Thailand has taken another stride toward LGBTQ+ equality after the country’s Cabinet approved an amendment to its civil code to officially recognize same-sex marriage. Deputy government spokesperson, Karom Polpornklang, said the amendment with the Civial and Commercial Code will change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners,” allowing same-sex couples to be able to receive the same rights as hetero couples, according to AP News. The draft for the amendment is expected to be submitted to the Thai Parliament next month. Thailand has been slowly moving toward becoming the first Southeast Asian country…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
A Republican politician in Florida wants to expand the oppressive “Don’t Say Gay” law that currently pervades the Florida educational system into the workplace. In late November, state Rep. Ryan Chamberlin introduced the bill which would ban government employees from changing their pronouns and also ban their co-workers from being required to use their preferred pronouns. The bill, HB 599, would also ban the penalization of employees on the “basis of deeply held religious or biology-based beliefs.” And if that wasn’t enough, it would also prevent nonprofits or employers receiving state funds from requiring employees to undergo training on matters of…
Police in Russia began raiding gay bars on Friday night after the top court approved a ban on the worldwide LGBTQ+ movement. So what does it even mean to ban a movement? The Supreme Court in Russia has officially classified the LGBTQ+ movement as an “extremist organization,” according to Time, and has banned any activism or advocacy for the rights of queer individuals. The court ruling was decided in response to a lawsuit filed by Russia’s Justice Ministry. In a statement released before the final decision, the ministry accused the LGBTQ+ movement of indicating “various signs and manifestations of extremism,…
Thousands of people participated in a pride event in New Delhi, India on Sunday after the country’s Supreme Court declined to legalize same-sex marriage. According to AP, “dancing to drums and music, the participants walked for more than two hours to the Jantar Mantar area near India’s Parliament. They held banners reading “Equality For All,” “Pride Not Prejudice,” and “Queer And Proud,” and walked with a shroud of rainbow balloons arching over them. The Supreme Court refused to legalize same-sex marriage claiming that it was ultimately Parliament’s responsibility to make the law. Prior to the decision, the Supreme Court saw 21…
The Ministry of Justice in Russia recently filed a lawsuit with their Supreme Court to outlaw the international LGBTQ+ movement, labeling it as “extremist.” The move follows decades long hostility from the Russian government toward the LGBTQ+ community, and years of limitations on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia. According to Al Jazeera, President Vladimir Putin has “put ‘traditional family values’ at the cornerstone of his rule.” Putin continues to exercise a tyrannical rule with many conservative laws limiting the freedoms of many of that country’s people. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country has doubled down on left-leaning groups and…
The Church of England has agreed to bless same-sex marriages after a narrow vote by the organization’s ruling body, the General Synod. The plan will allow standalone services for same-sex couples to receive blessings for their marriages. However, the bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, claims the services would be voluntary and no member of the clergy would be forced to perform such services. In just a few short weeks, queer Christians will be able to have a special service held on Saturdays to bless their unions. According to The Guardian “The proposal for standalone services on a trial basis came in…
The American Community Survey from 2022 indicated same-sex couples are more likely to be interracial than their opposite-sex counterparts. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the American Community Survey each year to measure economic, social, housing, and demographic data from the American public. The survey, which assesses both married and unmarried couples, found that approximately 31% of same-sex couples in the U.S. are interracial while just 19% of opposite-sex couples belong to different races. Though there could be many reasons for this phenomenon, it’s easy to see that those who have been marginalized for their race and those who have been marginalized…
The Supreme Court has blocked a Florida bill that banned family-friendly drag performances. The bill, passed earlier this year, attempted to put limits on drag performance art by barring children from being present at drag shows and events. It was challenged by a popular restaurant chain, Hamburger Mary’s, in May when they sued the state claiming the law violated First Amendment rights. In June, a federal judge blocked the law calling it “dangerously susceptible to standardless, overbroad enforcement.” Many laws passed by Ron DeSantis have been blocked for their violation of constitutional rights. Perhaps the most infamous is the “Stop-WOKE”…
Vancouver has long been a hub for art, culture, and cuisine, attracting people from all around the world. Passport explored some of the city’s best eateries, LGBTQ+ owned and operated businesses, accommodations, and cultural activities to find out which spots you should add to your must-visit list when heading for Vancouver, Canada. Those who are looking for delectable delights will find plenty at Kouign Café helmed by gay celebrity pastry chef Andrew Han. Here Asian and European pastries fuse for sweet and savory texture-rich creations that you certainly can’t find anywhere else. A shift from day to night could take…
The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has expressed concern for the increasingly prevalent anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the United States. The UNHRC is responsible for the review of human rights records of countries that signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), an international human rights treaty. Participating countries in the ICCPR opt to submit themselves for review of human rights policies and practices every four years. According to the ACLU, “The ICCPR obligates countries that have ratified the treaty to protect and preserve basic human rights, such as: the right to life and human dignity; equality before…
Recent news from the Vatican indicates that transgender people can now be baptized and become official godparents. According to the NYT, Pope Francis, who has advocated for LGBTQ+ tolerance throughout his papacy, has officially announced the practice of baptizing transgender people, a move which will likely anger conservative Catholics internationally. Not only can transgender people be baptized, but they can also serve as official godparents and be witnesses at church weddings. However, the Vatican stated transgender people can be baptized within the church so long as it doesn’t create “public scandal or confusion among the faithful.” This decision was revealed in…
A new report has found that the U.K. is one of the most transphobic countries in the world. The results come from advocacy group Transgender Europe’s (TGEU) 2023 edition of the Trans Rights Map, which analyzes the policies impacting trans people across 49 countries in Europe and Central Asia on a color coded map. According to Them, the rankings use 30 indicators across six categories including legal gender recognition, asylum, hate speech/crime, non-discrimination, health, and family. Out of thirty points, the U.K. received just 14.25. The highest ranking country, Iceland, received 26 points. Though the U.K. has a large population…
President Joe Biden dropped Uganda and three other African countries from a major trade pact on Monday due to “gross violations” of human rights. The exclusion from the trade pact follows anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed earlier this year in Uganda. In May, the Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni making gay sex a criminal offense. The bill was backed by 389 of 389 members of parliament. In addition, the law also makes “aggravated” homosexual acts punishable by death, while consensual relations can earn you life in prison. The bill has been called the “Kill the Gays” law…
All nine LGBTQ+ candidates backed by the Victory Fund won state legislature seats in Virginia according the organization. One victorious candidate, Danica Roem, will become the first transgender state senator in the South. Other notable wins include Joshua Cole of District 65, a spot which flips the House of Delegates back to pro-equality majority. In the Senate, Adam Ebbin was reelected. Candidates Laura Jane Cohen, Adele McClure and Rozia Henson all won seats in the House of Delegates alongside incumbents Marcia Price, Mark Sickles, Kelly Convirs-Fowler. These victories in Virginia are essential in checking the power of Republican Gov. Glenn…
Asexuality and aromanticism are two different identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. Though they have been found to be slightly less common than other identities, it’s important to understand the difference between them and the nuances of identifying as ace or aromantic. The LGBTQIA+ spectrum covers a wide range of sexualities and gender identities, and because everyone is different, everyone experiences their own sexuality or gender identity in a unique way. There is really no umbrella definition for these identities, learning the general concepts behind them can help us to have compassion and understanding for those with differing identities from our…
This year, trans rights have been rejected and questioned incessantly by conservative state legislatures. A major point of conflict has been gender-affirming care which spans various forms of health care that aid trans people in their physical transitions. These include puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender-affirming surgeries. It is important to note that these medical treatments have only been made illegal in the case that they are performed on or prescribed to those wishing to transition. In 2023, 22 states introduced bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors and adults, laws which create great suffering in the lives of trans…
A recent study from the Cultural Currents Institute found that Google searches for questions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity have surged over the past 20 years. Searches for questions like “Am I lesbian?” and “Am I gay?” have increased by up to 1300%. Other common searches include “Am I trans?” and “How to come out.” The Cultural Currents Institute, an organization studying trends in public opinion, collected Google Trends data between January 2004 and present day across all 50 states to render its findings. Data by state found that Utah ranks highest for the most number of questions like…
Thailand may become the first southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the government would submit a new bill for cabinet review on Oct. 31. The bill would officially legalize same-sex marriage throughout Thailand, according to Bloomberg. Currently in Thailand same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are granted the same rights, however, only heterosexual couples can get legal recognition for their marriages. Prime Minister Thavisin is hopeful that the new bill will spread equality in Thailand. According to eTurbo News Thavisin said “I see this (bill) as important in order for society to be more…
One of the most homophobic and transphobic practices that is still legal around the world today is conversion therapy, a dangerous intervention that attempts to curtail the exploration and implementation of sexual and gender identity in one’s life. The practices associated with conversion therapy, which are often harmful to physical and mental health, have been condemned by mental health and medical practitioners for years. The practice is used as an attempt to force heterosexuality on queer-identifying people, but primarily queer youth. According to a 2023 report from Statista, conversion therapy has thus far been outlawed in many countries around the…
A top court in Japan has ruled that mandatory sterilization of people seeking to change their gender is unconstitutional. The court decision follows reports from several international human rights organizations that the requirement was discriminatory and infringed upon human rights. These organizations included the United Nations and Association for Transgender Health. Prior to the court decision, Japanese law required that those seeking to transition must present a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and meet five core requirements, including: being at least 18 years of age, not being married, not having underage children, having genital organs that resemble those of the opposite…
New House Speaker Mike Johnson (R -LA) has been outspokenly anti-LGBTQ+ for years before he took the head honcho seat, but according to recent reports he claims he doesn’t remember his homophobic comments. Johnson has a deep history of homophobia, transphobia and hatefulness toward the LGBTQ+ community in general. He served as a senior attorney and national media spokesman for an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom. Under this role, Johnson filed lawsuits challenging same-sex marriage, adoption rights, and marital benefits. As an evangelical Christian, Johnson has directly spoken out against LGBTQ+ people on several occasions. According to the NYT,…
A mission to create the first LGBTQ+ museum in Massachusetts has begun after art curator, Jean Dolin, founded the Boston LGBTQ+ Museum of Art, History and Culture, a nonprofit organization which awaits funding to bring this vision to life. Dolin moved to Boston from Haiti 11 years ago and noticed a lack of LGBTQ+ representation in the Boston art world that motivated him to act. He curated an LGBTQ+ exhibition in Boston that received international attention for LGBTQ+ History month in October of 2022. The exhibition entitled “Portraits of Pride,” displayed in Boston Common, featured 8-foot portraits of local LGBTQ+ leaders.…
Though more than five states have posed a big threat to the LGBTQ+ community in recent years, some are more menacing than others. States like Florida and Texas are unrelenting as they pass laws targeting queer people. Conservative politicians seem to have undermining the rights of LGBTQ+ people at the top of their political agendas, ahead of any laws or programs that might actually benefit the populations of their states. Here’s why these five states are the biggest threat to the LGBTQ+ community. Florida A paradoxical state, Florida is likely one of the most unsafe states for LGBTQ+ in terms…
A recent court settlement in favor of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) will require Georgia to pay state employees’ gender-affirming care. According to Them, “the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) will now cover gender-affirming care for all state employees, their spouses, and any dependents, effective immediately.” Under this settlement, insurance companies like United and Anthem can no longer exclude “sex-change” or “sex transformation” surgeries from their covered care. The plaintiffs involved in the case also received a settlement of $365,000 along with partial coverage of their legal fees. Three transgender state employees, Micha Rich, Benjamin Johnson…
India’s Supreme Court declined the legalization of same-sex marriages last week disappointing millions of LGBTQ+ Indian citizens. A ruling from Chief Justice DY Chandrachud defended the decision stating: “this court can’t make law. It can only interpret it and give effect to it.” Chanrachud maintains that the decision to legalize same-sex marriage is up to Parliament, however he urged the federal government to end discrimination against queer Indians. In spring of this year, India’s Supreme Court considered 21 petitions from LGBTQ+ activists fighting for legal recognition of their unions and official marital rights. LGBTQ+ couples remain unrecognized in India amd…
A new letter from Pope Francis to the Catholic church’s cardinals suggesting a way to bless same-sex unions has been published, and it offers a glimmer of hope for LGBTQ+ people who practice Catholicism. The letter came as a response to conservative cardinals who challenged Pope Francis to “affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a big meeting where LGBTQ+ Catholics are on the agenda,” according to NPR. Though the suggestion that same-sex union could be blessed, the letter also indicated that “such blessings could be studied if they didn’t confuse the blessing with sacramental marriage.” Francis’ letter further details…
In North Carolina and Montana, transgender and intersex people are filing lawsuits against their state governments claiming Republican-sponsored laws are unconstitutional. The laws being targeted are North Carolina’s HB 808 that bans gender-affirming care and doctors from prescribing or providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-affirming surgery to youth. Montana’s lawsuit rallies against SB 458, which has amended a state code to claim that “male” and “female” are the only two sexes. The plaintiffs argue that these laws are illegal discrimination. According to Them, last Wednesday, a trans boy’s family filed a suit against North Carolina officials claiming that HB…
The 2024 GOP presidential lineup is looking dreadful, and prospective Republican candidates are certainly not shy about sharing their transphobic opinions. Though there are a slew of conservative candidates at present, some of the biggest names include Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, and Chris Christie. It’s been an unfortunately record-breaking year for transgender people in America as laws have been proposed and passed attempting to curtail gender-affirming healthcare, trans participation in sports, LGBTQ+ education, trans events and rituals, and basically activities of everyday life in the trans community. Trans people have been threatened time and time again, under constant…
East African island nation, Mauritius, has recently decriminalized homosexuality following the Supreme Court decision ruling criminal code 250(1) was in violation of their constitution. An official statement from the court reads: “Section 250 was not introduced in Mauritius to reflect any indigenous Mauritian values but was inherited as a part of our colonial history from Britain. Its enactment was not the expression of domestic democratic will, but was a course imposed on Mauritius and other colonies by British rule.” Prior to the court decision, homosexuality was a crime punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Now, new protections against…
Provincetown may be famous for summertime shenanigans, but a thrilling time can also be found in this queer haven at the tip of Cape Cod during the fall and winter months, making the town a year-round destination for LGBTQ+ travelers. P’town’s schedule is jammed packed with events and theme weeks almost every week until the New Year. As the leaves drop off the trees, prices on accommodations will do the same, and special holiday shows and events, along with memorable dining experiences and a chance to explore the town at a slower pace. Here’s what’s on the docket for the…