Equal Marriage bills coming up in Czechia, Greece, Liechtenstein
Democrats urge Biden to fight back against Florida trans drivers license ban
Czechia: Parliament will be debating the same-sex marriage bill at second reading today, including proposed amendments that would make civil unions legally equivalent to marriage, but still restrict the use of the word “marriage” to heterosexual couples, which seems like the most likely outcome. Meanwhile, a new survey shows only 8% of Czechs believe equal marriage will negatively affect them, while 80% say it will have no effect.
Liechtenstein: The same-sex marriage bill is on the agenda for the March 6-8 session of Parliament (item #33). According to the consultation report, the bill is widely popular, except with the local Catholic Church leadership (though the local archbishop recently changed, and the new one appears somewhat less hostile to it). The bill proposes to end registration of new civil unions, although old ones will be grandfathered in and can be converted to marriages.
Greece: Since we’re talking marriage, Parliament is still on track to vote on same-sex marriage next week, after the bill got strong support in committee hearings.
Japan: Wakayama Prefecture opened a same-sex partnership registry at the beginning of this month, and Yamaguchi announced plans to have one operating some time this year. This brings the total to 21 prefectures that have operating registries, plus 9 more that have them either on the way or some local equivalent, out of 47 total, representing 2/3 of the population. More court cases seeking equal marriage will be heard over the next month starting next week.
Moldova: The country denied refugee claims by five LGBT people who has fled Russia fearing persecution.
Monaco: I didn’t catch this earlier, but during its Universal Period Review at the UN Human Rights Committee, the UK recommended “reviewing legislation concerning same-sex couples to ensure continuity with rights and recognitions afforded to opposite-sex couples.”
UK Virgin Islands: The Constitutional Reform Committee report includes a recommendation that the territory specifically ban same-sex marriage in the constitution, noting a current court challenge on the issue. (The report is mostly about reform to the territory’s relationship to the UK and good governance.) It does note that the Territory is obligated by the European Convention on Human Rights to offer some form of civil partnership recognition to same-sex couples and families. It is not clear at this time how or when the Territory plans to amend its constitution.
You may note that the UK doesn’t see any need to impose on its territories what it calls out Monaco for.
Chile: Former president Pinera, who introduced a slew of LGBT equality reforms, including equal marriage, a trans rights law, and a hate crime law, has died.
Meanwhile in the States…
Congressional Democrats are urging the Biden administration to bar states from banning trans people from changing the sex markers on their drivers’ licenses under the federal Real ID Act, which sets standards for these IDs so that they can be used for air travel.
Iowa: The Republican governor has introduced a bill that would define gender to be biological sex, and require trans people’s birth certificates to mark them as such. The bill is being fast-tracked through the GOP-controlled legislature. Separately, Iowa Republicans also passed a bill granting students and teachers a right to bully trans students and teachers.
Indiana: The state government has created a snitch form to report schools that teach subjects like race, gender, and sexuality contrary to state guidelines. It would be a shame if people flooded it with false reports.
New Hampshire: State Republicans have introduced a bill to bar discussion of “sexual lifestyles” in the classroom. The bill requires that sex education courses do not include anything about “sexual orientation” or “gender identity,” which I don’t think is possible, unless you understand those terms to mean “homosexuality” and “transgender people.”
Georgia: State Republicans have introduced a bill that will bar recognition of trans people in law, and also remove sexual orientation and gender identity as categories under hate crime law.
Vermont: The state senate has passed a state constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights, including for LGBT people. It now goes to the state house for approval, and then must pass again after the next election (in November), in order to be placed on the ballot possibly in 2026 for ratification by voters.
Wisconsin: State democrats have introduced a similar equal rights amendment, but it stands 0% chance of passing the Republican-controlled legislature.