Candace Owens is barred from New Zealand, Pride in London announces bid for World Pride 2030, and trans candidates are running for office in Nepal.
Candace Owens Barred From New Zealand
Controversial right-wing influencer Candace Owens has been denied an entertainer’s visa to New Zealand, weeks after being barred from entering Australia.
Immigration spokesperson Jock Gilray confirmed the rejection, citing policies against granting visas to individuals excluded from other countries. Owens was denied entry to Australia in October for remarks denying Nazi medical experiments on Jewish concentration camp inmates.
According to Pink News, Owens, known for inflammatory statements, has referred to LGBTQ people as a “sexual plague on society.” She also accused TikTok of “socially engineering” men to be gay and called Disney “child groomers.”
Despite visa issues, Owens is still advertised for events in New Zealand and Australia next year, with no mention of her bans on the promoter’s website.
London to Bid for World Pride 2030
Photo via Adobe.
Pride in London has announced plans to bid for World Pride 2030, a 10-day global festival celebrating LGBTQ rights. Christopher Joell-Deshields, head of Pride in London, said the event would go beyond "just a parade," featuring discussions on LGBTQ inclusive education and banning conversion therapy.
According to BBC, Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed strong support, describing London as "a beacon of inclusiveness, acceptance, and diversity," and he was "hugely proud" of the bid.
World Pride promotes visibility and awareness of LGBTQ issues globally. Washington, D.C., and Amsterdam are set to host the event in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
London previously scaled back hosting duties for World Pride 2012 due to funding challenges, but hopes for a full-scale celebration in 2030.
First Out Trans Candidates Running for Office
Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan. Photo via Free Malaysia Today, Facebook.
For the first time in Nepal’s history, two openly trans candidates, Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan, are running for public office in the upcoming local by-elections. Despite sharing the same surname, the two candidates are not related.
Honey, 44, is campaigning to become Mayor of Kirtipur, a municipality near Kathmandu, while Mouni is running for a ward chair role in the same area. Both represent the People’s Socialist Party Nepal.
According to Pink News, although Nepal is celebrated for its progressive LGBTQ rights, the country has not seen an openly LGBTQ person in public office since 2008. Honey hopes her candidacy inspires others.
“Until now, not one of our community members had exercised the right to run for mayoral elections in Nepal.”
Honey shared how discrimination shaped her resolve.
“When I remember my past, it’s like a nightmare because I faced a lot of discrimination and abuse. Like other transgender people, I want to change this. We are also part of this society and can contribute to its betterment.”
Babu Pant, Nepal’s first openly gay member of parliament, called the candidacies “a hugely positive development.”
“Our voice has not been present in lawmaking bodies. This is a hopeful step forward.”
