Uganda: President's son says anti-homosexuality law to be repealed in 2026

Montana moves to ban trans people from bathrooms

Map of the countries where gay sex is illegal. RED: Criminalizes gay sex. YELLOW: Sodomy laws currently being challenged before local courts. PINK: Has a bill before its parliament to repeal its sodomy law. ORANGE: Gay sex criminalized only in some subnational jurisdictions.

Mali: A French anthropologist weighs in on Mali’s new Penal Code, which criminalizes homosexuality, confirming my report from last week. He adds that the code also makes same-sex relations and aggravating factor for the crime of incest.

He also notes that Niger’s military junta announced back in 2023 that it will criminalize homosexuality, just like its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, but neither Niger nor Burkina Faso has officially published those new penal codes.

Uganda: In a series of now-deleted posts on Twitter, the president’s son, who many believe will be his successor, vowed to repeal the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2026 if he does indeed get that top job. The guy has also threatened to attack the US Embassy and annex Sudan, so take this all with a grain of salt.

Mexico: A federal lawmaker has proposed a bill to repeal the crime of “contagion,” ie, decriminalizing HIV transmission.

Jalisco state lawmakers ignored a court deadline and delayed consideration of a bill that would allow minors a process to change their legal gender.

Queretaro state lawmakers began consideration of a gender identity bill, for the fourth time. Maybe this time’s the charm. All but 10 states allow trans people to change their legal gender by a simple administrative procedure.

Ireland: Senate candidates debated trans rights at Trinity College ahead of elections on Jan 29. Under Ireland’s wacky senate system, certain seats are reserved for alumni to vote on exclusively.

Meanwhile, in the States

Trump’s Attorney-General nominee Pam Bondi said she’ll “respect the law,” whatever that means, when asked if she’ll defend same-sex marriage in court.

SCOTUS heard a challenge to a Texas law requiring porn websites to use age verification to prevent minors from accessing them.

Illinois: Lawmakers passed a bill easing the process for trans people and victims of domestic violence to change their legal name.

Montana: The state house voted to pass a bill that would ban trans people from using gender-appropriate bathrooms in public buildings, and creating a civil cause of action for anyone who encounters a trans person in the ‘wrong’ bathroom. The bill must still pass the senate and be signed by the governor before it becomes law, but Republicans control both.

North Dakota: The legislature withdrew a resolution calling on the Supreme Court to reverse same-sex marriage.

Idaho: A senate Democrat has introduced an LGBT non-discrimination bill, but it has zero chance of passing.

Wisconsin: The state supreme court heard a challenge to the Republican-controlled legislature’s efforts to ban administrative rules passed by the Democratic governor, including a ban on conversion therapy.