“You Don’t Own Me” singer Lesley Gore dies
Singer, lesbian and feminist icon Lesley Gore has died of lung cancer at the age of 68. Gore was famous for the 1960s pop hit “It’s My Party,” as well as the feminist anthem “You Don’t Own Me.” She is survived by her partner of 33 years.
Inside Egypt’s anal exams for homosexuality
Since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in Egypt, more than 150 people have been arrested on charges of homosexuality, many of whom have been subjected to anal exams by so-called medical experts. BuzzFeed has interviewed the supervisor of the exams, who claims that gay anuses deform to look more like vaginas and even conduct electricity differently. One man arrested and tested for homosexuality by el-Sisi’s regime tried to burn himself to death to avoid the humiliation.
Three-fifths of Irish voters say they will support same-sex marriage
In an upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage this spring, 62 percent of Irish voters say they will vote yes, according to a poll by The Independent and Millward Brown polling. Only 16 percent said they would vote no, and 22 percent were unsure.
Read more at The Independent.
What Truvada did for us
In The Guardian, gay couple Peter Staley and Matthew Rose discuss how anti-viral drug Truvada has helped their sero-discordant relationship. As an older white man with HIV and a young, HIV-negative black man, Staley and Rose say they represent the different cohorts that must work together to prevent the spread of HIV to the next generation.
PFLAG China tells a gay Chinese New Year story
In an advertising spot that has received millions of views, PFLAG China tells the story of a young gay Chinese professional who comes out to his parents. The short film draws on the essential Chinese tradition of going home for the new year to tell a story about gay acceptance.
Trouble with the Ls and Ts
The LGBT world should be about solidarity, but lesbians and trans women, in particular, have a difficult time getting along, write Vanessa Urquhart and Parker Molloy at Slate. They argue that some feminist lesbians’ rejection of trans women is based on false stereotypes and hurts those who need help the most.
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