UK: Olympian announces mission to push anti-Gay countries out of games
NBC reported October 8 on British diver Tom Daley's "mission" to ban from the Olympics all countries with a death penalty for homosexualty. Daley spoke of his intent while accepting the Sport Award at the 2021 Attitude Awards. "I think it's really important to try and create change," Daley said, "rather than just highlighting or shining a light on these things." NBC writer Matt Lavietes noted that there are 11 countries where homosexuality is punishable by death, and 60 others where homosexuality is otherwise criminalized. Many of them participated in the Tokyo Olympics.

Istanbul: Pride marchers acquitted for lawful gathering
Reuters reported on October 8 that a Turkish court has acquitted all 19 of the students who were charged with "refusing to disperse" and arrested during a Pride march in 2019. Reuters noted that, after the attempted military coup in 2016, local governments were given the authority to ban public gatherings. Such powers have since been rescinded, but even with homosexuality being legal in Turkey, "being lesbian, gay, or bisexual is often equated with a lack of morality," and the country ranks second to last in Europe on LGBT rights and protections.

Seoul: Dismissed Trans soldier reinstated posthumously by court
Reuters reported on October 7 that a Korean court has ordered the country's military to posthumously annul the dismissal of the late Staff Sergeant Byun Hui-su, who was declared "unfit" for duty after undergoing gender reassignment surgery and requesting a transfer to the military's women's corps. Byun took her own life in March, before the court case for her reinstatement had been resolved. The Korean military said it is evaluating whether to appeal the ruling. Korean human rights groups welcome the ruling, but say it didn't come soon enough