Russian court fines Google for "LGBT propaganda"
A Russian court fined Google three million rubles (roughly $39,000) on Thursday, May 11, saying the company failed to remove YouTube videos that promote "LGBT propaganda" and "false information" about the war in Ukraine. According to Reuters, the tech giant is one of dozens of Western companies that have been fined in the last year in an effort to censor what Russian citizens can see online.

The Kremlin passed strict censorship laws last year after sending troops to Ukraine and shortly after widened its legal interpretation of what qualifies as Queer propaganda.

According to Reuters, the Russian subsidiary of Google filed for bankruptcy in December of 2021 after a fine of approximately $93 million led to Russian authorities seizing the company's bank accounts. The fine was reportedly also due to "repeated failure" to delete content.

UN expert "deeply concerned" by UK rise in anti-LGBTQ hate speech, violence
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, whose official title within the UN is "Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity," released an extensive report Thursday, April 11 attributing the increase in hate crimes toward the Queer community in the UK to "abusive rhetoric by politicians, the media and social commentators."

"A rampant surge in hate crimes has been attributed to the toxic nature of public debate surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity," said Madrigal-Borloz.

Among the many flaws found in the UK's handling of LGBTQ rights issues, Madrigal-Berloz notes the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission recently promoted the reduction in human rights protections for members of the Trans community. "These actions were admittedly with the objective of withdrawing trans women from legal protections to which they are entitled under the Equality Act," said Madrigal Borloz.

Madrigal-Borloz's report also expresses concern over continued delays in legislation banning sexual conversion practices and the overrepresentation of LGBTQ persons among the unhoused. The expert also urged politicians to

The entire report, as well as an in-depth summary, can be read by going to https://www.news.un.org/.