India to allow LGBT couples joint banking
Australians still angry about not counting queers in census
India: The ministry of finance has issued a directive that there ought to be no restrictions on same-sex couples opening joint bank accounts, or a person naming a same-sex partner to be a beneficiary of an account in case of death. This accommodation is being made after the Supreme Court ruled last fall against legalizing same-sex marriage, but directed the government to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples.
Australia: The fallout over the government’s decision not to count LGBTQ people in the census continues. A backbench MP is criticizing his own party’s government on the issue, and the sex discrimination commissioner doesn’t like it either.
Canada: British Columbia’s two right-wing opposition parties have essentially merged, after BC United (formerly the BC Liberals, who are not really affiliated with the federal Liberal Party at all) suspended all campaigning ahead of this fall’s election. That sets up a tight two-party race between the BC Conservatives – who’ve been increasingly anti-LGBT, pushing to restrict LGBT topics in classrooms – and the governing BC New Democrats (who are also distinct and more centrist than their federal cousins).
New Brunswick and Saskatchewan both have elections coming up this fall too, in which incumbent right-wing parties who’ve jumped on the anti-trans/don’t say gay bandwagon are facing tough reelection odds. Some reports suggest Ontario may have a snap election too, but I’m not sure why the governing conservatives there would risk it with nearly two years left on their mandate.
Meanwhile in the States
Big corporations are ditching DEI initiatives, including participating in Human Rights Campaign’s corporate equality index, citing the legal and political environment (read: Republican states threatening to sue companies with DEI programs).
Tennessee: The ACLU has filed a brief in a Supreme Court challenge to the state law barring medical services for trans youth.
Health care providers across the country are reporting death threats, legal risk, and backlogs in treating trans youth.
Hawaii: The campaign for the constitutional amendment to protect same-sex marriage has kicked off. This one should be a straightforward win on the November ballot. It’s also on the ballot in California and Colorado.
Florida: A gay retired teacher was given the maximum sentence of five years – double what prosecutors were asking for – for threatening a judge who had upheld a state law that barred discussion of LGBTQ topics in classrooms. People: Don’t threaten judges! Or anyone, for that matter!