France protects right to abortion

Plus, Super Tuesday results; marriage moves in Czechia, Poland, Liechtenstein; and Ghana's anti-LGBT bill hits a speedbump

Ok, today’s a long one, so let’s dive in.

France: In an overwhelming 780-82 vote, Parliament voted to enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution. Lawmakers have said they were prompted to protect abortion rights after the US Supreme Court severely restricted abortion in 2022.

Liechtenstein: The timeline for the same-sex marriage law is becoming clearer. First reading is expected Friday, with second reading and final vote expected sometime in the summer, and the law coming into effect by January 1, 2025, unless a referendum on the bill is called.

Poland: Lots of little updates from the new government. The Equalities Minister says a civil union bill has been completed and will be introduced in Parliament soon, and a bill banning anti-LGBT hate speech is coming soon too. The Deputy Justice Minister also says the government has dropped opposition in a number of LGBT rights cases before the Supreme Court and European Courts, notably around gender change, and registering the children of same-sex couples. He also says that longer-term projects envisioned by the government include a legal gender recognition law, and possibly a conversion therapy ban (though neither is part of the governing coalition agreement).

Also, remember back when dozens of Polish regions and cities passed resolutions banning anti-LGBT ideology? Well, the last one standing has just been struck down by the courts (others were repealed under threat of reduced EU funding). Some cities still have discriminatory ‘family values’ and ‘Catholic values’ resolutions that don’t specifically target LGBT people.

Czechia: Some senators are saying they plan to push for full marriage equality or equal adoption rights when the compromise marriage bill (which simply expands civil partnerships and grants step-child adoption only) reaches the chamber later this month. But it’s unclear what the bill’s prospects are in the conservative chamber.

Thailand: The government is drafting new laws to liberalize surrogacy, allowing foreign couples to access it, and generally making it more available. Along with a new gender identity law and an equal marriage law that are under consideration, the law is part of a broader push to enhance LGBTQ rights.

Philippines: Same-sex couples in Quezon City are starting a new tradition – proposing to each other using the city’s new “Right to Care” cards, which enable unmarried people to authorize their partners to make medical decisions on their behalf.

Costa Rica: Diplomatic delegations from Canada, the United States, Spain, the Netherlands, and Colombia have called on legislators to pass a proposed ban on conversion therapy.

Switzerland: Parliament has delayed consideration of a conversion therapy ban until after a federal report on the topic is released, expected sometime in the summer.

Ghana: President Akufo-Addo says he will not sign the recently passed anti-LGBT bill until the Supreme Court says whether or not it’s constitutional.

Hungary: The new president (remember the last one was turfed for pardoning a sex criminal) has signed the bill ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO, officially ending the embarrassing standoff Hungary was using to get EU countries to back off on criticism of human rights and democracy in the Central European country.

Meanwhile, in the States…

Super Tuesday results are in. Some key takeaways: Both Biden and Trump won all the states contested in their respective primaries (though Biden lost American Samoa).

North Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial candidate is a Holocaust denier.

In California, the state’s top-two primary system could have given us two Democrats vying for the Senate seat vacated by Dianne Feinstein. Instead, we’re getting a true D vs R race, which is actually good news – since the Republican stands no chance of winning, Democratic resources won’t be wasted on an intraparty fight for the seat.

Speaking of elections, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is letting the state’s gerrymandered congressional map stand for the 2024 election, and New York passed a new map with only minor tweaks from the map used in 2022, so neither state is making the congressional election easier for Democrats (although Republicans currently hold four NY seats in strongly Democratic districts, so Dems will be hoping to make some gains there anyway). Democrats should also pick up a seat each from Alabama and Louisiana’s court-ordered redistricting creating new black-majority districts in both, but lost four from North Carolina’s new extreme gerrymander. Dems will also be targeting a handful of Republican seats in districts Biden won in California.

And bisexual senator Krysten Sinema, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has announced she won’t run to hold her Arizona seat in November, which should ease the path for Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego.

Another election development is that Maine is close to joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, after the state house passed a bill to do so. NPVIC is an agreement that would see states allot their electoral college votes to the national popular vote winner, which will come into effect only if states representing 270 electoral votes ratify it. Maine’s 4 votes would bring the current total to 209.

A federal judge in North Dakota has ruled that the government cannot compel Christian businesses to offer insurance plans that include coverage for gender care.

Virginia: Republican Governor Youngkin has until the end of this week to decide on a slew of bills passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature, including a bill banning state officials from refusing to conduct same-sex or interracial marriages.

Hawaii: The state house has passed a state constitutional amendment that would remove a defunct clause allowing the legislature to ban same-sex marriage. HB2802 awaits hearing in the senate.

Florida: The state house passed a bill banning state ID updates for trans people, but it’s unlikely to become law as it doesn’t have a companion bill in the senate.

Washington: The state legislature has unanimously passed a bipartisan bill expanding access to state benefits for veterans who were discharged for other than honorable reasons (typically meaning because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or sometimes PTSD-related issues).

Missouri: Republicans have filed a bill that will criminalize teachers and counselors who assist or aid in any child’s “social transition.”

Massachusetts: A bill requiring inclusive sex education in schools passed the state senate, but is unlikely to be brought to a vote in the house, because the Democratic House Leader opposes it. Hmmm… That sodomy decriminalization bill is awaiting action in the House too…