Exclive: In the first full terview wh a servg Brish ambassador about beg gay, Judh Gough scrib what life is like Ukrae for her, her partner, and their children – and how she tackl homophobia while promotg LGBT rights.
Contents:
- THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE BEG AN AMBASSADOR TO AN ANTI-GAY COUNTRY WHEN YOU'RE A LBIAN
- FIRST OPENLY GAY UK AMBASSADOR ‘PROUD’ TO BE ISRAEL
- MANY BRONS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE
- MARK GOODG OBE, NEW BRISH AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND, IS OPENLY GAY AND MARRIED
- UK APPOTS OUT GAY AMBASSADOR TO CAMBODIA
- MALAYSIA CUTS SHORT MIC FT AFTER BRISH BAND SLAMS ANTI-GAY LAWS, SGER KISS MALE BANDMATE
THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE BEG AN AMBASSADOR TO AN ANTI-GAY COUNTRY WHEN YOU'RE A LBIAN
Indonia summoned Bra's ambassador on Monday to expla the raisg of a lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr (LGBT) flag at s embassy, and urged foreign missns to rpect lol "sensivi" followg a backlash among nservativ. * british gay ambassador *
Although bans on homosexualy were lifted for the foreign servic Bra and Ameri the early 1990s, prejudice and stigma often lgered and has taken two s for out gay reer diplomats to rise through the ranks to such senr posns.
FIRST OPENLY GAY UK AMBASSADOR ‘PROUD’ TO BE ISRAEL
* british gay ambassador *
'World is Changg'Davidson is at the foreont of the first generatn of ambassadors who are openly gay, and often also now married, to reprent their untri. State of Idaho)—or, to give the full name, Internatnal Day Agast Homophobia, Transphobia and largt worldwi LGBTI solidary event is held every May 17—to memorate the World Health Organizatn's cisn 1990 to classify homosexualy as a mental disorr—and the 2017 theme is "fay" all s also will be marked this year by the release om prison the U.
MANY BRONS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE
The UK has appoted an openly gay man as ambassador to Cambodia. Mark Goodg, who is a civil partnership wh tn specialist Dr Christopher McCormick, will take up his new post September. * british gay ambassador *
Davidson and Chang, 35 first beme advertent gay role mols 2014 Cha—where they both were prevly posted—after their marriage nducted at the Brish embassy Beijg provoked a viral firtorm on social media.
In Bangkok, the ambassador has opened the doors to their home for the welg receptn for the ternatnal gay and lbian group ILGA, ftoong his 90-year-old home rabow flags for a night. "It also clus many iends, gay and straight, who have supported on this journey and will play a role raisg Elt a lovg, diverse muny.
MARK GOODG OBE, NEW BRISH AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND, IS OPENLY GAY AND MARRIED
It's the first time any diplomatic missn has flown a gay pri flag the religly nservative Arab Gulf, g ntroversy. * british gay ambassador *
"Havg a high-profile out gay Brish ambassador Bangkok—here wh his hband and child—monstrat that LGBTI people n take up such a role wh the support of their own fai. If Stt and I n provi a unterbalance to that as a gay uple livg what are perceived as regular, normal married liv, that's all to the good.
UK APPOTS OUT GAY AMBASSADOR TO CAMBODIA
Malaysia’s ernment has cut short a mic ftival after the lead sger of Brish band The 1975 slammed the untry’s anti-gay laws and kissed a male bandmate durg their performance. * british gay ambassador *
Poonkasetwattana, who is executive director of APCOM, an Asia-Pacific muny work that advot for the rights, health and well-beg of sexual mori, echoed that noted that while Thailand is a tolerant society, even scribed by some as a gay "paradise", there are still ser challeng, cludg discrimatn agast transgenr people, sensatnalized and mockg verage of LGBTI news the media, the endurg surge of HIV/aids, and no regnn of the legal rights of same-sex partners. "The ambassador is an out gay man who unrstands the stggl faced by LGBTI people and has given strong support to our work, " he said.
MALAYSIA CUTS SHORT MIC FT AFTER BRISH BAND SLAMS ANTI-GAY LAWS, SGER KISS MALE BANDMATE
"He don't let the opportuny pass to highlight that he is gay wh a fay Bangkok and this learship is extremely valuable to remd those ernment about LGBTI rights the regn. Legislatn that allowed same-sex upl to marry on Brish diplomatic terrory untri where gay unns are held their weddg at the ambassador's rince Beijg 2014 what Davidson said was tend to be a "low-key" ceremony wh jt 60 guts. Dpe Thailand's reputatn as a generally welg haven for gays and lbians, the kgdom do not allow or regnize same-sex marriage unns, so he uld not arrive on the ual spoal documents.
After growg up small town Northern Ireland, and studyg law at Try College, Cambridge, Davidson joed the FCO 1985 wh apparently impecble qualifitns—except he was hidg his gay inty om an stutn that emed homosexualy a "character fect" and sack-able "offence" until 1991.