World Wide Wave

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week formally reminded the United States embassy that foreign missions – quote – “are not to interfere in our domestic social and political matters”. They added that is included such issues as “how sexual orientation should be dealt with in public policy”.

So how did the USA supposedly interfere? They provided non-financial support to a webinar with US author, Lee Badgett, who spoke about the findings of her recent book – The Economic Case for LGBT Equality. The invitation-only event was run by not-for-profit Oogachaga LGBT Counselling Service, who were immensely surprised by the rebuke.

In a place where homosexuality, is illegal yet there are legal gay bars, it is clear that Singapore is a land of complexity. One thing that is clear though – the Singapore government doesn’t like the international community getting involved in what they see as their business. So tonight we delve into what is behind this culture and why LGBTI rights aren’t progressing, with our friend of the show Yangfa Leow, the Executive Director of Oogachaga LGBT Counselling Service in Singapore.

Listen to the week’s World Wide Wrap where we round up all that was in international LGBTIQ+ news for the week to May 25, 2021.

World Wide Wave aims to promote awareness of international LGBT issues. Our program provides in-depth analysis and interviews. We focus on the challenges facing the global LGBT community as well as some of our successes.

We take pride in interviewing a wide range of international LGBT people and supporters including politicians, activists, academics, parents, authors, students, professionals and more.

There can’t be many in the LGBTQI community who are not aware that the Eurovision Song Contest is back on. After its cancellation last year, this year’s contest will be held in the Dutch city of Rotterdam and for us in Australia, it all starts very early Wednesday morning and climaxes with the Grand Final from 5am this Sunday Australian time.

This year’s contest will be very different to those most would be familiar with – with a limited audience and Australia is competing remotely. Let’s hope they remember to come off mute! To get a feel of what life is like in The Netherlands for the LGBTIQA community and the impact of the Eurovision Song Contest, we spoke to Simon Timmerman, team leader of the COC Song Festival…Eurovision’s little sister song festival.

Listen to the week’s World Wide Wrap where we round up all that was in international LGBTIQ+ news for the week to May 18, 2021.

World Wide Wave aims to promote awareness of international LGBT issues. Our program provides in-depth analysis and interviews. We focus on the challenges facing the global LGBT community as well as some of our successes.

We take pride in interviewing a wide range of international LGBT people and supporters including politicians, activists, academics, parents, authors, students, professionals and more.

Hate crimes against LGBTI people are on the rise in Germany. Homophobic attacks and politically motivated violence reported to police increased 36% last year. Of more concern is that the numbers show an upward trend in recent years. But what is behind this trend and is the LGBTI community being targeted specifically?

The Lesbian and Gay Association is a civil rights association for Germany’s LGBTI community. They have been watching this trend with alarm and is calling on Germany’s Federal Government to set up a commission to shine a light onto this increasing problem. Sarah Ponti is their Policy Officer, and she joins us from Germany.

Listen to the week’s World Wide Wrap where we round up all that was in international LGBTIQ+ news for the week to May 11, 2021.

World Wide Wave aims to promote awareness of international LGBT issues. Our program provides in-depth analysis and interviews. We focus on the challenges facing the global LGBT community as well as some of our successes.

We take pride in interviewing a wide range of international LGBT people and supporters including politicians, activists, academics, parents, authors, students, professionals and more.

Australia has caused a stir in Africa! Australia’s High Commissioner to Ghana suggested to their Parliamentary Speaker that we would be disappointed if the West African country brought in new laws that discriminate against LGBTI people. Let’s just say that the message was not well received. But that is perhaps not a surprise as we give you a glimpse tonight into the struggles of Ghana’s LGBTI community.

Being visibly gay is hard enough in Ghana but to advocate for a societal change in a country that doesn’t want you is very brave. Abdul-wadud Mohammed represents LGBT+ Rights Ghana – an advocacy group that uses social media to drive visibility for the LGBT community.

Listen to the week’s World Wide Wrap where we round up all that was in international LGBTIQ+ news for the week to May 4, 2021.

World Wide Wave aims to promote awareness of international LGBT issues. Our program provides in-depth analysis and interviews. We focus on the challenges facing the global LGBT community as well as some of our successes.

We take pride in interviewing a wide range of international LGBT people and supporters including politicians, activists, academics, parents, authors, students, professionals and more.

From as far back as 1858, homosexual activity has been legal in Turkey, and the former Ottoman Empire. While discrimination is certainly present, Turkey is still seen as relatively tolerant compared to other Muslim-majority countries. However since 2014 under the current conservative President Erdoğan, LGBTI rights have been jolted backwards.

It’s clear the LGBT community is not alone – with attacks on the rights of women, opposition political candidates and the ethnic minority Kurd population. The latest flashpoint has been student groups at Universities, where student protests have led to direct targeting of LGBT students and their supporters. Emma Sinclair-Webb, the Turkey Director for Human Rights Watch, joins us tonight to bring us up-to-date.

Listen to the week’s World Wide Wrap where we round up all that was in international LGBTIQ+ news for the week to April 27, 2021.

World Wide Wave aims to promote awareness of international LGBT issues. Our program provides in-depth analysis and interviews. We focus on the challenges facing the global LGBT community as well as some of our successes.

We take pride in interviewing a wide range of international LGBT people and supporters including politicians, activists, academics, parents, authors, students, professionals and more.