Enrique Anarte

November was a big month for LGBTQ+ news But not all of it was bad news.

From the U.S. to Ghana and the EU's top court, November was a big month for LGBTQ+ news.

I wrote about it in my global queer rights newsletter:

November was a big month for LGBTQ+ news But not all of it was bad news.

November was a big month for queer news. But not all of it was bad.

Read the latest issue of my global LGBTQ+ rights newsletter here:

🏳️‍🌈 Thailand may have legalised same-sex marriage, but LGBTQ+ activists say hate crimes against queer people are often overlooked.

Read more on Context:

@contextnewsroom.bsky.social

Kazakhstan's parliament passes law against 'LGBT propaganda' Rights groups had warned against passing the bill, which resembles laws passed in countries including Russia, Georgia and Hungary.

The lower house of Kazakhstan's parliament has passed a bill banning "LGBT propaganda".

It still needs to be passed by the country's Senate and signed into law by the Kazakh president to become law.

Supreme Court Denies Request to Revisit Same-Sex Marriage Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down Kim Davis’ request that it consider overturning its landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage a decade ago.

Queer teens are bullied all over the world. Few countries protect them Plus worrying developments in Kazakhstan and Cameroon, and new data on the implementation of trans self-ID in Germany.

New research shows that only six countries in the world have passed comprehensive anti-bullying legislation to protect LGBTQ+ students from school bullying.

I wrote about it for my global queer rights newsletter:

Q&A: Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill will drive HIV cases, activist says | Context by TRF Experts say a bill toughening Ghana's colonial-era law criminalising gay sex could derail the fight against HIV

Health advocates worry Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill "will make HIV rampant" and put not only queer people, but also all of society, at higher risk of HIV.

Read the full interview on Context:

@contextnewsroom.bsky.social

Activist freed on bail says EU must push Turkey on LGBTQ+ rights | Context by TRF LGBTQ+ activist Enes Hocaoğulları, who was jailed over a speech he made to Council of Europe, says Turkey risks 'becoming Russia'

"Queer rights and human rights should always be one of their top priorities. I don't understand what other wake-up call the European countries need. We (Turkey) are one step away from becoming the current Russia."

@contextnewsroom.bsky.social

Radio Free Asia Will Halt News Operations Amid Shutdown

Radio Free Asia is shutting down. Critics of Trump’s efforts to shutter federally funded news groups have warned that ceasing their news broadcasts would cede ground to Russian and Chinese propaganda networks that have moved aggressively to fill the vacuum.

YouTube video by Context Can AI bring back our loved ones?

Are AI-generated avatars the future of grief? This is a terrifying and fascinating video by my colleague Albert Han.

Watch it on Context’s YouTube channel:

@contextnewsroom.bsky.social

Who killed Germany's oldest gay club? Plus new worrying reports on how the U.S. foreign aid cuts are hitting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in East Africa.

🪩 In the latest issue of my global LGBTQ+ newsletter I wrote about the closure of Germany's oldest and largest LGBTQ+ club, how Trump's aid cuts are hitting queer asylum seekers in Kenya, and more:

Kenyan LGBTQ+ safe houses 'overwhelmed' as cuts hit refugee camps | Context by TRF Nairobi's queer safe houses are pushed to the brink as LGBTQ+ refugees flee hunger in Kakuma camp hit by aid cuts

"The food crisis in the Kakuma camp has complicated the situation of already vulnerable queer refugees."

Kenya's safe houses for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are struggling to cope with the impact of Donald Trump's foreign aid cuts.

Germany's largest gay club to shut in fresh Berlin nightlife blow Germany's largest LGBTQ club SchwuZ announced on Thursday the venerable Berlin institution's lights will turn off for good on November 1, making it the latest casualty of the German capital's nightlif...

Germany's largest LGBTQ+ club SchwuZ announced yesterday the venerable Berlin institution's lights will turn off for good on November 1, making it the latest casualty of the German capital's nightlife recession.

In Trump era, firms still back LGBTQ+ rights - only quietly | Context by TRF Trump's attack on DEI policies has prompted Big Business to adopt under-the-radar policies to advance LGBTQ+ rights, says new CEO of Open for Business

🏳️‍🌈 A new era of corporate engagement for LGBTQ+ rights has begun. The new normal won’t be Pride logos on social media and public statements in support of same-sex marriage or trans rights, but private conversations with decision makers who understand that LGBTQ+ inclusion is good for the economy.

'They break you': Colombia debates a ban on conversion therapy LGBTQ advocates have documented a range of conversion therapy practices in the country that include humiliation, exorcism, food deprivation, electroshocks, waterboarding and rape.

Thrilled to see my story for Context/the Thomson Reuters Foundation on the fight to ban conversion therapy in Colombia republished by NBC News.

Read it here:

“They break you” - Colombia debates a ban on conversion therapy | Context by TRF One in five LGBTQ+ Colombians have undergone this practice, and previous bills to ban it have failed to pass

"Fear has to change sides. We used to be ashamed of having gone through this. But they should be the ones who are ashamed of having done this."

I wrote about the fight to ban LGBTQ+ conversion therapy in Colombia.

“They break you” -- Colombia debates a ban on conversion therapy | Context by TRF One in five LGBTQ+ Colombians have undergone this practice, and previous bills to ban it have failed to pass

🇨🇴 One in five LGBTQ+ Colombians have undergone some form of conversion therapy. Now, a bill seeks to ban these practices, which are often described as a form of torture.

@contextnewsroom.bsky.social

My latest story from Bogotá 👇

My global LGBTQ+ rights newsletter has just reached 600 subscribers 🌈

Thanks to everyone who’s supporting my work and has shared it with their loved ones.

If you don’t know it yet, you can read it and subscribe (for free!) here:

👉 enriqueanartelazo.substack.com

Gay rights in Japan, HIV prevention and the "Czech Donald Trump" Oh, and meet the brand new "LGB International" against trans rights.

Did you know I write a weekly newsletter to help people understand global LGBTQ+ issues?

This week I cover the latest details on Burkina Faso’s new anti-LGBTQ+ law, the launch of an “LGB International” that will campaign against trans rights across borders, and more.

Read and subscribe here:

Far-right Czech coalition risk to LGBTQ+ rights, activists say | Context by TRF Czech election winner Andrej Babiš looks to form a coalition with anti-LGBTQ+ parties that oppose same-sex marriage

🇨🇿 Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš has entered into coalition discussions with anti-LGBTQ+ parties after his ANO party triumphed in the Czech Republic election at the weekend, leaving queer activists concerned for the future of marriage equality.

@contextnewsroom.bsky.social

Old social media posts can still be "LGBT propaganda" in Russia Plus some eye-opening new data on being trans in countries like Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Did you know I write a weekly newsletter to help people understand global LGBTQ+ issues?

This week I cover Russia’s crackdown on queer content online, European elections, Vietnam’s worrying change of course, and more.

Read and subscribe here:

A test for Germany's self ID law To ID or not to ID?

The October edition of Context’s "Policy, honestly" newsletter is now out - and it's by me!

I looked into trans self-determination laws in Germany and Europe, and what we can learn from the countries that have had self-ID for more than a decade.

Read it here:

‪Young people care about the news. We just need to be there for them – as journalists, as media outlets and (yes) as creators as well.‬

Yesterday I posted a TikTok on Slovakia’s anti-LGBTQ+ constitutional amendments, adding context regarding the Slovak PM’s controversial stance on Russia.

In 24 hours it has gained more than 100K views, 8K likes and 800 shares, mostly by under 35s.

The Rainbow Compass | Enrique Anarte | Substack Your compass to big and underreported LGBTQ+ news worldwide. I want to uplift vital stories, help you stay updated and guide you through the global fight for queer rights. Click to read The Rainbow Co...

If you care about LGBTQ+ rights across the world, please consider subscribing to my (free!) weekly queer news newsletter 👇

I’m writing next month’s issue of Context’s “Policy, honestly” newsletter 🚨

The piece will focus on trans self-ID laws across Europe and Latin America 🏳️‍⚧️

Subscribe at this link now to get it in your inbox on Wednesday:

👉 www.context.news/newsletters

Moldova: Ruling pro-EU party wins election – DW – 09/29/2025 Moldovans voted in a high-stakes election to decide whether the country moves closer to the European Union or Russia. The defeated pro-Russian party has called for a protest against the results. Follo...

🇪🇺 The pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has secured a majority in a pivotal Moldovan election that is set to keep the country on track to joining the EU.

The First Lady is (not) trans Plus a crucial election in Eastern Europe, a promising bill in South Korea and a big decision in D.C. that will be felt in the Global South.

I wrote about the far-right’s obsession with anti-trans conspiracy theories targeting First Ladies and other powerful women 👇

🇸🇰 Slovakia has amended its constitution to restrict the rights for trans people and same-sex couples.

🏳️‍🌈 Slovak LGBTQ+ rights organization Inakost said: "This amendment directly threatens our membership in the EU, bringing us even closer to authoritarian Russia."

I’m writing next month’s issue of Context’s “Policy, honestly” newsletter 🚨

The piece will focus on trans self-ID laws across Europe and Latin America 🏳️‍⚧️

Subscribe here to get it in your inbox on Oct 1:

👉 www.context.news/newsletters