International Gaze

A London-based agency is conducting the world’s largest LGBT marketing research study – a survey reaching consumers in 14 countries.

The agency Out Now is conducting in the study in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Israel.

Thousands of people partied their way through Australia’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, held in late February.

The parade – one of the world’s largest gay pride events – had 9,400 participants and 135 floats and featured the theme, “History of the World” – a look at gay history.

The slayings this winter of two transgender women in Turkey highlight a pattern of violence and the need for stronger protection from the government, stated four Turkish and international human rights organizations in a letter to Turkish authorities.

The groups called on Turkey to remedy the conditions that place transgender people at risk from acts of violence by enacting anti-discrimination protections, instituting programs to combat prejudice and hatred and repealing laws that provide an opportunity for police to harass stigmatized groups. The letter was sent by Pembe Hayat (Pink Life), Human Rights Watch, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

The British group Stonewall recently released a report finding that two-thirds of LGBT students endure bullying in school.

The report prompted the group to launch Education for All, a campaign providing students, parents and teachers with the “tools, confidence and guidance … to tackle the epidemic of homophobic bullying,” read a statement.

Dutch media say around a hundred activists walked out of a church in the Netherlands to protest the Catholic policy of refusing communion to gays.

A state news service reported activists left the Sint-Jan church in Den Bosch, 60 miles southeast of Amsterdam, yelling and singing. The church was prepared for the protest and had decided not to give Holy Communion during its Sunday Mass.

The Vatican denied recently that it leaked documents that led to the resignation of a prominent Catholic editor, intervening in a tale of ecclesiastical intrigue that has dominated Italian headlines for weeks.

The Vatican No. 2 issued a statement saying reports that Vatican officials leaked the documents were false and that Pope Benedict XVI himself “deplored these unjust and insulting attacks” that were “defaming the Holy See.”

Sir Kenneth Dover, a distinguished historian of Greek culture who gained fame by admitting his wish to kill a troublesome colleague, has died at 89.

Dover died in a hospital in Cupar, Scotland, St Andrews University announced, without disclosing the cause of death.

About 5,200 naked people recently embraced each other on the steps of Sydney’s iconic Opera House for a photo shoot by Spencer Tunick.

Tunick, who is known for his nude group photos in public spaces, posed participants for more than an hour in a variety of positions.

A group in the conservative South American country of Guyana is demanding the government remove a colonial-era law that bans cross-dressing in public.

In an affidavit, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination said the law is no longer relevant and violates people’s rights.

Dusseldorf, Germany, is planning a celebration in July that blends the best of Oktoberfest and Pride.

The nine-day event, expected to draw crowds larger than Munich’s annual Oktoberfest, is the Largest Faire on the Rhine.