Activists demand new LGBT rights laws in Cuba, Mexico
A preview of big developments to come in the next few days
Cuba: LGBTQI activists are calling on the government to introduce a comprehensive trans rights law, as well as comprehensive and inclusive sex education, and a law on gender-based violence. Trans Cubans already have access to gender-confirming surgeries under the law, and are able to update their names and gender markers on identification.
Mexico: A federal legislator says she believes that the bill to ban conversion therapy nationwide will finally get its final vote in the Chamber of Deputies within the coming weeks, though there has been some opposition to move it forward from the far right. It’s been a year since the bill was passed out of the Senate.
Meanwhile, a state deputy in Michoacan has introduced a bill to ban conversion therapy in that state, and a state legislator in Guanajuato has proposed a bill to penalize anti-LGBT hate crimes. Hate crimes laws have been passed in 17 states (out of 32).
The United Nations has appointed South African Graeme Reid as its new independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. I interviewed Reid nearly ten years ago for Xtra Magazine about LGBT rights in Africa, and the then-new Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In courts:
Japan: A court struck down the requirement for trans people to have sterilization surgeries before they are allowed to change their gender markers on their IDs was unconstitutional, in the latest in a string of court victories for LGBT people in Japanese courts. The decision does not set a binding precedent, but a similar case coming up at the Supreme Court could. As a reminder, appeal courts will be hearing several same-sex marriage cases at the end of the month.
Bulgaria: A court found that a punk rock musician not guilty of discrimination against the LGBT community, after she made offensive posts on her Facebook that criticized Pride Parades and labelled participants “perverts.” This is probably the right decision, to be honest. At least based on the words quoted in the article, Milena Slavova’s post is unpleasant, but doesn’t rise to incitement to violence, nor do the words directly impact any individual person.
India: The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its ruling on same-sex marriage next week. The rest of the story linked here tries to compare countries that legalized same-sex marriage through courts or legislative processes, but is full of errors. Canada is listed as having done it legislatively, but that’s only after the courts had legalized it in about 90% of the country. The US and Mexico are listed as having done it through the courts, overlooking the several states that had legalized it through their legislatures first. Estonia is incorrectly indicated on a map as having done it by the courts. UK, French and Dutch territories are not indicated on the map either.
New governments:
Slovakia: Anti-LGBT populists and far-right nationalists have agreed to form a new government, dashing hopes that Progressives may have found a way into power. The coalition may also put a strain on ties among EU and NATO states, as the PM-designate has been staunchly pro-Russia.
Poland heads to the polls this weekend, in a battle that pits a progressive party that has promised abortion and civil union rights against the incumbent deeply conservative party that has staunchly opposed LGBT rights.
Meanwhile, in the States:
Florida Democrats have reintroduced a bill to ban the gay/trans panic defense in the state. It is not likely to pass with Republicans controlling the state legislature.
A group of Congressional Republicans has moved to expel gay Republican New York Representative George Santos following his latest indictment for fraud and other offenses. But they can’t even elect a Speaker right now, so who knows where this will go?