Australian triumph, electroshock therapy and antisemitic tweets

Your Daily Package of newsy and naughty bits from around the world

Australia votes ‘yes’

Over 61 percent of Australians voted in favour of same-sex marriages, according to the results of the country’s postal vote released this week. The vote is promising for the equal marriage lobby, but a long political fight may still lie ahead.

Human rights group calls for an end to electroshock therapy for gay people in China

According to a new report from Human Rights Watch, electroshock therapy and medication to “cure” homosexuality remains a profitable industry in China. The group is urging the Chinese government to crack down on the practice.

Gay Times editor fired for antisemitic tweets

An editor for the UK publication The Gay Times was fired after only a month on the job after tweets surfaced in which he made fun of Jews, lesbians and homeless people. [The Guardian]

Ohio Republican resigns after being caught having gay sex

In an increasingly familiar story, an Ohio lawmaker who touted his anti-LGBT, conservative and religious values has resigned after being caught having gay sex in his office. [The Independent]

The most boring trans politician

Danica Roem broke ground when she became the first openly transgender person to be elected to the Virginia legislature. But her real genius, writes Frank Bruni at the New York Times, is not letting her identity define her.

Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

Read More About:
Power

Keep Reading

Job discrimination against trans and non-binary people is alive and well

OPINION: A study reveals that we have a long way to go to reach workplace equality for trans and non-binary people

The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts

OPINION: Melissa Lantsman’s and Eric Duncan’s refusals to call out their party’s transphobia is a betrayal of the LGBTQ2S+ community

Over 300 anti-LGBTQ2S+ bills have been introduced this year. This doesn’t mean we should panic

OPINION: While it’s important to watch out for threats, not all threats are created equally. Some of these bills will die a natural death

Xtra’s top LGBTQ2S+ stories of the year

The best and brightest—even most bewildering—stories from a back catalogue brimming with insight