Japan: Newly elected LDP leader and defacto prime minister Shigeru Ishiba (above) faces pressure to improve the LGBT rights situation in the country – but it’s unlikely the LDP will advance anything through parliament. It’s worth noting, though, that Ishiba was one of only two candidates to respond to Marriage For All Japan’s survey on LGBT issues. While he wouldn’t commit to legalizing same-sex marriage, he said “I’ll take judicial decisions regarding the same-sex marriage into consideration as well, since the Constitution regulates marriages.”
South Korea: Despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering the National Health Insurance Service to provide spousal benefits to same-sex couples, the NHIS is refusing to comply, telling LGBT applicants that they’re still setting up a program for them to apply to.
Guyana: Guyana’s Tourism and Hospitality Association is calling on the government to repeal the country’s unenforced, colonial-era sodomy laws, saying it will help the country grab a share of the $200 billion LGBT travel industry. Well, any ally’s a good ally, I suppose.
Ireland: The government is moving forward with an LGBT-inclusive hate crimes bill, after bowing to opposition pressure to remove a section that would have expanded existing hate speech laws to add protections for trans and nonbinary people.
Poland: A new poll shows 2/3 support for civil unions, as well as majority support for same-sex marriage and step-child adoption. The civil union bill is set for parliamentary debate next month.
Hungary: Anti-LGBTQ prime minister Victor Orban is calling on queer candidates of his Fidesz party to discreetly out themselves – and presumably, step down – to avoid further scandals ahead of 2026 elections. The party has been rocked by numerous sex scandals exposing their hypocrisy on LGBTQ issues.
Canada: More on how the BC Conservatives want to remove an anti-bullying program from British Columbia schools because trans. The provincial election is October 19.
Mexico: A state deputy in Baja California State is planning to begin a review of the governor’s veto earlier this year of a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to adopt.
National LGBT activists will be meeting at conference in Veracruz Nov 15-17. Veracruz activists are pushing the state government to pass a gender identity law and a local ban on conversion therapy (which would supplement the national ban passed earlier this year).
Argentina: Local legislators are looking to ban conversion therapy in the capital district, Buenos Aires.
Capital Punishment
Taiwan: The Constitutional Court upheld the death penalty while severely curtailing its use, by limiting its scope to the most serious offences and adding new standards for defense and sentencing. While disappointing for abolitionists, this is a step in the right direction.
Zimbabwe: The government has asked Parliament to fast-track its Death Penalty Abolition Bill, with hopes that it’s enacted by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, in the States
Colorado: Two Catholic pre-schools are suing for exemptions to the state’s anti-discrimination law because gay. They’ve lost at state and federal courts, but they’re appealing to the Supreme Court.
Virginia: Republicans are stepping up challenges to conversion therapy bans, with a new challenge filed against Virginia’s ban. Courts have upheld bans in Washington and Colorado, and a challenge is pending in Michigan, but the federal court has blocked bans in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. These challenges are likely to eventually make it to the Supreme Court, due to circuit splits.
Texas: The state is suing the Biden administration over a rule that requires state foster agencies to place LGBTQ children with affirming foster homes, because, you see, Texas would rather see queer children who’ve lost their parents placed with people who hate them.
Errata
Wednesday’s newsletter went out incorrectly stating Thailand was the 29th marriage equality country – it’s actually the 39th. Thanks to everyone who messaged to point out the error!