Namibia court hears gay decriminalization case
US government penalizes Uganda over anti-gay law
Sorry for the late post today, but it’s been a bit of a slow few days for LGBT news, and I’d rather only send you all updates when there are… actual updates to report!
First, I have a story up on the Los Angeles Blade about a successful gala fundraiser for GLSEN, which advocates for LGBTQIA+ youth in K-12 schools across the United States. Honorees included gay country singer Orville Peck (pictured above) and actress Annette Benning, who brought the house to gasps with stories of her own advocacy for trans youth and their families.
Japan: Appeals in several same-sex marriage cases continue this week. A case in Sapporo concluded today, with judgement expected March 14, 2024, and a case in Tokyo also concluded today, with judgment expected April 26, 2024.
Tomorrow, same-sex partnership registries come into effect in two more prefectures: Fukui and Yamanashi.
Namibia: A challenge to the country’s sodomy law was heard in the Windhoek High Court today; judgement is expected May 17, 2024. It’s still kind of wild that the Supreme Court ordered the government to recognize foreign same-sex marriages this year while gay sex was still technically illegal. Now, who knows how this case will turn out, and how the Parliament will react to any judgement, but it sure seems like this one is a legal slam dunk, given precedents.
Uganda: In response to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, US President Biden has removed Uganda from a program that allows certain African countries duty-free trade with the United States. Total US-Uganda trade is around $340 million, or just under 1% of Uganda’s GDP. Ugandan exports to the US had been growing rapidly over the last decade.
Thailand: Cabinet was expected to decide on bills for same-sex marriage and legal gender change today, but I haven’t seen any reports on that. If approved, they’ll be sent to Parliament in December.
India: Activists in India are calling on the government to pass same-sex marriage legislation. This stands exactly zero chance of happening in the short term, but it’s probably the necessary next step for Indian activists to push more into the political/legislative realm.
France: President Macron has announced plans to put abortion rights into the French Constitution.
Venezuela: The Supreme Court has suspended the results of the opposition presidential primary, because the winner was someone the government had previously banned from running. The opposition plans to appeal somehow, but this is all bad news for the long hoped-for transition to democracy.
Montenegro: A new pro-EU-integration government was sworn in today following June elections and lengthy coalition negotiations. The EU is back to pushing hard for progress in enlargement in the Balkan region, with hopes that North Macedonia will make necessary constitutional changes to begin accession negotiations soon, and the bloc pushing for Serbia and Kosovo to normalize their relations.
Meanwhile, in the States
Michigan: The Senate committee on the judiciary voted to pass a bill providing penalties for “institutional desecration,” which is the state’s first LGBT-inclusive hate crime law; it heads to the Senate for approval and will probably require consent from the House for minor changes. (A general hate crime law is being debated in the House).
Tomorrow, the House Committee on the Judiciary will hold hearings on a package of bills to update laws around surrogacy, providing (among other things) for same-sex parents to be given automatic recognition rather than forcing them to adopt their own children.
Coming up: Next week will see consequential state elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Mississippi.