Ghana about to pass draconian anti-LGBT law
South Korean same-sex couples back at Supreme Court
I have a story in the Los Angeles Blade today about a new law in Tennessee that allows state officials to refuse to solemnize same-sex marriages (and more).
South Korea: The Supreme Court is weighing an appeal of last year’s decision that found the National Health Insurance Service had to treat same-sex couples the same way that married heterosexual couples are.
Ghana: Parliament rejected a proposed amendment to the Anti-LGBT bill its been discussing for months. The amendment would have replaced prison sentences for homosexuality with mandatory counseling. The bill is going back to committee for final revisions before a vote.
Ireland: In two weeks, Ireland will hold a referendum with two questions to amend the constitution to expand the definition of family, and remove gendered language suggesting that a woman’s place is in the home.
UK: The country’s medical regulator is set to apologize to about 40 doctors who were investigated over their sexuality between 1899 and 1994. Eight doctors were barred from practicing do to their sexual orientation during that time.
Hungary: Parliament looks set to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO on Monday, ending a period where the country was blackmailing the EU to end the Union’s retaliation against Hungary’s rolling back of democratic norms and LGBT rights.
Meanwhile, fallout against the government is spreading in the wake of a presidential pardon scandal, which has led to growing protests against the government. But it’s unlikely to lead to the end of PM Orban’s career, as his party enjoys a supermajority in Parliament.
Costa Rica: A student union has come out in favor of a bill to ban conversion therapy – the bill is scheduled for debate March 11.
Canada: Correction — the referendum on banning Pride flags in Westlock, Alberta is today, not tomorrow, as I had said yesterday. I’ll have info on the results tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in the States…
Michigan: State Democrats are advancing a package of bills to make it easier for trans people to change their legal name and gender, including allowing self-determination, eliminating fees, and allowing an “X” gender option.
State Democrats have also introduced a new package of bills to repeal the state’s defunct sodomy law. The new bills add necrophilia as a crime, however, they maintain the original bill package’s fatal flaw of maintaining “gross indecency” as a crime – ie, oral sex. And they’ve also introduced a new version of the proposed hate crimes bill.
Arizona: Why doesn’t the state have an LGBT non-discrimination law? Because the legislature is narrowly controlled by Republicans and has been for thirty years. But that could change in November, if Democrats flip just a handful of seats, and state Democrats have made the bill a top priority.
Wisconsin: State Democrats have introduced a bill to ban conversion therapy. It has zero chance of passing this term, but may be a top priority if Democrats win the legislature in November.
Colorado: State Republicans are planning to put a gender care ban for trans youth on the November ballot via the initiative process.
Virginia: A bill to expand the state’s definition of bullying to protect LGBTQ students has passed the state house and awaits action in the Senate.
Alabama: The state legislature is advancing bills banning DEI programs and strictly defining all people as either “male” or “female” based on reproductive systems.