Belarus has adopted a controversial law banning the “propaganda” of consensual same-sex relationships, gender reassignment, and voluntary childlessness, aligning itself with a growing number of nations that criminalise discussions and positive portrayals of LGBTQIA+ identities.
Tag: Syria
Belgium 16th safest country in 2025
Belgium has been ranked among the world’s 20 safest countries for 2025, according to the latest edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI). The country placed 16th overall, achieving a score of 1.492 out of 5, where lower scores indicate higher levels of peace.
PALERMO | Palazzo dei Normanni, the Royal Palace of the Normans in Sicily
March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the…
Rhodes
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…
UPDATE | 65 countries where gay sex is illegal in 2025
The tally of countries with anti-homosexuality laws has again risen to 65 with last month’s official publication of a homophobic new penal code in Mali in West Africa, Erasing 76 Crimes reports. This means that in January 2025, 65 countries (and other entities) criminalise gay sex.
UPDATE | 64 countries where gay sex is illegal
On 22 April 2024, the High Court of Dominica in the island nation of Dominica in the Caribbean struck down its ant-sodomy law. Time for an update. Both ILGA World and Erasing 76 Crimes count the countries and US states which have laws against gay sex. Spoiler alert: the number of countries criminalising gay sex…
EU Transport Ministers outline the future of European (train) mobility in a Brussels Declaration
Last week, Transport Ministers from European Union member states convened for an informal meeting in Brussels. At the moment, Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union until 30 June 2024. Following the meeting, there was a ‘Brussels Declaration on the mobility of tomorrow‘.
ANTWERP | ‘Stories of Refuge’ exhibition at Red Star Line Museum
Until 11 December, the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp hosts the temporary exhibition ‘Stories of Refuge‘. A topical exhibition, now with the war Russia is waging against Ukraine.
Travel guide for people with HIV
For World AIDS Day, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) and its charitable IGLTA Foundation created a travel guide for people living with HIV, the ‘LGBTQ+ Travel and HIV: Navigating the World Safely‘. Travelling as an out LGBTQI+ person can be challenging, travelling as person with HIV as well.
REVIEW | Orient-Express exhibition at Train World, Brussels’ railway museum
Today, Train World in Brussels‘ Schaerbeek railway station opened its Orient-Express exhibition. The exhibition recounts the story of this legendary train brand and its creator, Georges Nagelmackers.