Bhutan drops its law against sodomy
The tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan became the latest country to decriminalize gay sex as its Penal Code Amendment Act came into force on Feb. 17, 2021. The process to remove the Penal Code’s Section 213 prohibiting “unnatural sex,” which was defined to include “sodomy”, began in 2019. The National Assembly, the lower house of […]
Number of nations with anti-gay laws drops to 71
The world is continuing its slow march toward full recognition of the importance of the human rights of LGBTQ people. With last month’s repeal of the anti-sodomy law in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the number of countries with anti-LGBTQ laws dropped to 71, down from 92 early in this century. Map of the 71 […]
In landmark ruling, Japan court says it is ‘unconstitutional’ to bar same-sex marriage
A Japanese court ruled on Wednesday that not allowing same-sex couples to get married is “unconstitutional,” setting a precedent in the only G7 nation not to fully recognize same-sex partnership. The ruling by a district court, the first in Japan on the legality of same-sex marriages, is a major symbolic victory in a country where […]
Mississippi governor signs bill banning trans athletes from school sports
On Thursday, Gov. Tate Reeves signed “the Mississippi Fairness Act” into law, requiring the state’s schools to designate teams by sex assigned at birth and prohibiting transgender student athletes from participating in school sports in accordance with their gender identity. In a March 4 tweet, Reeves said the law would “protect young girls from being […]
Equality Act is creating a historic face-off between religious exemptions and LGBTQ rights
In some ways, full LGBTQ rights has never seemed more within reach. First came the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Then its decision last year banning LGBTQ discrimination in employment. And now, for the first time since those rulings, a Democratic-led Congress and a president who vows to pass sweeping legal protections by […]
LGBTQ Catholics Are Stung by the Vatican’s Rebuff of Same-Sex Unions
The Vatican’s declaration that same-sex unions are a sin the Roman Catholic Church cannot bless was no surprise for LGBTQ Catholics in the United States — yet it stung deeply nonetheless. Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, said her organization’s membership includes same-sex couples who have been together for decades, persevering in their love for […]
Turkey’s LGBT+ endure brutal attacks amid Erdogan reign
When Miras Günes body was found a few days ago, her face was disfigured beyond recognition. The preliminary autopsy report revealed she was beaten to death with a hard object. Investigators are trying to find who was behind the attack on Günes, a trans woman from Izmir who had been reported missing in February. Just […]
Marriage between two women — a longstanding Kenyan tradition
Woman-to-woman marriage is one of the many forms of cultural practice recognised by some communities in Africa. Although this form of marriage is recognised by some communities in several African countries, there’s little legal backing or protection to it. Same-sex arranged marriage is culturally accepted so women who are unable to have children, or those […]
POLAND’S REPLACEMENT FOR ISTANBUL CONVENTION WOULD BAN ABORTION AND GAY MARRIAGE
The Polish government’s alternative to the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, which it has asked other CEE governments to support, would ban abortion and gay marriage, BIRN can reveal. Ahead of an expected vote this week in parliament on a draft law requesting the president withdraw Poland from the […]
LGBT+groups from eight parties call for legislation to ban conversion therapy
L GBT+ groups from eight political parties have called on the Government to introduce a legislative ban on conversion therapy. They have written to the Government Equalities Office after what they describe as a “disappointingly weak” response from Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch during a recent petitions committee debate. The groups, which include LGBT+ Conservatives, LGBT+ […]
“Ex-gay” pastor loses lawsuit against Vimeo for taking down videos promoting conversion therapy
A pastor who identifies as a “former homosexual” has officially lost his lawsuit attempting to force the video streaming service to host his videos promoting so-called conversion therapy. In a ruling issued this week, the court found that due to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, Vimeo was right to take down the videos […]
Israel Elections: Voters must take stock of LGBTQ-phobia in parties
Fighting for its political survival, with the polls pointing to it precariously hovering around the 3.25% electoral threshold, the last thing Meretz needed last week was for Ghaida Rinawie-Zoabi to alienate potential LGBT voters, one the key constituencies the candidate’s party represents. For as long as Meretz has been in existence, the promotion of equal […]
Indonesia’s LGBTQ community angry at rise of conversion therapies
Kai Mata found herself at the center of a homophobic storm last year when she posted a video of herself online denouncing a draft of bill that included articles on forcing LGBTQ people to undergo conversion therapy to “cure” their sexual orientation or gender identity. “I am Indonesian and LGBTQ+,” the caption of the video […]
Polish MEP complains of ‘psychological warfare’ after Europe is declared an LGBT+ freedom zone
Polish MEPs were up in arms after the European Union proclaimed itself an “LGBT+ freedom zone” in response to Poland‘s heinous “LGBT-free zones”. All 27 representatives from Poland’s homophobic ruling party PiS voted against the EU’s proclamation on Friday (12 March), which was passed by 492 votes to 141. The move came two years after […]
HOW SECTION 28’S PAINFUL LEGACY IS STILL BEING FELT THREE DECADES ON
In May 1988, Section 28, the most anti-gay piece of legislation of modern times, became law amid a tsunami of fear and hatred. By the mid 1980s, several years after the first reports of a disease then referred to as Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome (GRID), because it was said to affect mainly gay and […]
Poland cracks down on loophole that let LGBT+ people adopt children
Same-sex couples are currently not allowed to adopt under Polish law – however, some couples were able to get around the discriminatory policy by getting one partner to adopt as a single person. The Law and Justice party, which has made its opposition to LGBT+ rights a cornerstone of its governance, has announced that it […]
Why is the government facing a backlash from its LGBT+ advisory panel?
Revealing the results of one of the world’s largest ever surveys of LGBT+ people almost three years ago, the British government laid out some stark – albeit unsurprising – findings: two-thirds of respondents said they had avoided holding their partner’s hand in public for fear of negative reaction. An even greater number said they had […]
Sponsors of North Dakota’s transgender athletes bill have ties to anti-LGBT organizations
When state Sen. Janne Myrdal testified before the North Dakota House Human Services Committee in support of HB 1298, she said she believes the bill has little to do with transgender people. “For me, it is 100% a Title IX issue,” said Myrdal, the bill’s co-sponsor. HB 1298 – which would bar trans athletes from […]
Gay men in a monogamous relationship can donate blood from September
Men in a monogamous same-sex relationship will be allowed to donate blood in the Netherlands from September 1, 2021, the Dutch government has announced. For years, gay men in countries around the world have been prevented from being able to donate blood because of the perceived increased risk of them carrying blood-borne infections. Not too […]
Transgender woman Martine Delaney recognised for service to Tasmanian community
LGBT rights advocate Martine Delaney has become the first Tasmanian transgender woman to be recognised on the Honour Roll of Women — an award given to those who have made an “outstanding contribution” to the state. Ms Delaney said it was “humbling” to have been recognised. “It’s not been something that transgender women in Tasmania […]
Boris Johnson says conversion ‘therapy’ is ‘complex’ to deal with – but government vows to ban it ‘shortly’
Boris Johnson has said addressing the issue of so-called conversion ‘therapy’ is “complex” – as his government said it would bring forward plans to ban it in the UK. The PM described the practice of trying to change someone’s sexuality as “repulsive” and “abhorrent” when asked about it on a trip to Belfast on Friday. […]
Hungary’s top court throws out retroactive gender change ban
Hungary’s Constitutional Court on Friday said it had thrown out a government bid to stop people who have changed gender being recognised in official documents, an issue that pitched the ruling conservative Fidesz party against liberal critics. Anyone beginning the transition after the May 2020 legislation remains unable to win recognition for the change, but […]
UK charity launches world’s first LGBT+ climate fund
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A British charity on Thursday launched the world’s first fund to support LGBT+ people whose vulnerability to climate change is worsened by poverty and discrimination. The LGBTQI Climate Fund will give up to 5,000 pounds ($6,987) to campaigners advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in climate-related emergencies, said […]
EU lawmakers declare bloc LGBT+ ‘freedom zone’
The European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday declaring the European Union a “LGBTIQ freedom zone.” The measure seeks to ensure protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities across the bloc, while also pushing back against member states with anti-LGBT+ policies.” LGBTIQ rights are human rights,” the resolution reads. The measure […]
Colombia showcases its competitive advantages in sustainable tourism with Canadians
BOGOTA, Colombia, March 11, 2021 /CNW/ — During the first virtual “Annual Tourism Forum in Canada,” launched by ProColombia in February, it successfully facilitated 563 one-on-one meetings, bringing together 52 Colombian Tourism Suppliers and 33 Canadian tour operators. The event focused on highlighting meaningful travel experiences, sustainability, LGBT travel and purposeful meetings in Colombia through […]
Delhi High Court Grants Protection To Lesbian Woman Married Against Her Wishes, Directs Steps For Dissolution Of Marriage
In a major relief to a lesbian woman married against her wishes to a man of her family’s choice, a bench of Justice Mukta Gupta of the Delhi High Court today issued issued notice on the woman’s petition and directed the Delhi Police to ensure complete protection to the woman. Notably, taking a progressive stance […]
Romania: European Court to consider lack of implementation of freedom of movement law for same-sex spouses
In June 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a landmark judgement, recognising that same-sex spouses are also spouses under EU freedom of movement laws. Almost three years later, Romania has still not respected the judgement by granting the male spouse of a Romanian man a residence permit in Romania. Together […]
Panama: Bill Bars Same-Sex Couples from Adoption
Panama’s National Assembly passed a bill on March 3, 2021, that includes a discriminatory prohibition on adoption by same-sex couples, Human Rights Watch said today. Bill No.120, which aims to protect children and adolescents from unnecessary separation from their biological family, allows for adoption by both single persons and married couples. However, not only are […]
China proposes teaching masculinity to boys as state is alarmed by changing gender roles
No one invited Bu Yunhao to be in their group for the annual class trip. The other fifth graders at Shanghai Shangde Experimental School made fun of the 11-year-old, calling him “too girly.” “I wanted to run away, right out of the classroom,” said Yunhao, now 13 and a first-year middle schooler in Shanghai, China’s […]
LGBT+ refugees call on U.N. for safe space after Kenya camp attacks
LGBT+ people living in a refugee camp in northwestern Kenya urged U.N. officials on Friday to move them to a safer area following a series of homophobic attacks by other residents and locals. The refugees, who come from countries including Uganda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, said a section of the Kakuma camp […]