Issue #16 Monday, 17 April 2023
Dear Subscriber,
Welcome to the latest issue of the LGBT Great News Digest, a short briefing on the 5 LGBTQ+ news stories you need to know about today.
In addition to the news stories below, please see these three ways to empower your LGBTQ+ colleagues early in Q2:
Champion LGBTQ+ Women. Join us to explore perspectives and stories from inspirational LGBTQ+ women across our membership network and beyond in celebration of Lesbian Visibility Week 2023. We are currently recruiting new guest speakers and should you be interested, or know anyone who would be, please email: hector@lgbtgreat.com
We also look forward to sharing our plans for Pride 2023 very soon. It is going to be great. Stay tuned!
The LGBT Great Team |
|
| 5 LGBTQ+ News Stories from Around the World |
|
|
|
| 1. Queensland to scrap clause used to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people |
|
On 3 April 2023, the Australian state of Queensland committed to repealing the 1991 Anti-Discrimination Act and replacing it with an updated version which would provide robust protections for the LGBTQ+ community. The current version has been widely criticised for a clause which allows faith-based schools to discriminate against employees on the grounds of sexuality, pregnancy, relationship status and gender identity. _____ Our View: The Albanese government has clearly put LGBTQ+ equality at the forefront, with the Prime Minister visibly marching in the Sydney Pride Pride parade, followed by the administration’s recent announcement to invest $26 Million for LGBTQ+ Health research.
These actions serve as a beacon of inspiration for other nations and represent a significant step forward in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality in Australia. |
|
|
|
| 2. Los Angeles High Court rejects stopping trans girl from participating in sports |
| On 6 April 2023, the Los Angeles High Court rejected a motion to prevent a transgender girl from participating in female sports competitions in her school district. The lawsuit, filed by a conservative advocacy group, argued that the athlete had an unfair physical advantage over her cisgender peers due to her assigned male sex at birth.
_____ Our View: 2023 has seen the US introduce 452* anti-LGBTQ+ bills already, which primarily target trans and non-binary protections.
After the recent ban on trans women in competitions for female athletics by the World Athletics Council, the High Court’s decision comes as a much-needed victory and an important step forward in creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for trans youth in sports.
|
|
|
|
| 3. EHRC suggests changing 'sex' to 'biological sex' in Equality Act |
| On 4 April 2023, The UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recommended a change to the legal definition of sex in the Equality Act, defining it as “biological sex” citing their belief that it would bring greater clarity in areas including women's sport, single-sex spaces, and gender-specific jobs. _____ Our View: This recommendation from the EHRC comes at a time of great distress for the trans community in the UK, which is experiencing disproportionate discrimination, depicted by a 156% rise in anti-trans hate crimes between 2019-2022 as reported by the Home Office.
This suggested change is explicitly aimed to exclude the trans community in single-sex spaces and sport, underscoring the administration's apparent objective to roll back trans protections wherever possible.
|
|
|
|
| 4. LGBTQ+ youtubers arrested in Russia under "gay propaganda" charges |
| On 6 April 2023, social media stars Gela Gogishvili and Haoyang Xu were both arrested for breaking Russia’s "gay propaganda law" which prohibits sharing positive information, media or content about LGBTQ+ identities and publicly displaying “non-heterosexual orientations”. Gogishvlli and Xu regularly document their lives as a same-sex couple in Russia via TikTok, Youtube and Telegram. _____ Our View: This arrest serves as another example of the Russian government's ongoing persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals.
The "gay propaganda" law has been used to justify censorship and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, and its vague language allows for the authorities to target anyone perceived as promoting LGBTQ+ rights, leaving the Russian LGBTQ+ community extremely vulnerable.
|
|
|
|
| 5. Vietnamese lawmaker proposes progressive gender identity bill |
| On 10 April 2023, lawmaker Nguyễn Anh Trí, proposed a law on gender identity to the National Assembly Standing Committee in Vietnam. The law would cover the right to change gender identity, the right to have a different gender identity from birth, and the right to choose a medical intervention method for sex reassignment.
______ Our View: In 2015, Vietnam decriminalised same-sex marriage followed by the Vietnamese Health Ministry's 2022 announcement that being LGBTQ+ was "not an illness", showcasing the nation's slow yet steady progress toward LGBTQ+ equality.
This introduction of this bill is a step forward in that journey and could potentially enshrine gender-affirming legal frameworks to enhance protections for the trans and non-binary community.
|
|
|
|
Applications for new Corporate Members are opening again. If you would like to find out more about the membership options with LGBT Great, get in touch today via this short form. |
|
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. |
|
|
