Australia: New South Wales has finally introduced its conversion therapy ban bill, and it’s gotten a good review from the openly gay (independent) legislator who first proposed a ban. It will likely pass easily through the state parliament. Bans have been enacted in Queensland, Victoria, and the Capital Territory, and have been proposed in Tasmania and Western Australia.
Poland: Politicians are gearing up for contentious bills on progressive topics, including several bills to legalize abortion that have already been introduced, and a civil union bill that is expected before the end of the month.
Canada: Are Pride flag bans spreading in Alberta? Not yet – the city of Drumheller (famous as the place where dinosaurs were first found) decided yesterday not to ban Pride flags and Pride crosswalks.
UK: England’s National Health Service will no longer prescribe puberty blockers for trans youth, the latest step in the deepening moral panic about trans issues sweeping the UK.
Hungary: The EU is suing itself over its decision to unblock funds to Hungary last year. The Parliament has decided to sue the Commission for not safeguarding EU funds from Hungary’s rampant corruption and lack of rule of law, when it decided to unblock the funds in exchange for Hungary lifting its veto on funding for Ukraine.
And tomorrow, we’ll have new equal marriage updates from two court cases in Japan and one from the Supreme Court of Nepal, and the beginning of debate on a marriage bill in Thailand!
Meanwhile, in the States…
PPRI’s latest polling is out, and it shows broad support for LGBT rights, including marriage and nondiscrimination laws across basically all demographics, states, races, and party affiliations in the US. While there have been some reports a dip in support for marriage, it’s a pretty small dip that is close to the margin of error.
And Veteran’s Affairs has ended its ban on IVF treatment for same-sex and unmarried couples.
Colorado Republican congressman Ken Buck announced his resignation effective next week, shrinking the GOP’s majority to 218-213, albeit temporarily.
Florida: The state has settled a court case over its “Don’t Say Gay” law, and the agreement greatly reduces the scope of the law. Basically, the settlement says that discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity is only banned if it’s part of classroom instruction, and only if discussed in sexually explicit terms. So, anti-bullying policies, displays of pride flags, discussion of LGBT people, books with LGBT characters are all basically ok under the law going forward.
This seems to be of a piece with the decline of Governor DeSantis’ influence in the state, which is manifesting as Republican leadership appearing to tire of ‘anti-woke’ politics. The Washington Post has a report on how most the anti-LGBT agenda that was proposed in the state legislature this year failed.
West Virginia: The state legislature adjourned without passing the slate of 20+ anti-LGBT bills that were on its agenda.
Oklahoma: The state senate passed a bill that would bar the state from requiring foster/adoptive parents to affirm sexual orientations or gender identities that go against their religious beliefs, and the bill heads to the house. The bill’s sponsor says it would still allow the state to take the child’s sexual orientation or gender identity into consideration when placing them.
Wisconsin: An effort to ban conversion therapy in Green Bay hit a snag as the committee reviewing the bylaw killed it. The mayor is hoping to bring it back before the full council on March 19, the last meeting before local elections.