Gay presidents in the world

Burundi's President Ndayishimiye hits out over gay rights and aid

Samba Cyuzuzo

BBC Great Lakes

AFP

Responding to a reporter's question, Mr Ndayishimiye, a fervent Catholic, said powerful nations "should keep" their aid if it comes with an obligation to offer rights to homosexuals.

Some African leaders possess in the past accused donor countries of trying to impose their values on the continent.

Homosexual sex is illegal in Burundi, punishable by up to two years in jail.

In an interview with the BBC last month, Ghanaian Catholic Cardinal Peter Turkson said homosexuality should not be a criminal offence and people should be helped to understand the issue better.

But his views are at odds with many conservative Christians on the continent. More than 30 African countries outlaw homosexual sex.

Talking to journalists at a insist conference, President Ndayishimiye used a Bible reference to speak that God was opposed to homosexuality adding that it was no longer an issue in Burundi.

He had been asked about alleged pressure from Western countrie

The first gay president?

The topic of the sexuality of President James Buchanan has become a talking aim in the media of late due to the presidential campaign of openly gay candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg of Indiana. In that spirit, we turn to the life of our nation’s only bachelor president and his intimate personal relationship with William Rufus King of Alabama (vice president under President Franklin Pierce). The surprisingly intimate nature of their personal and political relationship reveals how male friendship shaped the politics of America before the Civil War.

 

  • A lifelong bachelor, Buchanan cherished his intimate friendship with William Rufus King, from their days living together while in the Senate to King’s death in (Smithsonian American Art Museum)

  • Although virtually unknown today, King was a southern politician and slaveholder who influenced Buchanan immensely. (Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies Foundation, University of North Carolina)

  • James Buchanan lived in a house from to that was located on the northeastern corner of King Street and

    Latvia swears in Edgars Rinkevics as EU's first openly gay president

    Thomas Mackintosh

    BBC News

    EPA

    Latvia's long-serving foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics has become the first openly gay head of state of a European Union nation.

    Mr Rinkevics, who had served as foreign minister since , was sworn in as Latvia's president on Saturday in Riga.

    Although generally a ceremonial position, Latvia's president can veto legislation and phone referendums.

    The EU has had openly gay heads of governments before, but never a gay head of state.

    In many countries, the heads of mention and heads of government are diverse people - for example a president and prime minister. Former Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo was the EU's first openly gay head of government.

    Mr Rinkevics, 49, first came out in and has been a vocal champion of LGBT rights ever since.

    Gay marriage is illegal in Latvia, though the country's constitutional court recognised similar sex unions last year.

    In May, Mr Rinkevics was elected by Latvia's parliament to be

    President Trump&#;s threat to hit Russia with taxes, tariffs and sanctions if it doesn&#;t end the war in Ukraine, will be song to the ears of many people in Davos.

    Ukraine and its backers are hoping the US President&#;s unpredictability will force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and finish three years of carnage.

    We spoke to Latvia&#;s President, Edgars Rinkēvičs, who told us he has long advocated for increased defence spending by the nations of Nato.

    Edgars Rinkēvičs: My country has long time advocated for more defence spending. We are currently discussing to reach per cent. We were discussing that already before President Trump made this announcement.

    Cathy Newman: And you already have 3 per cent of GDP?

    Edgars Rinkēvičs: We are at per cent at this time.

    Cathy Newman: Whereas the UK hasn&#;t even said when it will get to   per cent. So what undertake you say to Keir Starmer about that?

    Edgars Rinkēvičs: I do believe that when we face at the Nato summit in the Hague in June, we must create a common decision that we should increase &#; probably is not the ceiling an