Category: News

Aug 16
Christchurch man speaks out after suspected homophobic Grindr attack

A young Christchurch man is warning other LGBTQ+ people to take care when meeting people through dating apps after an encounter arranged on Grindr ended with him in hospital. The 21-year-old, who has chosen to remain anonymous, arranged to meet someone at Woolston Park in April after chatting on the gay dating app. But when […]

Aug 16
Indonesia’s LGBTQ+ community targeted in warning over Independence Day festivities

Indonesia’s influential Ulema Council has warned against traditional cross-dressing festivities, linking them to what it describes as an LGBTQ+ “movement”. Indonesia’s top Islamic clerical body has warned people against taking part in cross-dressing traditions during Independence Day celebrations, claiming they could promote LGBTQ+ identities. Indonesia celebrates Independence Day on 17 August, commemorating its declaration of […]

Aug 15
Aucklanders Get First Taste of Functional Fitness at Rainbow Games Preview

Rainbow Games 2026 gave Aucklanders a taste of one of its newest sports this morning, with a successful Functional Fitness preview showing that you certainly do not need to be a gym junkie to get involved. Held at 312 Fortitude in Onehunga on Saturday 15 August, the special one-hour session invited participants to put Functional […]

Aug 15
FOODIE BITES: Our Favourite Dining in Queenstown Lakes 

From an old favourite to wood-fired indulgence and world-class views, these restaurants showcase the region’s irresistible dining scene.  THE BUNKER  Any long-time YOUR EX reader knows The Bunker is my favourite restaurant in the world. After months spent eating around Europe in my twenties, my first meal here blew every dish from that trip out of the water. Years later, its emerald-green, mahogany-and-leather […]

Aug 14
Australias One Nation distances itself from ex-candidate’s anti-gay remarks

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and federal MP Barnaby Joyce have distanced themselves from former Western Australian candidate Parminder Singh after he made a series of homophobic comments. Singh, who was number three on One Nation WA’s Legislative Council ticket at the 2025 state election but was not elected, made the comments in a video […]

Aug 14
Lesbian In The Wild: What My Rugby Coach Taught Me About Staying ‘Safe’ in Women’s Bathrooms 

Jessie Lewthwaite reflects on her lesbian rugby coach and why today’s transgender bathroom debate echoes a longer history of LGBTQ+ suspicion and exclusion. My high school girls’ rugby team was very bad at the sport. We were from a poor school; most of our players had to drive over an hour to get to practice, and […]

Aug 14
Queenstown’s Big Queer Party Weekend

Winter Pride is taking a hiatus in 2026, but anyone who already booked flights, accommodation and annual leave still has plenty to pack for. Queenstown’s annual Winter Pride festival may be taking a break this year, but the rainbow community certainly isn’t abandoning the mountains. From Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September, independently produced LGBTQ+ […]

Aug 14
New Australian-Backed $8 Million Initiative to Tackle Pacific HIV Crisis Announced

A new Australian-backed programme will support Fiji and neighbouring Pacific nations to strengthen HIV prevention, testing, treatment and community-led care. The 30-month Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) programme is funded by the Australian Government and will initially focus on Fiji, where new HIV infections have risen sharply. New infections in Fiji increased tenfold […]