Belgium bans "conversion therapy"
Meanwhile, America escalates its spat with Jamaica over its gay ambassador
Belgium’s lower house of Parliament gave final approval to a bill that bans “conversion therapy,” in a unanimous vote with one abstention from a far-right politician. Apparently, the upper house does not need to give its approval to this bill, so all that remains is for the king to sign and publish it. The bill bans all conversion therapy, which can carry fines, jail time, and (if applicable) suspension of medical licenses. Belgium joins Cyprus, which banned it earlier this year.
Meanwhile, in Austria, the unlikely conservative-green coalition government is split on a proposed conversion therapy ban, because the conservatives don’t want it to cover trans people. Parliament unanimously called on the government to ban conversion therapy two years ago.
The USA is escalating its diplomatic spat with Jamaica over the latter’s refusal to grant a diplomatic visa to the same-sex spouse of a proposed US ambassador by calling out the government publicly. Get the popcorn.
Namibia’s President has delivered a confusing statement on the bills that criminalize same-sex marriage — he opposes same-sex marriage and is happy the bills have passed through Parliament (with an additional technical vote to come), but also supports the Supreme Court’s decision to recognize foreign same-sex marriages, which the bills seek to overturn. Oddly, the Namibian press are treating this as if it’s perfectly clear.
Malawi’s Constitutional Court has adjourned its case seeking to decriminalize gay sex until Aug 28.
Over the weekend, Spain will vote in national elections that are expected to sweep a right-wing government into power in a coalition with the far-right and very anti-LGBT Vox party. Vox has pledged to repeal Spain’s recently passed trans law, and is staunchly opposed to gay marriage and adoption, despite both being legal in Spain for nearly twenty years. Vox is also anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, anti-clean energy, and opposes the rights of Spain’s linguistic minorities.