Issue #10 Monday, 23 January 2023
Dear Subscriber,
Welcome to the 10th issue of the LGBT Great News Digest, a short briefing on the 5 LGBTQ+ news stories you need to know about right now.
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The LGBT Great Team |
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| 5 LGBTQ+ News Stories from Around the World |
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| 1. UK Government blocks Scotland’s gender recognition bill |
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On 16 January 2023, the UK Government blocked Scotland's gender recognition bill, which stood to ease the self-identification process required to change one's gender legally. Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, said he would invoke Section 35 under the Scotland Act to prevent the bill from being enshrined into law. The reasoning provided by the UK Government centres on the perceived potential ‘adverse impact’ that the reform will have on UK-wide equalities law. _____ Our view: In LGBT Great’s last digest, we celebrated Scotland’s recent gender recognition reform as a leading exemplar of progressive trans legislation in the UK.
However, the current UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, explicitly blocking this bill represents a so-called “nuclear” approach undermining Scottish autonomy and, more importantly, representing a clear step backwards for trans rights. |
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| 2. More than 100 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in the US |
| The US has seen more than 100 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced within the first three weeks of 2023, which primarily target young transgender people. Texas leads with 36 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, with Missouri in second place at 26, followed by North Dakota with 8. _____ Our View: By mid-March 2022, the US had already passed 240 anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Although 2022 was seen as unprecedented in terms of this number, it seems the US is on track to break its own record...again.
Bills specifically targeting trans and non-binary folks have skyrocketed since 2018, as have anti-trans hate crimes. In the US alone, 35 trans and gender non-conforming people were fatally shot or killed in 2022. These bills do not exist in a vaccum and stand to put trans and non-binary folks at greater levels of risk and vulnerability.
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| 3. EU introduces anti-discrimination laws to cover self-employed LGBTQ+ workers |
| After a gay freelancer from Poland claimed that he was wrongfully dismissed from his job due to his sexual orientation, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has confirmed that self-employed workers should have the same protections against workplace discrimination as permanent employees. _____ Our View: This clarification from CJEU marks a vital step forward in the anti-discrimination rights and protections of LGBTQ+ folks who are self-employed, and serves as a strong reminder to the Polish government that such discrimination is unlawful in the EU.
Moreover, organisations with a diverse workforce are known to have increased innovation, productivity, and growth, reiterating the business case for being more inclusive.
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| 4. Constitutional amendment in the Netherlands will ban LGBTQ+ discrimination |
| On 17 January 2023, Article 1 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Netherlands was amended by the supreme bicameral legislatureto prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and disability . The 56-15 vote means that the amendment will now be reviewed by King William-Alexander for approval. _____
With this amendment, the Netherlands has further moved the dial forward on LGBTQ+ rights and has hopefully paved the way for other nations to make their fundamental constitutional laws even more LGBTQ+ inclusive.
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| 5. Britain vows to ban conversion therapy |
| On 17 January 2023, the UK government announced that it plans to draft and pass legislation banning conversion therapy, a pseudo-scientific approach which claims to change an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill would cover LGBTQ+ people, including trans folks, and will apply to England & Wales. ______ Our View: The UK government's official call for a ban on conversion therapy came in 2018 following the release of the landmark LGBT Action Plan.
5 years and numerous U-turns later -- most recently in 2022 -- the administration has finally promised a total ban which also extends to explicitly cover protect trans folks as well.
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Disclaimer The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by LGBT Great and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the newsletter or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the newsletter for any purpose. All the quotations in the news are presented as originally published. LGBT Great does not necessarily share the views of the quoted authors and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information or quality of the analysis provided by them. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. |
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