Weekly LGBTQ+ News from GPress.info as of July 6, 2026
TG House reports an increase in the individual persecution of LGBTQ+ people in Belarus since April, while Article 19.16 itself has already created a new framework of risk for media outlets, authors, story subjects, and readers inside the country.
In the region, the key event was the first prison sentence in Russia in a case involving “LGBT extremism.”
In Europe: London Pride and issues of trans protection, Pride safety, and conversion therapy.
Globally: U.S. court cases around the medical data of trans patients and a new wave of pressure on trans rights.
Belarus
TG House: In the first half of 2026, Belarus recorded an increase in the persecution of LGBTQ+ people
TG House published an overview of the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Belarus for the first half of 2026. According to the organization, since April 2026 there has been a significant increase in cases of individual persecution: arbitrary detentions, phone checks, interrogations, monitoring of social media, pressure on activists’ relatives, and recruitment attempts. In the first half of the year, TG House documented 20 cases of pressure and persecution by security forces.
Important stories on GPress.info this week
An openly lesbian woman on internalized homophobia and self-acceptance
The author describes how, as a teenager, she denied even the possibility of having a relationship with a girl, and how later she went through internalized homophobia, fear of rejection, the absence of an LGBTQ+ environment, and the search for a new sense of normality. The article ends with an important support section: surrounding yourself with a queer community, looking for accepting people, minimizing contact with a homophobic environment, and seeking psychological help if things are difficult. (GPress)
LGBTQ+ Journalism School
Future and GPress.info are launching a practical course for young people who want to try their hand at journalism, video blogging, and new media. The course starts online on July 21, 2026, with classes on Tuesdays at 18:00 Warsaw time; the application deadline is July 15. It is designed primarily for young LGBTQ+ people, but is also open to anyone interested in human rights, media, culture, society, and personal stories. (GPress)
“I finally came out of the closet”: Yegor on moving from Belarus to Spain
Yegor talks about how, at the age of 25, he left Belarus for Spain in order to live more freely and without constant fear. The article includes important details: the fear of being himself, the inability to speak openly about his identity, anxiety over possible persecution, preparation for leaving the country, deleting conversations, fear of surveillance, the first months in Spain, nightmares after moving, and a gradual sense of freedom. (GPress)
CIS / Post-Soviet Space
Russia: Owner and employees of the Pose club in Orenburg sentenced to prison terms in an “LGBT extremism” case
On June 29, Reuters reported that a Russian court had sentenced the owner and two employees of the Pose club in Orenburg to prison terms ranging from 2 years and 3 months to 7 years. This is the first criminal case following the Russian Supreme Court’s decision to designate the “international LGBT movement” as extremist. The club’s owner, Vyacheslav Khasanov, was sentenced to 7 years in a penal colony and a fine; manager Diana Kamilyanova received 6 years and 3 months; and art director Alexander Klimov received 2 years and 3 months. All denied the charges. (Reuters)
HRW continues to document expanding pressure on LGBTQ+ organizations in Russia
Human Rights Watch previously reported that Russian authorities had designated nine groups that helped LGBTQ+ people as “extremist.” These groups documented violations and provided legal, medical, and other forms of support. (Human Rights Watch)
Uzbekistan: ILGA-Europe and ECOM’s warning about the increased use of Article 120 remains relevant
ILGA-Europe and ECOM warn of the growing use of Article 120 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. It criminalizes consensual sexual relations between men and is used against trans women. The punishment can reach up to three years in prison. (ILGA-Europe)
Europe
London Pride 2026: Tens of thousands of participants, trans rights, and the question of real inclusivity
On July 4, the annual Pride parade took place in London. The Guardian reported more than 35,000 marchers from around 600 groups; organizers emphasized that Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. Issues raised in the context of the event included long waiting lists for gender-affirming care within the NHS, the absence of a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy, the decline of LGBTQ+ venues, and the rise in hate crimes. (The Guardian)
Bulgaria and the “anti-propaganda” logic remain an important European comparison
ILGA-Europe previously condemned Bulgaria’s law banning the “depiction” of LGBTI identities in educational institutions. Although the law was adopted in 2024, it remains an important point of comparison for Belarusian Article 19.16: a similar logic of “protecting children” is used to push LGBTQ+ people out of education and public language. (ILGA-Europe)
World
United States: Court blocks Justice Department attempt to obtain medical data of trans patients from a California hospital
On July 2, a federal judge in San Jose issued a preliminary injunction blocking an attempt by the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain the medical records of transgender minors who had received gender-affirming care at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, affiliated with Stanford University. Reuters reported that this was already the third court ruling limiting similar Justice Department attempts after comparable cases in New York and Rhode Island. (Reuters)
U.S. Supreme Court allows states to maintain bans on trans girls in school sports
On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for laws in Idaho and West Virginia restricting the participation of transgender girls in girls’ school sports teams. Reuters also separately analyzed how it is becoming increasingly difficult for transgender people to win cases before the current U.S. Supreme Court. (Reuters)
New York announces $15 million for access to gender-affirming care
The Office of the Mayor of New York City announced $15 million to support access to gender-affirming care: a direct care access fund, a call/text line, and research into healthcare barriers for trans and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers. Them also wrote that the decision came amid federal pressure on trans healthcare. (New York City Government)
Niger: The Guardian reports a “hunt” for LGBTQ+ people after new criminalization
On July 1, The Guardian reported mass arrests of LGBTQ+ people in Niger following the adoption of a new penal code that criminalized same-sex relations for the first time. According to the publication, at least 40 people have been detained, and HIV services for men who have sex with men have been severely disrupted. (The Guardian)
Madrid Pride: Annual high heel race as a vivid visibility format
On July 2, during Madrid Pride Week, the traditional high heel race took place: participants ran in shoes with heels at least 10 centimeters high. AP published a photo gallery of the event. (AP News)
Queer cinema summer 2026: Them rounds up new LGBTQ+ films of the summer
Them published a selection of seven LGBTQ+ films for summer 2026: Girls Like Girls, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, She’s the He, Blue Film, Stop! That! Train!, Leviticus, and Heartstopper Forever. (Them)
Vanity Fair: Five “pioneers” of queer films and the history of visibility in American cinema
Vanity Fair published an article about five queer filmmakers — Jamie Babbit, Kimberly Peirce, Gregg Araki, Gus Van Sant, and Luca Guadagnino — and how they changed the visibility of LGBTQ+ stories in cinema. (Vanity Fair)
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LGBTQ+ Migration: The Ultimate Guide to Relocating to a Safe Country
