Rapper DaBaby apologises for homophobic comments
US rapper DaBaby has apologised for insulting people living with HIV and gay men at a concert in Miami this week. Performing at the Rolling Loud Festival, he asked every audience member to “put your cellphone light up,” apart from those who were HIV-positive or were “gay men who had sex in car parks“. He also made the false claim that HIV will “make you die in two or three weeks.” DaBaby twice defended his comments in later statements, but apologised after clothing company BoohooMan cancelled advertising deals with him. In a statement on Wednesday, BoohooMan said they condemn any homophobic language and confirmed they would no longer be working with DaBaby.
Illinois Governor repeals HIV criminalisation law and expands infertility coverage for same-sex couples
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed into law a legislation package that aims to advance the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals by, among other provisions, expanding infertility health care coverage for same-sex couples and repealing an HIV criminalisation law. The repeal of the HIV criminalization law is effective immediately. The package also allows for providing financial aid to transgender students who would otherwise be denied and brings an inclusive curriculum to schools to ensure LGBTQ+ history is represented in the classroom, according to the release. It would also expand Medicaid to cover gender-affirming surgery and put in place the Getting to Zero plan, which is a statewide initiative to end Illinois’ HIV epidemic by 2030.
Gay Olympian Tom Daley wins gold in Tokyo
British Olympic athlete Tom Daley has won the gold medal in men’s synchronised 10m diving with his team-mate Matty Lee. This is Daley’s fourth Olympic Games, and the first time he has won gold. The pair beat of a close challenge by Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen from China to clinch the medals. Daley is 27 years old and came out several years ago.
Roman Catholic priest ‘outed’ via Grindr
A catholic priest in Wisconsin has resigned after a catholic newspaper obtained location data from the social media app Grindr showing him visiting gay venues. The Pillarnewspaper alleged Monsignor Jeffrey D. Burrill engaged in “serial sexual misconduct.” The paper investigated the priest because its mission is to “help the church to better serve its sacred mission, the salvation of souls.” According to current Catholic dogma, homosexual activity is a sin. Management of The Pillar has not explained how they came into possession of the information. Privacy advocates have warned for years that apps such as Grindr pose significant threats to the people who use them.
Argentina issues non-binary ID cards
Argentina has become the first Latin American nation to officially recognise non-binary people. The country has rolled out identification cards that will allow citizens who do not identify as male or female to use “x” to represent gender in national ID documents and passports. Argentinian president Alberto Fernández said that there are other identities besides man and woman and that they must be respected. A small group of countries have adopted similar measures, and these include New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.
Norwegian church holds name change ceremony for a trans woman
A Lutheran church in Norway has shown its support for one of its trans parishioners by holding a ceremony to honour her name change. Elin Stillingen legally changed her gender and name in 2020. The church pastor Stein Ovesen told a TV news programme that while not everyone approved of the ceremony, for him it was an act that expressed the grace and openness that God shows him.
