three-month-old relationship with a local woman but said, "I cannot take her to the local market to buy vegetables because that's going to start another issue." CEDP, working with activists, set up four drop-in centres in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Mangochi in 2016. Equipped with a recreation room, gym, large kitchen, medical centre and 24-hour security, the centres support around 2,000 people. "When we are here, we know each other," a 27-year-old carpenter who declined to be named told AFP at the centre, his partner seated next to him. Once a week, he walks 30 kilometres (20 miles) to the Lilongwe drop-in house to collect condoms, thus escaping condemnation by people in his neighbourhood. Adil returned to Malawi after contracting HIV in South Africa. He was unable to stay there because as an illegal, he had no access to treatment. The centre has been a haven of hope in Malawi, he said. "In this space you can wear whatever you want, you can feel any way you want because this is the only safe space that you have." "But out there it is hard."

Fear and stigma mark life for gays in conservative Malawi

Batting colourful lashes and swinging their silky wigs, drag artists danced to a cheering crowd at a Nepali restaurant in the country's first such show.

The floor of the Pink Tiffany, Nepal's first LGBTI-friendly restaurant, was packed on Tuesday evening to applaud the debut performances, with many in the audience also wearing glittery make-up and vibrant outfits.&nbsp;

Meghna Lama, the restaurant's owner and a transgender woman, said she was excited to host the groundbreaking event.&nbsp;

"We wanted to organise programs to show that LGBTIs also exist here, so for the first time we are trying to do the drag show," Lama told AFP.&nbsp;

The show was headlined by American artists, but Lama hopes it will open doors for Nepali drag enthusiasts to take to the stage.&nbsp;

"This is exciting, I feel very free here. It is so good to see others enjoy (transforming) as I do," said a 20-year-old Nepali participant who goes by the name of Peachy Pie.

Nepal has some of South Asia's most progressive laws on homosexuality and transgender rights.&nbsp;

Landmark reforms in 2007 prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and recognised gay Nepalis, at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in neighbouring India.&nbsp;

Transgender Nepalis were also granted the right to tick "other" when voting, applying for a passport, or other official documents.

But gay and transgender Nepalis and rights activists say action has not matched the rhetoric. More than a decade on, the community still faces discrimination in the conservative society.

"In Nepal, we didn't have specific spaces for LGBTIs even now. So when you are doing certain things that are aimed to be queer you are also reclaiming space, not just as space but also a space in society," said Rukshana Kapali, a transgender woman who came to watch the show.

More than 900,000 of Nepal's roughly 26 million population identify as a sexual minority, according to LGBTI rights group Blue Diamond Society.

Batting colourful lashes and swinging their silky wigs, drag artists danced to a cheering crowd at a Nepali restaurant in the country's first such show. The floor of the Pink Tiffany, Nepal's first LGBTI-friendly restaurant, was packed on Tuesday evening to applaud the debut performances, with many in the audience also wearing glittery make-up and vibrant outfits.

Batting colourful lashes and swinging their silky wigs, drag artists danced to a cheering crowd at a Nepali restaurant in the country's first such show. The floor of the Pink Tiffany, Nepal's first LGBTI-friendly restaurant, was packed on Tuesday evening to applaud the debut performances, with many in the audience also wearing glittery make-up and vibrant outfits. Meghna Lama, the restaurant's owner and a transgender woman, said she was excited to host the groundbreaking event. "We wanted to organise programs to show that LGBTIs also exist here, so for the first time we are trying to do the drag show," Lama told AFP. The show was headlined by American artists, but Lama hopes it will open doors for Nepali drag enthusiasts to take to the stage. "This is exciting, I feel very free here. It is so good to see others enjoy (transforming) as I do," said a 20-year-old Nepali participant who goes by the name of Peachy Pie. Nepal has some of South Asia's most progressive laws on homosexuality and transgender rights. Landmark reforms in 2007 prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and recognised gay Nepalis, at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in neighbouring India. Transgender Nepalis were also granted the right to tick "other" when voting, applying for a passport, or other official documents. But gay and transgender Nepalis and rights activists say action has not matched the rhetoric. More than a decade on, the community still faces discrimination in the conservative society. "In Nepal, we didn't have specific spaces for LGBTIs even now. So when you are doing certain things that are aimed to be queer you are also reclaiming space, not just as space but also a space in society," said Rukshana Kapali, a transgender woman who came to watch the show. More than 900,000 of Nepal's roughly 26 million population identify as a sexual minority, according to LGBTI rights group Blue Diamond Society.

Artists light up Nepal's first drag show

Botswana's High Court, in a highly-anticipated verdict, on Tuesday ruled in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, which is outlawed under the country's 1965 penal code.

Judge Michael Elburu "set aside" the "provisions of a Victorian era" and ordered the laws be amended.&nbsp;

In a courtroom packed with activists, the judge emphasised that the current laws oppressed a minority of the population.

"There’s nothing reasonable in discriminating," he said.

"We say the time has come that private, same sexuality must be decriminalized."

"It is a variety of human sexuality," he said.

The High Court had been petitioned by an anonymous person, identified only by initials LM for security reasons.

The individual challenged two sections of the penal code under which offenders face a jail sentence of up to seven years.&nbsp;

In March, the court postponed a ruling on the issue, sparking fears that the much-awaited decision could be delayed indefinitely.

But on Tuesday, Judge Elburu stressed that the country's highest judicial body took the matter deeply seriously.

"Sexual orientation is human, it's not a question of fashion," he said. "The question of private morality should not be the concerns of the law."

Last month, Kenya's High Court upheld laws against same-sex relations, dealing a blow to activists campaigning to roll back anti-gay laws and stigma in Africa.

Before Tuesday's ruling, 28 out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had laws penalising same-sex relationships, according to Neela Ghoshal, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) specialist in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights.

The death penalty is on the books, under sharia, in Mauritania, Sudan and northern Nigeria, although there have been no known executions in recent times.

In southern Somalia, gay men are believed to have been put to death in the territory ruled by the Al Shabaab jihadist group.

However, Angola, Mozambique and Seychelles have scrapped anti-gay laws in recent years.

Rights groups say many laws punishing homosexuality date from the colonial area.

They represent a peril even in countries where they are not implemented, according to campaigners, as their existence on the statute books entrenches discrimination and encourages harassment.

Botswana's High Court, in a highly-anticipated verdict, on Tuesday ruled in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, which is outlawed under the country's 1965 penal code.

Botswana's High Court, in a highly-anticipated verdict, on Tuesday ruled in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, which is outlawed under the country's 1965 penal code. Judge Michael Elburu "set aside" the "provisions of a Victorian era" and ordered the laws be amended. In a courtroom packed with activists, the judge emphasised that the current laws oppressed a minority of the population. "There’s nothing reasonable in discriminating," he said. "We say the time has come that private, same sexuality must be decriminalized." "It is a variety of human sexuality," he said. The High Court had been petitioned by an anonymous person, identified only by initials LM for security reasons. The individual challenged two sections of the penal code under which offenders face a jail sentence of up to seven years. In March, the court postponed a ruling on the issue, sparking fears that the much-awaited decision could be delayed indefinitely. But on Tuesday, Judge Elburu stressed that the country's highest judicial body took the matter deeply seriously. "Sexual orientation is human, it's not a question of fashion," he said. "The question of private morality should not be the concerns of the law." Last month, Kenya's High Court upheld laws against same-sex relations, dealing a blow to activists campaigning to roll back anti-gay laws and stigma in Africa. Before Tuesday's ruling, 28 out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had laws penalising same-sex relationships, according to Neela Ghoshal, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) specialist in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. The death penalty is on the books, under sharia, in Mauritania, Sudan and northern Nigeria, although there have been no known executions in recent times. In southern Somalia, gay men are believed to have been put to death in the territory ruled by the Al Shabaab jihadist group. However, Angola, Mozambique and Seychelles have scrapped anti-gay laws in recent years. Rights groups say many laws punishing homosexuality date from the colonial area. They represent a peril even in countries where they are not implemented, according to campaigners, as their existence on the statute books entrenches discrimination and encourages harassment.

Botswana High Court decriminalises homosexuality

Bhutan's LGBT community celebrated Saturday after the tiny Himalayan kingdom's parliament became the world's latest to decriminalise homosexuality.

The lower house overwhelmingly voted late Friday to repeal two sections of the 2004 criminal code which made "unnatural sex" illegal.

"A lot of us cried," said Tashi Tsheten of Rainbow Bhutan that represents the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"We are a small and marginalised community and when our rights are discussed in parliament, it makes us extremely happy," Tashi said.

The law had never been used, but Finance Minister Namgay Tshering, who submitted the recommendation to repeal sections 213 and 214 of the penal code, said they had become "a stain" on the country's reputation.

Namgay Tshering said the sections had become redundant since Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy in 2008. "There is a high degree of acceptability of the LGBT community in our society," he said.

The minister added that he was optimistic that the code sections would be definitively scrapped when the upper house in the country of 750,000 people votes on Monday.

Tashi said some ministers had been social workers with contacts in the LGBT community and Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is a surgeon. "So we had lot of hopes in this government."

There is no annual Gay Pride rally or other public display in Bhutan.

And while Tashi said there was a general acceptance of transgenders, especially in rural areas, they still face much discrimination, especially in schools.

"There are lots of barriers and our education system does not understand LGBT," Tashi said, adding that most LGBT youths drop out of school.

Once the bill is passed by the National Council, the upper chamber, it will be sent for royal assent.

Bhutan's LGBT community celebrated Saturday after the tiny Himalayan kingdom's parliament became the world's latest to decriminalise homosexuality. The lower house overwhelmingly voted late Friday to repeal two sections of the 2004 criminal code which made "unnatural sex" illegal.

Bhutan's LGBT community celebrated Saturday after the tiny Himalayan kingdom's parliament became the world's latest to decriminalise homosexuality. The lower house overwhelmingly voted late Friday to repeal two sections of the 2004 criminal code which made "unnatural sex" illegal. "A lot of us cried," said Tashi Tsheten of Rainbow Bhutan that represents the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. "We are a small and marginalised community and when our rights are discussed in parliament, it makes us extremely happy," Tashi said. The law had never been used, but Finance Minister Namgay Tshering, who submitted the recommendation to repeal sections 213 and 214 of the penal code, said they had become "a stain" on the country's reputation. Namgay Tshering said the sections had become redundant since Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy in 2008. "There is a high degree of acceptability of the LGBT community in our society," he said. The minister added that he was optimistic that the code sections would be definitively scrapped when the upper house in the country of 750,000 people votes on Monday. Tashi said some ministers had been social workers with contacts in the LGBT community and Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is a surgeon. "So we had lot of hopes in this government." There is no annual Gay Pride rally or other public display in Bhutan. And while Tashi said there was a general acceptance of transgenders, especially in rural areas, they still face much discrimination, especially in schools. "There are lots of barriers and our education system does not understand LGBT," Tashi said, adding that most LGBT youths drop out of school. Once the bill is passed by the National Council, the upper chamber, it will be sent for royal assent.

Bhutan's LGBT community celebrates after homosexuality decriminalised

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New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denounced Brunei's decision to implement Islamic laws that would allow death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality on Thursday.

Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of around 400,000, on Wednesday&nbsp;began implementing Sharia laws, which punish sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty - including by stoning, and theft with amputation.

Ardern said the new laws "fly in the face" of New Zealand principles on inclusion, human rights and the death penalty. She said that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, made New Zealand's views very clear.

"We are a country that prides itself on being inclusive, on defending human rights. Obviously, the moves that they have made fly in the face of both our opposition to the death penalty, but also our principles around inclusion and human rights," the New Zealand PM said.

Brunei has defended its right to implement the laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then.

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is the world's second-longest reigning monarch and is prime minister of the oil-rich country. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denounced Brunei's decision to implement Islamic laws that would allow death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality on Thursday.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denounced Brunei's decision to implement Islamic laws that would allow death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality on Thursday. Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of around 400,000, on Wednesday began implementing Sharia laws, which punish sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty - including by stoning, and theft with amputation. Ardern said the new laws "fly in the face" of New Zealand principles on inclusion, human rights and the death penalty. She said that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, made New Zealand's views very clear. "We are a country that prides itself on being inclusive, on defending human rights. Obviously, the moves that they have made fly in the face of both our opposition to the death penalty, but also our principles around inclusion and human rights," the New Zealand PM said. Brunei has defended its right to implement the laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then. Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is the world's second-longest reigning monarch and is prime minister of the oil-rich country. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people.

Brunei's new death penalty for gay sex 'fly in the face' of human rights: New Zealand PM Ardern

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