Conversion therapy bans advance in Mexico
Polls show growing support for equal marriage in southeast Asia
Down in Mexico, conversion therapy has officially become illegal in the states of Queretaro and Yucatan, after both states finally published laws to that effect in their official gazettes. Queretaro’s legislature passed the ban in June, but Yucatan’s ban was passed way back in August 2021 and effectively blocked by the governor until activists began a pressure campaign last week. A federal ban awaits a final vote in Congress.
Activists are also calling for the state congress of Veracruz to “unfreeze” bills to ban conversion therapy and recognize change of gender in the state, and for the state congress of Guanajuato to “unfreeze” several bills relating to codifying marriage equality, recognizing gender identity, banning conversion therapy, and fighting hate crimes.
A Pew survey of attitudes toward same-sex marriage in Southeast Asia found some surprising results: majorities support same-sex marriage in Thailand and Cambodia, and opposition only tilts 51-45 in Singapore. Majorities still oppose equal marriage in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, all countries that have laws criminalizing gay sex.1 Last year, Singapore passed a constitutional amendment that bars the courts from legalizing same-sex marriage, but allows Parliament to pass it by simple majority. Thailand’s new government has previously pledged to introduce marriage equality.
The Supreme Court of Kenya has dismissed a challenge from a lawmaker seeking to overturn their decision allowing LGBT groups to register under the NGOs act. The decision found that the government could not discriminate based on sexual orientation.
I invite you to treat with skepticism this sensationalized report about Zimbabwe police arresting a couple on sodomy charges after one partner complained to police that the other had deceived him by pretending to be a woman while they lived together.
Armenia’s Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, abolishing the death penalty in all circumstances, including war crimes. This leaves Azerbaijan as the only Council of Europe member that has not ratified the protocol.
Meanwhile, a new bipartisan effort is afoot to abolish the death penalty in Ohio.
Indonesia doesn’t have a specific national law against gay sex, but does have a law barring sex outside marriage, which hasn’t yet been tested if it applies to gay sex. Some states also apply Shariah law bans on gay sex at the local level.
A bill to decriminalize gay sex is pending in Sri Lanka.