Recording superstar Lizzo (via Instagram)
Report: Most Dangerous Countries For LGBTQ Travelers
After studying the 150 countries that had the most international tourists, travel bloggers at Asher & Lyric ranked the worst countries for LGBTQ travelers. Among the factors considered were laws regarding same-sex relations, propaganda/morality laws, worker protections & protections against discrimination and more. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and 7th most populous in the world, has the dubious distinction of taking the top spot on the list. Here are the top five most dangerous countries for LGBTQ travelers:
5. Tanzania – homosexuality can be punished by 30 years to life in prison; ‘indecent behavior’ in regard to homosexuality can result in 5 years in prison
4. Saudi Arabia – homosexual acts can be punished by the death penalty, 100 lashes or banishment for a year; gender expression is illegal
3. Yemen – homosexuality among men can result in 100 lashes, a year in prison if unmarried or stoning to death if married; women caught in same-sex relations can receive 100 lashes and/or 3 years in prison
2. Qatar – homosexual acts can result in 1-3 years in prison, flogging and/or the death penalty
1. Nigeria – homosexuality receives up to 14 years in prison or the death penalty; the mere discussion of LGBTQ rights is illegal
The bloggers note that “certain cities, tourist areas or resorts can sometimes be LGBTQ+ friendly even when the laws of the country as a whole are very anti-LGBTQ+. In all cases, do your research.” Check out the full list here.
News Round-Up: November 16, 2018
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| InstaHunk Max Emerson (r) snowboarding in Quebec |
Some news items you might have missed:
• What to do when a November storm dumps lots of snow on you? Go snowboarding! Someone might have told Max Emerson to take a few bits of clothing with him, but then – when you’ve got a Porsche, you don’t keep it in the garage.
• Tanzania just lost $10 million in aid from its second biggest donor, Denmark, thanks to the recent homophobic crackdown in the East African country.
• Hat tip to Kenneth-in-the-212 who found the ultimate ‘Hunk’ of House Hunters – Liev Schreiber – who, along with SNL’s Leslie Jones, totally spoof every cliche you’ve ever seen on the show. This is pretty funny.
• Gubernatorial hopeful Stacey Abrams has acknowledged she will not be able to close the gap between herself and her Republican opponent, former Secretary of State Brian Kemp. But, she did not concede the race saying Kemp had spent years working to suppress voters in Georgia in order to tilt the contest his way.
• A gay man in Miami says a Lyft driver spewed homophobic slurs at him during his ride before pulling a gun on him. The driver allegedly stopped the car and forcibly removed the man from the car, kicking him in the process and saying he wanted to “kill everyone who is gay.”
• I’ll be interviewing the oh-so-dashing and talented Mr. Norm Lewis about this his new holiday album soon, but for now … 🙂
Podcast: Midterm Elections Recap, Tanzania, Rock Hudson & Colton Haynes
In this podcast:
• As the close races are finding a victor days later, I break down the midterm elections on how LGBTQ candidates did, as well as how the “Blue Wave” will affect our community.
• The US State Department denounces the hideous human rights violations against LGBTQ people in Tanzania.
• Hollywood legend Rock Hudson is getting a big screen biopic treatment by out super-producer Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon).
• And Colton Haynes surprised fans with a cover of “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman.
All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.
If you enjoy catching up on LGBTQ news in a quick podcast, I’d appreciate it if you would share The Randy Report with your friends.
I like to think of this podcast as the 60 Minutes of gay news — only shorter 🙂
US State Dept Warns Gays In Anti-LGBT Tanzania To Scrub Social Media
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| The national flag of Tanzania |
Earlier this week, the governor of Tanzania’s most populous city, Dar es Salaam, called for an anti-gay ‘witch hunt’ in an effort to arrest and prosecute homosexuals in the East African country.
“Give me their names – My ad hoc team will begin to get their hands on them next Monday,” demanded Commissioner Paul Makonda.
According to The Guardian, in one day he received over 5,700 messages with more than 100 names.
In Tanzania, a conviction for having homosexual relations is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
The country has seen a crack down an anti-LGBT sentiment since President John Magufuli came into power in 2015.
Now, the United States embassy is warning Americans who may travel to Tanzania to be cautious.
A notice posted on the State Department’s website warns U.S. citizens to “employ sound security practices” which would include monitoring both local and international news.
As there are reports that Makonda is employing a 17-member committee to find gay individuals on social media, the U.S. State Department also says Americans should review their “internet footprint and social media profiles.”
“Remove or protect images and language that may run afoul of Tanzanian laws regarding homosexual practices and explicit sexual activity,” the embassy warns.
The embassy also informs Americans that, if arrested, Tanzanian officials are obligated to alert the American Embassy but “this is not consistently done.”
News Round-Up: September 18, 2017
Some news items you may have missed:
• Hottie Nick Jonas (above) raises the temperature as he journeys from desert to beach party in his sultry new music video, “Find You,” today.
• Tennis legend and newly revealed homophobe Margaret Court says the LGBT community wants to destroy marriage. “There will be no Mother’s Day, there will be no Father’s Day, there will be no Easter, there will be no Christmas.”
• Police in Tanzania arrested 20 “suspected homosexuals” this weekend in an effort to “intensify vigilance” against LGBTs. Conviction of a sexual act “against the order of nature” in Tanzania can lead to up to 30 years behind bars. The 8 men and 12 women were arrested at a hotel where they were attending an HIV/AIDS education training session.
• Clearly concerned about losing the ratings war to MSNBC of late, Fox News is shuffling it’s evening schedule to pit far-right pundit Sean Hannity directly opposite MSNBC’s ratings champ Rachel Maddow at 9PM.
• Pop star and LGBT ally Demi Lovato says even though magazines and TV seem to be trying “to break” what her sexuality is, she doesn’t intend on giving those folks their soundbite. She says watch her upcoming YouTube documentary “Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated” on October 12 for some of those answers offered on her “own terms.”
• Always awesome Maroon 5 drops the lyric video and Slushii Remix for their latest single, “What Lovers Do” featuring SZA.