Rappler's latest stories on gay
China's LGBT couples 'wed' online as gay marriage push stalls
Despite a shake-up of China's marriage law last month – and a groundswell of support for same-sex unions in the socially conservative country – demands to make gay marriage legal have not been met
Gay Pride events go online to mark 50th anniversary
The 24-hour online Global Pride event runs with the slogan 'Exist, persist, resist'
Singapore court hears new challenges to gay sex ban
Three people – a retired doctor, a DJ and an LGBT rights advocate – lodge fresh challenges in the Singapore Supreme Court, aiming to prove the British colonial era law is unconstitutional
200,000 march in Taiwan's first pride parade since legalizing gay marriage
The island has long hosted the region's largest pride marches but this year Taiwan's LGBT community and their supporters had an extra reason to celebrate
Cambodia's first gay dance troupe upends centuries of tradition
Bare-chested men wearing crowns and traditional sarongs glide through the slow, graceful movements of the Khmer dance, arching their hands back in poses normally performed by young women in golden dresses
Murder, 'gay-hunters' strike terror in Russia's LGBT community
The Pila group promises 'very dangerous and cruel little gifts' to a number of Russia's gay activists
The power of Pink Dot, Singapore's LGBTQ+ movement, lies in its rejection
What happens after the music dies and the lights go out on Pink Dot?
WATCH: The Golden Gays go to Metro Manila Pride 2019
5 drag queens nearing their senior years march for equality alongside their younger LGBTQ+ 'apos'
Lady Gaga makes surprise appearance at Stonewall rally in New York
The singer joins members of the LGBTQ+ community in New York to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots
Despite rain, thousands march for equality in Manila's Pride parade
A Manila Pride organizer says the march 'is a human rights movement – and as such, is a call for active solidarity with other marginalized communities'
Meet Father Richard Mickley of historic PH Pride March of 1994
Who is Father Richard Mickley, one of the founders of the Pride Movement in the Philippines?
Gay Pride parade engulfs Sao Paulo despite unease over Brazil's conservative turn
This year, many Sao Paulo LGBT pride parade participants say they are turning out because they feel their liberties are increasingly under threat
Thousands march in Ukraine capital's Gay Pride
Homophobia is still commonplace, even though Kiev authorities have allowed gay pride marches to be held, unlike in neighboring Russia
Why the term 'bakla' can be more closeting than liberating for some
'Growing up with the tag of bakla weighs heavily on the shoulders of many, due to the expectations of who the bakla should be,' says sociology professor Athena Charanne Presto
Botswana High Court decriminalizes homosexuality
In a courtroom packed with activists, the judge emphasizes the current laws oppressed a minority of the population
Botswana to rule on scrapping anti-gay laws
An unnamed applicant is challenging two sections of the code that threaten offenders with a jail sentence of up to 7 years
Netanyahu appoints Israel's first openly gay minister
The appointment of Amir Ohana comes as Jerusalem prepares for its annual Gay Pride celebrations
Thou shalt not march: South Korean conservatives denounce Pride
Conservative Liberty Korea Party says the ruling Democrat party, which supports Seoul's Pride march, should 'come out' as a 'queer' party, adding that the annual event was 'lascivious' and involved 'excessive exposure of bodies'
Hong Kong court declares male gay sex laws unconstitutional
It is the latest legal victory for Hong Kong's gay community who have struggled to persuade the pro-Beijing authorities in the international financial hub to allow gay marriage or civil unions
Hong Kong government defends gay marriage ban in court
Despite growing public support for gay marriage in Hong Kong, campaigners make little headway against staunch opposition from the city's successive pro-Beijing governments and religious conservatives
Taiwan holds first gay marriages in historic day for Asia
The weddings place Taiwan at the vanguard of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Asia
Taiwan's parliament approves same-sex marriages in first for Asia
(4th UPDATE) The island's lawmakers comfortably passed a law allowing same-sex couples to form 'exclusive permanent unions' and a second clause that would let them apply for a 'marriage registration' with government agencies
Taiwan gay couples plan weddings even as opponents fight back
Shane Lin and Marc Yuan are among hundreds of same-sex couples who have made reservations to register with government agencies on May 24 for what they hope will be a marriage
Bangladesh charges extremists over gay activist murders
Authorities say the 8 suspects are members of Ansar al Islam, a group also blamed for a series of murders since 2013
Taiwan unveils long-awaited gay marriage bill
Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party unveils a bill offering same-sex couples 'permanent unions' as well as limited adoption rights, despite stiff opposition from conservatives
Brunei won't enforce gay sex death penalty after backlash
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah says a moratorium on capital punishment that already applies to Brunei's regular criminal code would also extend to its new sharia code, which includes death by stoning for various crimes
Philippines' Janjep Carlos is Mr Gay World 2019
Janjep is the second Philippine representative to win the title
Brunei to impose death by stoning for gay sex and adultery
The tiny sultanate will implement the harsh new penal code – which also prescribes amputation of a hand and foot for theft – next Wednesday, April 3
'We exist' LGBT say in message to pope in Panama
"Together as a community, we are saying: We are here," says a 21-year-old protestor
Anti-gay marriage groups win Taiwan referendum battle
A referendum on whether marriage should only be recognized as between a man and a woman won more than 7 million votes, while another calling for same-sex unions to be regulated under a separate law gained over 6 million
Taiwan gay marriage faces new hurdle with referendum proposal
The anti-gay marriage Happiness of the Next Generation Alliance submits a referendum petition to election authorities to try to prevent the civil code from being amended to recognize same-sex partnerships
China denies internment of 1 million Uighurs
Chinese authorities have long denied the existence of such camps despite mounting evidence from both official documents and testimonies from those who have been held in them
Paris Gay Games a respite for oppressed athletes
LGBT competitors from China to Uganda share their stories
Thousands join gay pride parade in conservative Jerusalem
This year's parade, the 17th annual Jerusalem march, is being held under the banner of 'Pride and Tolerance'
Colorful parade opens 10th Gay Games in Paris
The aim of the games is to combat discrimination, promote the recognition and freedoms of LGBT people
WATCH: How did you come out?
In celebration of Pride Month, Rappler talks to members of the LGBT community to ask them about their stories and how they found the courage to come out
Thousands march and dance in New York's Gay Pride parade
The theme of this year's parade is 'Defiantly Different,' a message inspired in reaction to President Donald Trump's treatment of the LGBTQ community
IN PHOTOS: Same-sex couples wed under LGBTs Christian Church
The LGBTs Christian Church, a religious organization, hopes that the State will eventually legalize same-sex marriage
[OPINION] I do not believe in coming out
I am living as if I have come out, therefore I do not see the point of sitting down with my family and telling them that I am gay
#WeAreFamilyToo: LGBT groups push for marriage equality outside SC
Despite challenges faced by various LGBT groups, they are hopeful that it is the most opportune time to fight for marriage equality
SC applicants agree with U.S ruling favoring baker in gay wedding cake case
‘The right to religious belief in the hierarchy of values should prevail,’ says Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Garcia
LGBTQ+ community takes pride to Mindanao
(UPDATED) 'I believe that it’s about time to rise together against discrimination, exclusion, and violence,' says Mindanao Pride founder, Hamilcar Chanjueco
U.S. Supreme Court rules for baker in gay wedding cake case
The US high court rules that while the Colorado Civil Rights Commission determined that Masterpiece Cakeshop must serve clients regardless of sexual orientation, the panel showed 'clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs' of the baker
Hong Kong's behind-closed-doors gay weddings
Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Hong Kong and often those who have a ceremony say they prefer to do it privately, away from the public gaze
'Love, Simon’ and lessons on coming out
The first and most important lesson we can learn from Simon Spier is that coming out is anything but easy
A mother’s unconditional love
Coming out is difficult especially when you’re young. But for parents like Grace, acceptance comes easy
Supreme Court to hold oral arguments on same-sex marriage
The oral arguments will give marriage equality advocates their most-awaited day in court
Indonesian police arrest two men over gay sex video
Homosexuality and gay sex are legal everywhere in Indonesia except in conservative Aceh province, which is ruled by Islamic law. Police, however, use the country's tough anti-pornography legislation to criminalize members of the LGBT community.
Yes, you could have been 'pre-born' gay
Biology does play a part in being gay, science shows
