Mexico advances SOGI rights bill
Italian fashion icon stands up for LGBT rights against government
Mexico’s Senate has advanced a bill to update its General Law on Population (which regulates things like citizenship and immigration). I think if I’m understanding the reports right, the bill includes a lengthy section asserting sexual and reproductive rights, including freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and a positive obligation on the state to provide for sexual and reproductive health services and inclusive sex education.
Namibia’s Parliament gave unanimous consent to final approval of a private member’s bill that seeks to ban same-sex marriage as well as recognition of foreign same-sex marriages, contradicting a May Supreme Court ruling. The bill now goes to the President for signature, and while he supports banning same-sex marriage, he’s been critical of the bill because its definition of marriage and spouse may in fact be too limiting. His government has its own draft bill banning same-sex marriage that he may seek to substitute.
Reports from Greece are suggesting that the election of an openly gay opposition has indeed pushed up the government’s timetable for introducing same-sex marriage and adoption. The nominally conservative government says it is holding off while it consults with the most conservative members of its caucus as well as the Greek Orthodox Church, but it apparently has a draft bill being circulated already.
The government of Ireland has published its fall legislative agenda, which includes drafting a bill to ban conversion therapy, and creating a Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency. Ireland also plans to hold a referendum in November on constitutional amendments recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality, notably removing a section that suggests a woman’s place is in the hom.
Duly Noted
Fashion icon Donnatella Versace has spoken out against the government of Italy’s ongoing attacks on same-sex parents and LGBT rights generally.
Meanwhile, in the States
A federal judge issued a permanent injunction blocking Texas’ drag ban as unconstitutional. Earlier this week, another federal judge in Texas found that a university was within its rights to ban drag performance on campus, holding that drag is not necessarily protected by free speech – a far outlier among recent cases on the topic. These bans are likely heading to the Supreme Court for a final ruling.
Per the draft minutes, the Michigan House Committee on Criminal Justice heard testimony on the bill to ban the gay/trans panic defense yesterday, but did not take a vote to advance it out of committee. Michigan Live has a report. Today, a Michigan Senate Senate Committee is holding a hearing on a bill to ban denying insurance coverage based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
A school board in Florida says it’s being forced to amend its anti-discrimination policy to remove sexual orientation or gender identity in order to comply with the hateful state laws passed by Florida Republicans that ban discussion of SOGI issues in schools.