Massive protests against authoritarian, anti-LGBT regimes across Eastern Europe
Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate said he'd defend bans on same-sex, interracial marriage
Namibia: The President has given his official reasons for not signing the anti-LGBT anti-same-sex-marriage bill that Parliament passed last year, expressing concern over its drafting process and dubious constitutional status.
Hungary and Serbia: Massive protests rocked Budapest and Belgrade over the weekend, denouncing the increasingly authoritarian governments. Hungary’s PM Orban has vowed a crackdown on the media and nongovernmental organizations in the wake of the protests.
Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets in Bucharest, Romania, to show support for the European Union and democracy ahead of May’s rerun presidential election and amid rising tensions after another far-right, Russia-aligned candidate was barred from running.
Further east, Georgia’s capital Tbilisi has marked 100 days of consecutive protests over that country’s slide into authoritarianism and toward Russia, and the government has passed fresh new laws imposing harsh penalties on dissent and assembly.
Meanwhile in the States
A judge has given final approval to a settlement between the Pentagon and LGBTQ people who were discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and earlier policies. But I wouldn’t be surprised if payments get stopped by the new administration anyway.
Wisconsin: The state is having an election for a Supreme Court seat on April 1, and clips have emerged of the Republican-affiliated candidate in the officially nonpartisan race saying he would defend bans on same-sex marriage and interracial marriage. This election will determine the balance of power on the court, which swung to Democratic Party control last year. Republicans, including Musk, have invested huge amounts into the Republican’s campaign, hoping to swing this race. A likely consequence will be suits seeking to undo or reinforce gerrymandering in the state’s legislature and congressional districts.
Connecticut: Lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban discrimination in long-term care homes.
A resolution seeking to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in the state constitution is pending and slowly advancing in the legislature.