Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
The White House issued this statement from President Biden recognizing, celebrating, and giving his full-throated support to LGBTQ+ people on National Coming Out Day.
“You are loved and accepted just the way you are – regardless of whether or not you’ve come out.” Continue reading “Biden On #NationalComingOutDay: ‘You Are Loved And Accepted Just The Way You Are’”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a high school gay-straight alliance after the principal indicated the group cannot publicize its events (or existence) on school bulletin boards or the school radio station as other non-curricular groups are able to do. Continue reading “Gay-Straight Alliance Sues High School Over Unequal Treatment”
President Joe Biden has issued a statement honoring LGBTQ military service members on the 10th anniversary of the repeal of the anti-LGBTQ policy, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Continue reading “Biden Honors LGBTQ Military On 10th Anniversary of DADT Repeal”
The Washington Blade: reports a bill has passed in Chile’s Senate that would make same-sex marriage legal in the South American country.
On June 1, President Sebastián Piñera publicly announced his support for marriage equality and asked lawmakers to expedite legislation on the issue. The bill now heads to the Chilean House of Representatives.
Although same-sex couples have been able to enter into civil unions in Chile since 2015, the country’s conservative ruling party has been slow to pass marriage rights for LGBTQ couples.
Currently, the only South American countries to legally recognize same-sex marriage are Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay.
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by a Virginia school board that hoped to reinstate its transgender bathroom ban.
That decision leaves in place lower court rulings that found the policy unconstitutional.
From the New York Times:
An appeals court had ruled that the policy violated the Constitution and a federal law by prohibiting the student, Gavin Grimm, from using the same bathrooms as other boys. The school said Mr. Grimm could use a private bathroom.
The Supreme Court had agreed to hear an earlier appeal in the case but dismissed it in 2017 after the Trump administration changed the federal government’s position on transgender rights. The Biden administration has since adopted policies protecting transgender students.
What this means: there is now strong precedent that schools in the 4th Circuit (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia) cannot prohibit students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.
Last year, the Supreme Court for the first time ruled in favor of transgender rights, saying that a federal employment discrimination law applied to LGBTQ workers.
In Gloucester County School Board v. G.G., the Supreme Court refuses to take up a Virginia school board’s request to reinstate a policy prohibiting transgender students from using school bathrooms that reflect their gender identity.
— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) June 28, 2021
The Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving a transgender student’s right to use school bathrooms matching his gender identity.
This refusal to review Gavin Grimm’s case allows lower court rulings that say treating trans students differently violates federal law to stand pic.twitter.com/MQF7stH3Jb
— AJ+ (@ajplus) June 28, 2021
Six years ago today, the United States took a huge leap forward in equal rights for all when the Supreme Court ruled that marriage equality was a constitutional right.
And just like that, my marriage was valid and equal to all.
Easily one of the most impactful, emotional days of my life. I will never be able to articulate the emotions that came over me in the minutes, hours, days after the news was announced.
And then, just to put the cherry on top of the sundae, the White House celebrated the occasion awash in the colors of the LGBT rainbow.
Still so far to go, but it’s important to slow down for a second and remember the good days.
The ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan’s Parliament is opposing a bill that would protect the rights of LGBTQ athletes at the upcoming Olympic Games saying that “LGBT goes against the preservation of the human race.”
From The Guardian:
Japan’s ruling party has been accused of violating the Olympic charter after it failed to approve a bill to protect the rights of the LGBT community, during discussions marred by homophobic outbursts from conservative MPs.
Closed meetings held this month to discuss a bill, proposed by opposition parties, stating that discrimination against LGBT people “must not be tolerated” ended without agreement after some Liberal Democratic party (LDP) MPs said the rights of sexual minorities had “gone too far.”
A decision on a rival LDP proposal that calls on the government to “promote understanding” of LGBT people was postponed, according to Japanese media accounts of the meetings.
A few weeks ago, an adviser to the LDP’s committee to study sexual orientation and gender identity gave a speech titled, “The LGBT issue is getting out of control.”
Following the lack of an approved bill, human rights advocates say Japan deserves a “gold medal for homophobia.”
Japan is the only G7 nation that does not fully recognize same-sex partnerships or marriages.
Good news coming out of Utah today.
From Equality Utah:
After 3.5 years, the Utah Supreme Court ruled today In Re Gray and Rice (20170046) 2021 UT 13, and confirmed the right of transgender Utahns to change the name and gender marker on their birth certificates.
This is a landmark ruling that allows transgender Utahns to fully integrate as equal members of society.
We send our love and appreciation to the legal team of Chris Wharton, Kyler O’Brien, and Beth Jennings (Wharton O’Brien) Troy Booher and Beth Kennedy (Zimmerman Booher) and the courageous joint plaintiffs Angie Rice and Sean Childers-Gray.
It has been an unprecedented year for transgender Americans. Over 30 states introduced legislation to restrict the freedom of transgender youth.
But here in Utah, we chart a different path. The Utah Legislature rejected two anti-transgender bills, and today, the Utah Supreme Court has upheld transgender rights to live freely as their authentic selves. This is ‘equality under the law’ in practice right here in Utah.
A Landmark Victory for Transgender Utahns!
The Utah Supreme Court affirms the right of trans Utahns to change their birth certificates. Congratulations to the legal team led by @chriswhartonslc. And so much love to plaintiffs @15to1montgomery & Angie Rice for your courage. pic.twitter.com/vjGzg1JEUg
— Equality Utah (@EqualityUtah) May 6, 2021
In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Joe Biden spoke to several issues as well as his proposed American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan.
Along the way, the president took time to call for the passage of the Equality Act: “I also hope Congress can get to my desk the Equality Act to protect the rights of LGBTQ Americans.”
He added a special message to transgender folks: “To all the transgender Americans watching at home — especially the young people who are so brave — I want you to know that your president has your back.”
President Biden urges Congress to send the Equality Act to his desk “to protect LGBTQ Americans.
“To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people, I want you to know your President has your back.” pic.twitter.com/NUA1fG00Vk
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 29, 2021
A CBS News poll following Biden’s address showed 85% of Americans who watched approved of his speech, 15% disapproved. And 78% say the speech made them feel “optimistic” about America.
As an example of how partisan politics have become, of those who watched Biden’s address, 54% identified as Democrats, 18% as Republican and 25% as independent, according to CBS News. So, basically, Republicans didn’t tune in to watch.
By comparison, 76% of the audience (that leaned Republican) approved of Trump’s speech in 2017.
I was surprised to learn today that Switzerland, of all countries, still has not legalized same-sex marriage.
One of the few European countries still lacking marriage equality, Switzerland will now ask its citizens to vote on the whether gays and lesbians can marry the person they love.
Switzerland’s journey to same-sex marriage has taken several twists and turns over the years.
Swiss lawmakers have been working on the issue since 2013 when the first bill was presented by the nation’s Green Party.
But the legislation stalled as lawmakers contemplated whether the move would require a change to Switzerland’s constitution.
In April 2020, the Council of States, the nation’s upper chamber, finally agreed a legal change was unnecessary.
On December 18, 2020, the National Council (Switzerland’s lower chamber) voted in favor of same-sex marriages by a vote of 24 to 11 with 7 abstentions. That bill also provides lesbian couples with access to sperm donation.
Switzerland Still Doesn't Have Marriage Equality? https://t.co/Ce6k7qGpmB #LGBTQ #MarriageEquality #SameSexMarriage #Switzerland #Europe pic.twitter.com/iCCLfZzsnB
— Instinct Magazine (@instinctmag) April 28, 2021
That vote triggered an uproar by two conservative groups – the Federal Democratic Union and the Swiss People’s Party – who quickly got to work collecting signatures for a petition calling for a referendum on the issue.
Reuters reports that Switzerland’s democratic system allows opponents of decisions by parliament the right to force a referendum, or a public vote, if a group can collect 50,000 signatures within 100 days.
On Tuesday, the Federal Chancellery confirmed that over 61,000 signatures had been collected.
In May, the government will announce a date for the vote which will probably happened this fall.
The good news is a survey commissioned by the LGBTQ advocacy group Pink Cross in 2020 showed 82% of Swiss citizens (in a country of 8.5 million) support same-sex marriage.