Indonesia flogs a gay couple under the harsh Sharia law, HIV funding cuts threaten lives in South Africa, and Pride Toronto loses sponsors amid U.S. DEI rollbacks.
Indonesia Flogs Gay Couple Under Harsh Sharia Law
A couple in Indonesia’s Aceh province has been sentenced to public flogging after being accused of engaging in same-sex activity. The two men, aged 24 and 18, were arrested in November when neighbors broke into their rented room and found them naked.
According to Pink News, Judge Sakwanah sentenced them to 85 and 80 lashes, stating, “During the trial, it was proven that the defendants committed illicit acts.”
Aceh enforces strict Sharia law, criminalizing homosexuality with up to 100 lashes. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, condemn these punishments as inhumane. In 2021, two men were publicly flogged 77 times for similar accusations. Despite an international outcry against this practice, Indonesia continues its crackdown on LGBTQ rights.
HIV Funding Cuts Threaten Lives Across South Africa
Photo via Adobe.
Massive funding cuts by the U.S. are forcing HIV programs across Africa to shut down, with experts warning of dire consequences. The cuts could lead to 500,000 additional deaths in South Africa alone over the next decade.
“This is a death sentence for mothers and children,” said Dr. Lynne Mofenson of the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Aids Foundation, which has lost funding for three major programs.
According to The Guardian, the U.S. is slashing over $60 billion in foreign aid, impacting services for orphans, pregnant women, and marginalized groups. Thousands of healthcare workers are losing their jobs, and essential HIV research is being halted.
Experts are now urging African governments to step in and prevent a looming public health disaster.
Pride Toronto Loses Sponsors Amid US DEI Rollbacks
Photo via pridetoronto.com.
Pride Toronto, one of North America’s largest LGBTQ celebrations, has lost three major sponsors following President Donald Trump’s purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the U.S. The sponsors, fearing backlash, have distanced themselves from LGBTQ causes.
“There is a level of fear that has been instilled into them by [Trump’s] administration,” said Kojo Modeste, Pride Toronto’s executive director.
While Modeste assured that the festival’s size and quality would not be affected, he warned that this could signal a broader global rollback of LGBTQ funding.
According to The Guardian, observers say Trump’s DEI cuts, which have already led to at least 30,000 U.S. federal job losses, are having a chilling effect on businesses abroad. Canadian corporations like Shopify have also scaled back diversity programs.
Experts argue that diversity initiatives drive innovation and long-term business success.
“Diversity is important for innovation and creativity and key to gaining a competitive advantage,” said Eddy Ng, a specialist in equity and inclusion at Queen’s University.
While some fear further cuts, others hope Canadian businesses will resist following the U.S. lead and continue to support DEI initiatives despite political pressure.
