Thailand consulting influencers on equal marriage
Another chance for civil unions in Kosovo?
Thailand: The Parliamentary Committee studying same-sex marriage held its first meeting yesterday, and it has decided to invite LGBTQ influencers and community members to provide input on it.
Czechia: According to the LGBT advocacy group Jsme Fer, starting Jan 1, it became possible to register a same-sex partnership at all civil registries in the country; previously this had been limited to just 14 offices.
Meanwhile, a legislator explains the compromise that’s emerged on same-sex marriage – there apparently isn’t a parliamentary majority for using the word “marriage”, but registered partnerships will become fully equal to marriage in all but name, including adoption and parenting rights. And the British ambassador is campaigning for equal marriage in the country.
Lithuania: The Speaker of Parliament explains again the hold up on the civil union bill – its supporters are afraid to bring it to a vote without a guarantee that it has an absolute majority (71) of MPs on side, because it’s likely to face a veto from the President (who actually hasn’t confirmed whether he would veto it, actually). If the bill is killed in the vote or veto, supporters will have to start all over after the next election, but – I think – Lithuania is one of those strange Parliaments where a bill survives between elections, so the supporters are hoping they can bring it back with a stronger position after October elections.
Meanwhile, an LGBT group has taken the government to court seeking a right to form a civil union. This is a similar strategy that worked in Latvia, where the courts began recognizing civil unions in 2022, and Parliament finally passed a bill last year (which isn’t yet in effect).
Latvia: Speaking of, apparently LGBT opponents hoping to force a referendum on the civil union law had only collected 15% of the required signatures three days ago; the deadline is tomorrow.
Greece: The government is reiterating that its same-sex marriage bill will include parental rights, so as to protect the rights of children of same-sex couples, who are currently discriminated against in the legal system.
A reader wrote to me to explain that the prime minister’s oddly drawn-out process for introducing the legislation (he says it’ll come by 2027) may be strategic – it allows himself to paint his party as moderate, denying the left-wing opposition an issue to organize on, while the parties further to the right are not considered a serious threat. This still seems like an odd strategy to me.
Mexico: A coordinator for the governing party says the conversion therapy ban bill is among the legislative priorities in the new session of congress beginning in February.
Kosovo: The Justice Minister is once again pushing for passage of a Civil Code, after it failed by three votes in 2022. The draft civil code envisages the future inclusion of same-sex civil unions, and has become controversial – Islamists in the governing party reject same-sex unions, while LGBT people reject the second-class status of civil unions. Note, the Code itself will not make civil unions legal – that will be up to a future law to accomplish.
Kosovo currently lacks a written civil code, instead applying a hodge-podge of traditional and common law and laws inherited from Yugoslavia. The lack of a written law is seen as an obstacle to accession to the Council of Europe (which requires rule of law as a fundamental principle), the European Convention, and eventually the European Union.
The government is hoping for support from the opposition to get the law over the line ahead of elections scheduled for no later than Feb 2025.
Chile: LGBT activists are upset that the 2024 census is not collecting information on LGBT people.
The Vatican: The Pope has issued a clarification of his statement on blessings for same-sex unions. He says the blessings are not equivalent to recognizing or supporting or blessing the unions themselves, and that bishops can use discretion in whether or not to allow blessings.
Meanwhile, in the States
Massachusetts: Governor Healey is pushing legislation that would make all veterans eligible for IVF in the state – currently, the VA only provides it for heterosexual couples. She’s hoping to convince the VA to change the rule nationally.
California: A slate of new pro-LGBT laws came into effect on Jan 1.
Michigan: A Republican US Congressman is under fire after he went to Uganda where he delivered a speech in support of Uganda’s draconian anti-gay law, which includes the death penalty and snitching requirements.
Oregon: Domestic Partnerships have officially been opened to opposite-sex couples, starting Jan 1.