Your guide to the queer media circus.
As usual… 5.5 minutes to read. Your guide to the queer media circus. A weekly digest of the most important queer news in your backyard! Exclusively for paid subscribers every Monday, “The 9” is curated weekly by Taylor Abbot + the GenZ editorial team.
This week, the Iranian crowned prince awarded, and then:
WORLDWIDE. ART. EXHIBITION HONORING AIDS LEGACY ON WEPRESENT.
WePresent, the art platform of WeTransfer, and acclaimed British actor and art enthusiast Russell Tovey have announced the launch of the ‘We Move In Circles‘ exhibition. Commemorating artists lost to AIDS, the exhibit showcases the documentary ‘Life is Excellent,’ a tribute to artist David Robilliard, available for global streaming on WePresent. Running from November 23 to 25 in Shoreditch, London, the exhibition features T-shirts from the HIV/AIDS era and a library of queer literature. Curated with PAST Magazine, the T-shirt display, ‘Say It With Your Chest,’ explores activism through iconic designs. Tovey, WePresent’s Guest Curator, aims to raise awareness about AIDS’ impact on queer artists and their enduring contributions to culture. In conjunction with the exhibition, WePresent’s Editor-in-chief, Holly Fraser, highlighted the platform’s commitment to empowering creators. WeTransfer’s dedication to supporting the arts is evident in allocating 30% of advertising inventory to creatives and donating 1% of revenue to emerging artists through The Supporting Act Foundation. “We Move In Circles” is a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of AIDS on the artistic community and a celebration of queer art history. The exhibition, located at 133 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG, is open from 10 am to 7 pm. The WePresent documentary ‘Life is Excellent’ can be streamed globally on the platform.
RUSSIA. POLITICS. THE COURT DECLARES INTERNATIONAL GAY MOVEMENT ‘EXTREMIST’
Russia’s Supreme Court declared the international gay rights movement an “extremist organization” on Thursday, escalating the crackdown on gay and transgender rights since the onset of the Ukraine war. Responding to a Ministry of Justice lawsuit, the court claimed the L.G.B.T.Q. movement exhibited “various signs and manifestations of an extremist orientation.” This ruling heightens the risk of criminal prosecution for simple acts, like displaying the rainbow flag, endangering gay communities within Russia. Experts suggest potential jail sentences of six to 10 years for activists, lawyers, or public figures associated with gay rights. Critics argue it reflects President Putin’s campaign to defend “Russian traditional values,” branding gay communities as a potential threat.
NEPAL. POLITICS. LGBT+ COUPLE ACHIEVES LANDMARK LEGAL MARRIAGE
Maya Gurung, a 38-year-old transgender woman, and Surendra Pandey, 27, made history as the first legally married LGBTQ+ couple in South Asia. The Nepalese couple received a legal certificate in Lamjung district on Wednesday, marking a milestone in LGBTQ+ rights. After facing legal and social challenges for six years since their Hindu religious ceremony, the Supreme Court’s interim order in June allowed same-sex and transgender couples to register marriages. Gurung expressed immense joy, stating, “Society will now accept us, and it has opened the door to marriage for many like us.” The couple hopes their marriage will inspire societal change and pave the way for others in Nepal. Despite regional progress, LGBTQ+ individuals in Nepal still contend with social acceptance issues. Sunil Babu Pant, founder of the Blue Diamond Society, hailed the event as a “historic day,” predicting a surge in similar couples coming forward.
QATAR. POLITICS. AUTHORITIES DETAIN AND EXPEL FORMER QATAR AIRWAYS FLIGHT ATTENDANT OVER TINTED MOISTURIZER
Gilbert Ignatius, a former Qatar Airways flight attendant from Indonesia, was reportedly detained, interrogated, and subsequently deported from Qatar for wearing tinted moisturizer at a luxury hotel in Doha. Celebrating his 32nd birthday at the Mondrian Hotel, Ignatius faced a security ordeal when authorities accused him and a friend of prostitution based on moisturizer stains. Despite objections, they were taken to a police station, where Ignatius endured humiliating questions and a physical assault. Qatar Airways later grounded him, holding his passport, and eventually deported him. This incident sheds light on intensified LGBTQ+ oppression in Qatar following the 2022 World Cup, where human rights abuses were previously reported.
USA. POLITICS. EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE RECOGNISED WITH US LGBT+ AWARD FOR ADVOCACY.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, exiled leader of the US-based National Council of Iran, received the 2023 Outspoken Award from the Log Cabin Republicans at the Spirit of Lincoln gala. The accolade, presented by the LGBTQ+ conservative group, commended Pahlavi’s lifelong dedication to a free and democratic Iran. His vocal criticism of Iran’s Islamic Republic government and his award signify a shift in attitudes towards the Iranian LGBTQ+ community. Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, carrying the death penalty, leaving the queer community largely invisible. Pahlavi’s recognition brings hope to a marginalized group amid ongoing protests for women, gender, and queer rights. Matt Forouzandy, an Iranian-Canadian queer activist, highlights the rarity of Pahlavi’s genuine support, emphasizing its positive impact on the fight against homophobia and transphobia in Iran.
Recommendations from our favourite newspapers. This week NYT.
Cook: Put kimchi in your grilled cheese.
Exercise: Get in a good workout with your kids.
Watch: The most divisive movie of the year: Saltburn.
Listen: The Times’s three pop music critics released their lists of the best albums of the year.
Read: Six great paperbacks to lose yourself in.
Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today’s Mini Crossword and Wordle.
Curated every week by our news editor Taylor Abbot & GAY45 editorial staff. Exclusive for subscribers on Monday through Substack and Wednesday on the website.
Taylor Abbot is a 23 y.o. staff writer for GAY45 and MA student at the University of Oxford. Previously he studied at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is passionate about journalism, contemporary literature, poetry, technology, socio-political involved art forms and queer implications in society. He wrote previously for several magazines as Bay Area Reporter or Männer. Nerdy curious, passionate about the weird parts of life and the good stories written by great journalists. Taylor decided to delete all his social media accounts two years ago. Lives and works between Berlin and London.
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