Czech, Lithuania same-sex bills face opposition
New governments in Luxembourg, Netherlands may advance LGBT rights
France: The Senate yesterday debated a bill to compensate victims of homophobic laws that were put in place by the Nazi-aligned Vichy regime and persisted after the liberation until 1982. The scheme will offer living victims 10,000 euros plus 150 euros for each day spent in jail on charges stemming from the differential age of consent and public indecency laws. Austria recently announced a similar scheme, and it follows compensation schemes announced in Spain and Germany.
Lithuania: The governing coalition is struggling to get enough of its members, and some of the opposition, to vote in favor of final reading of the civil union bill. Earlier this month, MPs voted down the government’s attempt to repeal the “LGBT propaganda” law, in part because the coalition wouldn’t hold together (and apparently because a party that supports LGBT rights but was booted from the governing coalition is withholding its vote for spite). The government is still optimistic the civil union law will pass by the end of its term next year.
Czechia: The Constitutional Committee failed to come to a position on the same-sex marriage bill, and also failed to vote on proposed amendments that would change registered partnerships into “marriage in all but name.” It also postponed debate on the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Supporters are still hopeful that if the bill reaches the full Chamber of Deputies, it can still pass, although this doesn’t look like it will happen very soon.
Netherlands: Dutch voters went to the ballot boxes today and the results could shape progress on LGBTQIA+ rights for the near future, as a far-right party is currently leading in the polls. Most of the other parties have signed on to a “Rainbow Ballot” agreement that includes banning conversion therapy, banning unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, and introducing recognition of non-binary identities.
Although the Netherlands is generally recognized as a leader on LGBT rights, it has slipped on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map ranking and currently hold a middling score relative to other European countries which have bene pressing on the vanguard of queer issues.
Early returns show the far-right party taking the most seats, but far short of a majority. Once seats are allocated, the parties will spend much time forming a coalition agreement, and it’s still possible, even likely, that the far-right is shut out of government.
Luxembourg: Just to the south, a government coalition agreement has been signed, with former (openly gay) Prime Minister Xavier Bettel taking on the role of Foreign Minister. LGBT issues aren’t at the forefront, but some welcome changes are included, including a promise to update family law for automatic parenting recognition for same-sex couples, adoption to become available for unmarried couples and singles, and an effort to incorporate non-binary people in national action plans on discrimination and violence.
Brazil: Ten years after same-sex marriage became legal nationwide, same-sex couples still face bureaucratic difficulties involving forms that suppose married couples are heterosexuals. A group of parliamentarians is asking the courts to step in and force the government to update these forms and processes, particularly around tax forms.
Also, the National Council of Justice issued a ruling forbidding discrimination against LGBT people in the adoption process. Again, this had been legal for a decade, but judges frequently denied adoptions on homophobic or transphobic grounds.
And that’s it for this week! It’s Thanksgiving in America, so I’ll be taking tomorrow and Friday off, unless something major happens. Enjoy your holiday!
And if you’re looking for a great Black Friday deal on some sexy art, check out my Etsy shop, where everything I’ve made is 50% off with free US shipping until Monday!