Fourth Japanese High Court rules for same-sex marriage

US Republicans continue to push anti-marriage equality and anti-trans laws in red states

I step away from this newsletter for a couple days and the EU Commission tweets out a goatse…

Japan: The Nagoya High Court has ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This is the fourth high court victory after similar rulings in Tokyo, Sapporo, and Fukuoka, setting up the stage for a final challenge at the Supreme Court.

Poland: A judge has ordered an anti-abortion activist to apologize for calling former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar a “deviant” on a Polish talk show in 2018. The activist also states that homosexuality goes hand in hand with pedophilia. Polish hate speech law does not currently cover sexual orientation, though the government has promised to bring forward a bill on it.

Meanwhile, the civil union bill continues to advance through coalition negotiations. It appears the government is going to make civil unions harder to terminate, in order to mitigate the chances of fraud and abuse.

Liberia: The government appears to be trying to intervene in the United Methodist Church over its support of same-sex marriage, including a senate investigation and even police detention.

Namibia: The sponsor of an extreme anti-LGBT bill, which would criminalize participation in or advocacy for same-sex marriage is criticizing the president for refusing to sign or veto the bill after it passed parliament last year. The move leaves the bill in limbo, since parliament can’t override the veto until it’s announced.

Ghana: Lawmakers have reintroduced an extreme anti-LGBT bill that lapsed last year when the former president refused to sign it. The new president has proposed introducing his own version of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the States

Senate Democrats blocked a house-passed bill that would have banned transgender people from playing in school sports.

The Census Bureau has asked the administration for permission to delete questions about gender identity from the 2030 census. Meanwhile, the Bureau has also cut loose the panels of advisors who help draft the census.

Connecticut: Lawmakers advanced a bill to amend the state constitution to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy. To be put on the ballot in 2026, the bill has to be approved by ¾ majorities in both houses, and Democrats don’t have the votes for that. But if it passes by simple majorities, then they can pass it again in the next session to be put on the ballot in 2028.

Maine: Legislators held a hearing on a Democratic proposal to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in the state constitution. No Republicans support the proposal, and it is unlikely to reach the 2/3 majority in both houses needed to be put on the ballot.

Colorado: The bill to repeal Colorado’s dead same-sex marriage ban has passed out of committee and now awaits a final vote in the house.

Missouri: A state Democrat has introduced a bill to repeal the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, but it stands no chance of passing under current Republican majorities.

North Dakota: A poll shows a majority supports same-sex marriage and opposes the state house’s recent vote to ask the Supreme Court to overturn it.

Michigan: State Democrats have introduced a bill to repeal the defunct constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, but it stands no chance of getting the ¾ approval required to be put on the ballot – a petition drive is the more likely route for it. Meanwhile, a Republican lawmaker’s resolution to ask the Supreme Court to overturn same-sex marriage has been dumped by his own party’s leadership.

Kentucky: The state house has passed a Republican bill that would invalidate the Democratic governor’s executive order than banned conversion therapy. It goes to the senate for approval.

Meanwhile, the federal court of appeals for the sixth circuit has ruled against former county clerk Kim Davis, who wanted a $250,000 judgement against her for refusing to register a same-sex marriage overturned. Can this ten-year drama finally be over now?

Montana: State Republicans have introduced a bill to require schools to report any discussions about gender identity to students’ parents. The bill has passed the senate and is awaiting house hearings. Meanwhile, the state senate has effectively killed a proposed resolution asking the Supreme Court to undo its 2015 same-sex marriage ruling.

West Virginia: State Republicans introduced and passed a bill through the senate to prohibit any discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in any school, and another to close off all remaining loopholes allowing youth to access gender affirming care. Both bills now head to the house.

Iowa: The extreme anti-trans bill that erases trans people from all state laws has been signed by the Republican governor.

California: Democratic governor Gavin Newsom on his own podcast broke ranks with progressives by coming out against trans women competing in women’s sports. There appears to be a growing consensus among moderate circles that finding a bit of nuance on this issue is for the best, not least for trans people, only a vanishingly small minority of whom actually want to compete in women’s sports, though there are many in disagreement with this strategy. Newsom is a likely 2028 presidential candidate.

Massachusetts: A federal court has upheld a school policy that teachers do not have to inform parents that their child is or may be LGBT.