Costa Rica may ban conversion therapy
Vermont and New Hampshire advancing LGBT protections
I have a bunch of updates in the Los Angeles Blade this weekend. In British Columbia, Canada, an investigation has cleared police of wrongdoing in a highway chase that caused a tractor carrying an anti-LGBT banner to flip over. In another L for BC’s bigots, a recall campaign for their education minister has also spectacularly failed.
And a town councilor (pictured above) who tried ban public art in Littleton, New Hampshire — because she believes homosexuals are an abomination and rainbows empower a demon goddess — has declined to run for reelection, while an organizer of the local pride festival is running to replace her.
Costa Rica: The opposition Frente Amplio party has threatened to delay consideration of a bill to ban conversion therapy with 100 procedural motions, but it doesn’t look like they have the votes to block it. If I understand this story correctly, the bill will be brought to a vote on March 12.
Hungary: The Christian conservative president Katalin Novak has resigned after it came to light that she pardonned to a man convicted of attempting to cover up child sex abuse. The scandal has also taken down the former justice minister, who was leading the governing Fidesz party into EU elections this spring. To be clear, these are the people who claim that children need to be protected from LGBT people.
Finland: The presidential election ended yesterday with Finns narrowly choosing the conservative Alexander Stubb over his openly gay rival 52-48.
UK: The House of Lords debate on a conversion therapy ban bill was not great. Various lords raised the idea that it was somehow banning “thought crimes,” which is ironic, since the practice it seeks to ban actually punishes people for having gay thoughts. Anyway, the bill is unlikely to pass unless and until Labour wins the next election, anticipated this year.
Speaking of conversion therapy, we’re still waiting on Mexico to hold a final vote on its ban bill, expected in March.
Greece: Reminder that Parliament is set to vote on the same-sex marriage and adoption bill on Thursday. The current bill excludes same-sex couples from being eligible for surrogacy, but it’s expected that the restriction won’t stand up to a court challenge. In all other respects, same-sex couples will be treated equally. A small protest against the bill was held outside Parliament Saturday, with estimates putting the crowd at 1,500 (for perspective’s sake, Athens has a population of over 3 million).
Japan: This week we’re also looking at the start of new appeals in several same-sex marriage cases winding their way through the courts.
Kenya: MPs are set to debate more anti-LGBT bills when Parliament resumes this week. One stiffens penalties for gay sex, another would authorize priests and imams to give anti-homosexuality coaching in schools, and another would legalize surrogacy but explicitly exclude same-sex couples from being eligible to use it.
Meanwhile in the States…
Two key special elections tomorrow: The special election in New York to replace disgraced Congressman George Santos could return a Democrat to the House, narrowing the Republicans’ already slim majority (though they’re not seriously in danger of losing it before November; and an upcoming Democrat resignation will widen it temporarily again).
And a special election in Pennsylvania will determine if Democrats retain control of the currently tied State House. If Republicans gain control, they may try to advance more anti-LGBT bills, but they’ll likely be stopped by the Democratic governor; if Dems keep control, they’ll try to advance more pro-LGBT bills, but they’ll likely be stopped by the Republican-controlled Senate. It’s a great system we’ve got!
New Hampshire: Yes, more New Hampshire. The state legislature is close to passing a bill that bans racial profiling by police, and the bill also bans profiling based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which is somewhat surprising given the legislature’s narrow Republican majorities. It awaits a final vote in the state senate and concurrence to amendments in the house. But don’t get too excited, Granite State Republicans are also working on a bunch of anti-LGBT education bills.
Vermont: State House Democrats have passed a bill to expand pay equity protections to cover race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. It heads to the State Senate.