Art often conveys messages through creativity. The topic of this month's LGBTQ+ Art article is no exception. It educates those who see it on LGBTQ+ individuals who have had a big enough impact to help shape our world.

Attracting a big audience each year to take a stroll through the exhibit, the Legacy Walk spans half a mile of a street in Boystown, Chicago. With tall rainbow structures made of steel, people come to walk the street and learn about LGBTQ+ history from this display that was declared a Historic Landmark in 2019.

These steel structures are the home of the largest collection of detailed bronze biographical memorials in the world. The memorials commemorate impactful LGBTQ+ individuals. Not only this, but these are folks whose contributions, gender identity, or sexuality have been omitted from historical texts. New memorials are added every year on October 11th, National Coming-Out Day. The display is both inspiring and educational, but not nearly big enough. In 2018, it ran out of space for new additions. A temporary solution of rotating between the memorials to make room for new ones is in place. However, there are plans for a new, separate area that will house the memorials that are rotated out, which will allow them to still be available to view!

Art that raises awareness and spreads LGBTQ+ acknowledgement and inspiration is becoming more and more common. Just like any representation, it is so great to be able to see yourself in communities, the media, art, and more!

On top of being open to the public, the Legacy Walk is going to become an outdoor classroom to help educate youth and support LGBTQ+ youth. Being exposed to LGBTQ+ history makes so much difference in the perception of the community as well as the stigma surrounding it. I hope to see more displays, such as this one, being made!

Welcome back to another edition of LGBTQ+ News, where we report on recent issues revolving around the LGBTQ+ community.

I would like to start us off over in Singapore, where the prime minister has stated that they will be repealing a law that criminalizes homosexual relationships (Section 377A). Although there is still a long way to go, this is a step in the right direction for the country. However, within the same statement, Lee Hsien Loong also said they wouldn't be allowing same-sex marriages, nor would they change the social conduct surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Its broadcasting codes will still disallow the promotion of LGBTQ+ lifestyles, and children will not be taught about sexuality and gender, either. Currently, Taiwan is the only Asian country to recognize same-sex marriages, and although multiple countries are currently working on changing this, there are no concrete steps being taken right now.

Another positive change regarding LGBTQ+ rights in Asia is in Vietnam. They've now officially adopted the global LGBTQ+ health standards that include the recognition that same-sex attraction and being transgender are not mental health conditions. This comes together with the view that one does not need to go through conversion therapy since it cannot be cured. In recent years they removed same-sex unions from the list of forbidden relationships, and it is no longer illegal to change one's first name and legal gender.

The Ugandan government has suspended the country's leading gay rights organization, with the accusation that it has been operating illegally in the country. Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug, for short) hadn't been able to successfully register with the country's NGO bureau, thus being an illegal organization in the government's eyes. Its executive director had called the suspension "a clear witch-hunt rooted in systematic homophobia that is fuelled by anti-gay and anti-gender movements". The country has strict anti-gay legislation, though in recent years no consensual same-sex relationships were prosecuted based off of said legislation.

In Ghana, "The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021," also known as the anti-LGBT bill, has gone through its first reading in Parliament. If the bill comes to pass, which it is suspected it will, it would make it illegal for any person to identify as LGBTQ+, an offense that would be punishable by five years in prison. It would also force intersex people to undergo corrective surgery. Advocating for LGBTQ+ rights would be punished even harsher, and one could face up to ten years in prison. Since the introduction of the bill, violence against the queer community has risen heavily, as people view it as permission to kill, abuse, or otherwise stop, according to queer activist Leila. Leila herself was arrested in March 2021 at a training event for paralegals helping minorities, along with 21 others, and was subjected to abuse by officers before being released after multiple months.

A fundraiser to replace a popular and famous gay bar in East London has reached its goal of £100,000 as of August 1st, which meant it had just a little over 24 hours left before the deadline. Started by The Friends of the Joiners Arms (Fotja) and joined by comedians Stephen Fry and Joe Lycett to prevent the loss of yet another LGBTQ+ space, a promise was made that so long as they made the target by August 2nd at 8 PM, a replacement bar would be able to open by the end of this year.

This was August's news. I'm sorry we could not report more happy news for you. Tune back in next month to hear about September, with hopefully more positive pieces of news!