Remembrance, refugees and the missionary position

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


South Korean university elects lesbian student leader

One of Seoul’s most prestigious universities has elected a lesbian as student leader, igniting tensions between the younger and older generation. Most students say they don’t care about their leader’s sexuality, while the religious older generation has decried the election as scandalous.

Read more at the Independent.

Ian McKellen talks X-Men, women and the missionary position

Gay actor Ian McKellen is on the Academy Award speaking circuit, and The Guardian has collected some of the better tidbits, from how he had to be taught the missionary position for a heterosexual role, to how X-Men was “full of the most amazing divas.”

Hope and fear on the Transgender Day of Remembrance

Nov 20 marked the Transgender Day of Remembrance, marked by journalists taking a hard look at the past year’s progress and failings. BuzzFeed marked the most violent year on record against trans people in the United States by visiting one neighborhood in Detroit where three trans women were killed in as many months. Slate celebrated what trans people can teach the world, and applauded trans resilience in the face of violence and discrimination.

Portugal votes for same-sex adoption

Five years after legalizing same-sex marriage, Portugal has voted to allow same-sex couples to adopt. Before the bill becomes law, however, it must be approved by conservative President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, who opposed same-sex marriage in 2010.

Read more at El Dia.

LGB US lawmakers anger supporters by opposing refugees

Three out LGB US lawmakers voted for a bill last week that would effectively block Syrian refugees from entering the country. LGB people took to Twitter to criticize the vote, saying it showed unseemly bigotry from lawmakers who ought to know better. The political action group Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, despite pressure, declined to drop support for the three.

 

Niko Bell

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

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