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Though Bangladesh’s LGBT community has long been marginalized—with gay sex punishable by life imprisonment—in 2014, a surge of visibility occurred with the launch of the country’s first LGBT publication, Roopbaan. Read the full article here: After Grisly Murders, Bangladesh LGBT Community Is Terrified

Police detained four revellers attempting to hold a banned “rainbow rally” to mark Bengali New Year in the Bangladeshi capital Thursday, amid heightened security threats. Read the full article here: Four revellers held after Bangladesh bans ‘rainbow rally’  

The group had earlier vowed to press ahead with the colourful New Year event despite online posts by Islamists against the rally, with calls to beat up parade participants posted on Facebook. Read the full article here: Bangladesh ‘rainbow rally’ cancelled over permit issue

Roopbaan, a group which promotes freedom of love and gender equality in the Muslim-majority nation, says its members will be part of the new year parade to be held in central Dhaka on Thursday Read the full article here: Bangladesh group to hold ‘rainbow rally’ despite threats  

The organisation has arranged the event for the third time following Mangal Subhajatra with a slogan “Boishakh, Boichetra and Bandhutta” (Boishakh, diversity and friendship), says its media release on Wednesday. Read the full article here: Roopbaan to celebrate Boishakh with Rangdhanu Jatra

This year, thus, the LGBTQ community feared that the rally would be under fire, and rumor was that the extremists would target the participants especially ‘leaders’. However, on the day of the event, the rally saw almost similar number of participants as the last, fewer old faces, and more new and spirited ones! Read the…

Since there was no apparent LBGT connections, the rainbow rally was applauded by the thousands who came to Dhaka University area to enjoy the festivities of Poila Boishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year. They took photos and selfies as the human rainbow walked from the Faculty of Fine Art building up to Ruposhi…

‘While the invitations [on Facebook] were targeted towards LGBT and allies, it was clearly mentioned that it will not be a LGBT or a pride parade. As much as we’d like to do a pride parade, this is the maximum we can afford at present.’ Read the full article here: Bangladesh gay magazine organizes diversity parade…

The 56-page magazine is named after the Bengali folk character Roopbaan, who symbolizes the power of love. The quarterly magazine, whose publishers wish to remain anonymous, will not be available on street newsstands, for fear of inflaming tensions and sparking a backlash against the gay community. Read the full article here: Bangladesh Gets Its First LGBT…