Philippines gay party accepted

The Philippine Supreme Court recently overturned a decision barring a gay rights group from contesting national elections in May and recognized it as a legitimate political party for the first time.

Voting 13-2, the court threw out decisions by the Elections Commission denying accreditation to Ang Ladlad (Out of the Closet) on grounds that it tolerates immorality and offends Christians and Muslims.

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Malawi to hold ‘indecency’ trial

Two men in Malawi will stand trial early this month on charges of “gross indecency.”

Their alleged crime was engaging in same-sex sex.

A Malawi judge delayed his verdict in the case in late March, prompting protests from human rights organizations around the world. The judge’s action set the case for a hearing in April, and further delayed any release of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who have been denied bail since late December.

Monjeza, 26, and Chimbalanga, 20, have been detained in maximum-security Chichiri prison in Blantyre since police arrested them Dec. 28, 2009, following their engagement ceremony in Chirimba township.

“The trial of these men, purely on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation, is a gross violation of their rights to freedom of conscience, expression and privacy,” said Veronique Aubert, deputy Africa director at Amnesty International.

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Gay-themed film challenges boundaries in Malaysia

Malaysia’s first gay-themed movie could hit cinemas within months, its producer said, after government censors eased restrictions that have stifled the film industry here for decades.

Although the Malay-language movie – “Dalam Botol” or “In A Bottle” – won’t have explicit sex or even kissing, its screening would be a huge step forward for freedom of popular media in this Muslim-majority country that many fear is coming under the influence of Islamic conservatism.

“We are taking a risk,” Raja Azmi, a longtime movie producer, said in an interview this week. “I’m very nervous. We still don’t know if the censors will allow our movie to be shown in the end.”

Raja Azmi submitted a preliminary script last year to the Home Ministry’s Film Censorship Board, which verbally approved it after advising her not to shoot scenes of men kissing or being in bed together.

Censors also told her to change the original title: “Anu Dalam Botol,” or “Penis in a Bottle.”

from WiG and AP reports

Police cancel Indonesia conference

Indonesian police ordered the cancellation of an LGBT conference in March, saying it could prompt violent protests by conservative Muslim groups.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association conference was expected to host participants from 16 countries.

Police in Surabaya banned the event to keep the peace, according to national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Sulistyo Ishak.

“There are indications that the event could trigger a social crisis and cause public unrest,” Ishak said. “This ban was issued for the sake of public order.”

ILGA is a worldwide federation of more than 560 LGBT groups. It has held conferences in India, the Philippines and Thailand.