EU Conversion therapy ban petition gets 1 million signatures
Is Texas about to finally repeal its sodomy law?
UK: Fallout from the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that trans women don’t count as “women” under equalities law for the purposes of spaces reserved by sex continues. It seems there’s still wide disagreement over what that means in many practical considerations. In Scotland, the local parliament Holyrood has announced existing bathrooms are now designated by biological sex only, and it’s constructing new, separate all-gender bathrooms that trans people (and anyone else) can use. Meanwhile, teachers unions are calling for clearer legal guidance on what this means for trans students using bathrooms and changerooms.
EU: A union-wide petition to ban conversion therapy has gathered more than 1 million signatures. Only 8/27 EU nations – France, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Greece – currently ban the practice; there have been proposals to ban it in Ireland, Netherlands, Finland, and Austria, but none appears likely to pass soon. It’s now up to the EU Commission to issue a reply, however, it’s unlikely that the EU will be able to ban the practice union-wide.
French President Macron tweeted his support for the ban over the weekend.
Moldova: The city council of the capital Chisinau has banned LGBT Pride marches and any activities to promote LGBT rights in educational institutions and public buildings with historical significance. The mayor is saying this doesn’t restrict free expression, but this is clearly contrary to fundamental rights. Moldova is an EU applicant and has been taking tentative steps to improve LGBT rights under President Sandu, including recently banning anti-LGBT discrimination and hate speech.
Mexico: Activists in Jalisco state say that more than 100 municipalities continue to persecute queer people, including by refusing to register legal marriages and births for same-sex couples, and even prosecuting queer people under outdated morality laws.
Fiji: The director of the human rights commissions says LGBT Fijians still face regular discrimination and violence despite constitutional protections.
Indonesia: Something to keep an eye on – a new bill aims to expand censorship laws to ban LGBT content on the internet and social media and expand police surveillance powers.
Taiwan: The legislature voted to hold a referendum on preserving the death penalty, even though the government has no plans to abolish it. The vote will happen Aug 23.
Vatican: New pope says no gay marriage. Also, water wet.
Elections in Europe
Poland: The first-round presidential election was tighter than expected, with left-leaning candidate Rafal Trzaskowski leading with 30.8% over conservative Karol Nawrocki with 29.1%. Trzaskowski is expected to support the government’s pro-LGBT rights and pro-choice agenda, while Nawrocki would continue blocking these reforms. The runoff is June 1.
Romania: In a shock result, centrist, pro-EU candidate Nicosur Dan won the presidential runoff, although far-right nationalist George Simion has refused to concede defeat, alleging (without proof) massive voter fraud. Dan has made statements hostile to LGBT rights (way back in 2000) and seems to tepidly oppose civil partnerships, but is expected to be better than Simion.
Portugal: The conservatives took first place, with the socialists and far-right nationalist Chega party in a close race for second place, although each appears to have taken around a third of the vote. It’s not yet clear what the eventual parliament and government will look like.
Meanwhile, in the States
A federal judge in Texas has blocked guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that sought to deter anti-LGBT harassment at work. Judge Kacsmaryk – famous for his completely illogical rulings that tend to support far-right causes and get slapped down on appeal – says that the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock, which banned anti-LGBT employment discrimination, is limited to banning firing someone because they are LGBT, and that harassment and other anti-LGBT policies (like strict dress codes or bathroom policies) are ok. This is likely to be overturned on appeal – in fact, if it has to go to the Supreme Court, it could even lead the court to expand Bostock.
Texas: Meanwhile, in a somewhat shocking development, the state house has passed a bill to repeal the defunct “homosexual conduct” law that bans gay sex, in a 59-56 vote. As a compromise, while the bill repeals the sodomy law, references in state law requiring schools to teach that homosexuality is “not an acceptable lifestyle” remain.
It now heads to the senate. There are only two weeks left in the session, and it still seems unlikely to pass. This bill has been introduced multiple times, but this is the first time it’s ever passed one of the houses. My god, if Texas repeals its sodomy law before Massachusetts…
Iowa: A federal judge has allowed a ban on instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in K-6 classrooms to go ahead, although the ruling says optional instruction or programming, like gay-straight alliance clubs, must be permitted. According to the ruling, ‘neutral’ instruction about SOGI – for example, a book with a gay character – can still be taught. This is sure to continue to be an administrative and legal nightmare.
Michigan: A political action group is seeking to put a referendum on the November 2026 ballot t repeal the defunct state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. They have until July 2026 to collect 446,000, once the ballot language is approved.
Ohio: State Republicans have introduced a bill to establish a “Natural Family Month” that would exclude LGBT families.
Louisiana: State Republicans have killed a Democratic bill that would have added discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, for the fourth year in a row.
Pennsylvania: During Tuesday’s mayoral primary election, voters will also decide on a referendum to add an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination policy to the city’s charter.