IT has been a busy week in LGBTI news, and the list below is the Star Observer’s highest-rating online stories of the week.

We featured a special on Fair Day, which is on tomorrow, as well report on the new lockout laws for Sydney nightlife venues that will now come into effect on February 24 – five days before the Mardi Gras Parade. While the laws will not affect the Parade itself nor the official Party – LGBTI venues along Oxford St will have to abide by them.

Also, we chat to openly-gay NZ ice skater Blake Skjellerup, who has criticised the IOC for not doing enough to stand up to the rights of LGBTI Russians and visiting athletes for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

We also put the cost of HIV treatment in the spotlight, and released the copy of our latest Mardi Gras festival guide, which you can read in digital flip-book format.

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IOC OR I-NO-C? ORGANISATION REMAINS COMPLACENT ON EVE OF SOCHI

WITH less than 48 hours before the opening ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, openly-gay New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup has become the latest Olympian to slam the IOC for not doing enough to stand up against discrimination. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/international-news-news/ioc-or-i-no-c-organisation-remains-complacent-on-eve-of-sochi/117673

FAIR DAY TO KICK OFF MARDI GRAS ON SUNDAY

SYDNEY will once again ring in the start of Mardi Gras season in style with Fair Day on Sunday. To be held at Camperdown’s Victoria Park again, the event officially kicks off the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival and it is one of the biggest and much-loved community events on the city’s LGBTI calendar. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/features/entertainment-features/festival-guide/mardi-gras/fair-day-to-kick-off-mardi-gras/117593

GOOGLE CELEBRATES THE WINTER OLYMPICS WITH A RAINBOW

TO celebrate the launch of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Google have changed their landing page with graphics depicting some of the official sporting events of the games, including skiing, bobsleigh racing and ice skating – on rainbow colours. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/the-beat/google-celebrates-the-winter-olympics-with-a-rainbow/117845

ARTWORK FOR TAYLOR SQUARE TO PERMANENTLY MARK LGBTI CONTRIBUTION

TAYLOR Square will have a permanent LGBTI memorial in five years time with a permanent public artwork to be installed in the area to mark the 40th anniversary of Mardi Gras in 2018. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/new-south-wales-news/artwork-for-taylor-square-to-permanently-mark-lgbti-contribution/117862

YOUTH STUDY REVEALS WIDESPREAD ANTI-LGBTI DISCRIMINATION

A NEW in-depth study of LGBTI and queer youth has revealed insights into the experiences of these young people, including statistics around poor mental health, self-harm and attempted suicide linked to homophobia and transphobia. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/youth-study-reveals-widespread-anti-lgbti-discrimination/117867

MORE COUNTRIES WITH ANTI-GAY LAWS THAN FIRST THOUGHT

A NEWLY-launched website to help track countries with anti-gay laws has found that homosexuality is considered a crime in 80 countries around the world, higher than previously thought. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/international-news-news/more-countries-with-anti-gay-laws-than-first-thought/117545

 

STUDY FINDS RAINBOW FAMILIES ARE DOING JUST FINE

LGBTI parenting groups have said they are not surprised a new report has revealed children in same-sex families were just as likely to achieve positive outcomes in life as children of heterosexual couples. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/study-finds-rainbow-families-are-doing-just-fine/117649

 

HIV TREATMENT COSTS PUT IN THE SPOTLIGHT

THE Alfred hospital’s quashed plan to introduce a co-payment scheme for HIV medications last year has prompted an upcoming community forum held by Living Positive Victoria on the cost of HIV treatment in Victoria.

It will also coincide with the release of a report commissioned along with the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre (VAC/GMHC) from the Burnett Institute, focusing on reducing financial barriers to HIV treatment. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/hiv-treatment-costs-put-in-the-spotlight/117650

 

LOCKOUT LAWS TO COME INTO EFFECT DAYS BEFORE MARDI GRAS

THE new nightlife lockout laws for Sydney CBD will come into effect five days before the Mardi Gras Parade night. The rest of the festival period will remain safe from the lockout laws, but mandatory sentencing for one-punch fatal attacks came into effect across NSW last weekend. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/new-south-wales-news/lockout-laws-to-come-into-effect-days-before-mardi-gras/117746

SCOTLAND VOTES FOR GAY MARRIAGE

SCOTLAND has followed New Zealand and voted 105 to 18 in favour of same-sex marriage despite strong opposition from some quarters – the first gay and lesbian weddings could take place this autumn. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/international-news-news/scotland-votes-for-gay-marriage/117731

 

PROPOSED POLICE MOVE ON POWERS MAY IMPACT LGBTI PROTESTS

THE Victorian Government’s proposed ‘move-on’ powers for the state’s police may impact the freedoms of the LGBTI community to organise and participate in public protests, according to a human rights group. | FULL STORY: https://starobserver.com.au/news/proposed-police-move-on-powers-may-impact-lgbti-protests/117597