WHAT'S ON

The LGBTQIA+ community is mourning the loss of sydney‑based performer Brent Thorpe sadly passed away on 6 January 2026 at age 61

New data suggests people from sexual minorities die younger. For the first time, population-level data links sexual orientation from the census with national death records. The findings go far beyond mental health, pointing to deep, structural health inequalities that are not inevitable and can be changed.

The queer community is in shock after the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras confirmed it has cancelled the iconic Mardi Gras party. New CEO Jesse Matheson described the move as a heartbreaking but necessary decision to protect the future of the festival.

Russia has just taken another swing at queer rights. The Russia Ministry of Justice has added ILGA World – a global LGBTIQA+ rights federation linking 2,000+ groups in 170 countries to its list of “undesirable organisations”.

OpenAI’s decision to introduce advertising into ChatGPT marks a major turning point in how artificial intelligence will be funded, used and possible trusted.

The ACT Labor Government has confirmed it will review and toughen the Territory’s hate crime and vilification framework, including looking at whether the worst forms of hate speech should become criminal offences.

Victoria has moved ahead with new 'Hate Speech' protections that, for the first time, clearly cover LGBTIQ+ communities, with the changes due to be fully in force by June 2026. The reforms expand anti‑vilification laws beyond race and religion, introduce new criminal offences for serious hate conduct, and strengthen civil options for people targeted because of who they are or who they love.

LGBTIQ+ groups are calling on the federal government to include greater protections for their communities in its proposed overhaul of hate speech legislation. 

Kazakhstan follows Russia in banning ‘LGBTQ propaganda’ While the Kazakhstan government says being LGBTQ+ isn’t illegal, the new LGBTQ+ 'propaganda'  raises serious concerns about censorship, visibility, and the silencing of queer voices.