Marriage lawsuit filed in Lithuania

Vanuatu seeks to ban trans people in constitution

Lithuania: A gay couple has filed a constitutional challenge seeking to have their same-sex marriage registered. The constitutional court recently legalized civil unions in the Baltic country, but this couple may face an uphill battle in court because the constitution defines marriage heterosexually.

Vanuatu: The government has proposed a series of constitutional reforms that would ban recognition of genders other than sex assigned at birth and possibly impose additional restrictions on LGBTQ expression and advocacy. Parliament was meant to vote on the proposals yesterday, but I haven’t yet seen the results. The governing party has the required 2/3 majority to amend the constitution, but it’s not clear that the party is united on the proposals.

Canada: The federal election wrapped up on Monday, with the governing Liberals reelected with just shy of a majority in Parliament, while they are likely to have enough support from the weakened left-leaning parties to stay in power for several years. The result staves off the threat that the Conservatives would roll back LGBT right – and particularly trans rights.

Trinidad and Tobago: Also on Monday, the opposition won a sweeping victory in national elections, returning former PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar to power. Persad-Bissessar has a dodgy record on LGBT rights – she claims to be against discrimination but has supported the buggery law and has criticized trans rights and drag shows, while criticizing Joe Biden and praising Trump.

Cayman Islands: Parliamentary elections Wednesday were indecisive, with independent MPs holding the balance of power.

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Free Press profiles LGBT couples who are trying to become parents despite a hostile legal regime.

Meanwhile in the States

A leaked report suggests the Trump administration is planning to cut or eliminate the LGBTQ Youth Suicide Hotline, and a viral post suggests Canada has opened its own hotline to American callers – but The Advocate debunks the false post and lists other resources that are available.

Former US Rep George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison for multiple counts of fraud.

Congressional Democrats have reintroduced the Equality Act to ban anti-LGBT discrimination, but it stands no chance of passing or even coming up for debate.

Virginia: A openly gay Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor is facing calls to resign over a supposed scandal around porn shared on a social media account that claims to be him. He says it’s a dirty smear by Republicans who’d like to see him gone, but doesn’t seem to question whether or not that says anything about what Republicans think about gay people generally.

Maine: A bill to amend the state constitution to add and equal rights clause banning anti-LGBT discrimination is basically dead, having failed to receive enough votes in the house.

Alabama: A bill to extend “don’t say gay” through all K-12 schools advanced out of a senate committee.

New York: New York City Council voted overwhelmingly to pass bills to protect gender-affirming care in the face of attacks from the federal government.