Issue #25 Monday, 21 August 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 right now.
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Best wishes, LGBT Great Team |
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| 1. Nearly 8 in 10 LGBTQ+ Americans fear for their safety |
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On 17 August 2023, the HRC published a new piece of analysis using data from Community Marketing Insight’s annual LGBTQ+ community survey. They found found that almost 80% of LGBTQ+ adults reporting feeling less safe over the past 12 months following the increased number of legislative bans on gender-affirming care. In addition, nearly 50% of respondents reported that such bans had negatively impacted the mental/physical health of themselves and/or their loved ones. _____ Our View: As of 21st August, 494* pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation have now been introduced in the 2023 legislative session, with the majority targeting transgender youth. This analysis from the HRC speaks volumes to the current levels of distress being experienced by the LGBTQ+ community in the US. |
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| 2. UK government to reverse the rise of gender-neutral toilets |
| On 13 August 2023, the UK Government’s Department for Levelling Up announced updated requirements for new, non-residential buildings to have separate male and female toilets to ‘protect single-sex spaces’. These requirements currently only extend to England. _____ Our View: The "debate" around gender-inclusive toilet facilities continues, with the Government doubling down on their position, explicitly removing opportunities for gender-affirming spaces for trans and non-binary people. It should be noted that this decision will have real-world repercussions on the community.
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| 3. World bank halts new financing for Uganda due to anti-LGBTQ+ law |
| On 09 August 2023, the World Bank announced that it would stop new public financing to Uganda citing that the country’s recent anti-LGBTQ+ law ‘fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group's values’. The Ugandan president responded saying that the nation ‘will develop with or without loans’. _____ Our View: This move from the World Bank complements the recent sanctions that the US have imposed on Uganda.
LGBTQ+ Ugandans are now caught in the middle of a macro-structural dispute with no positive outcomes in sight with potential threats, now not just to their personhood and identities, but also questions around long-term access to financial support.
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| 4. Trans women banned from women’s chess events |
| On 14 August 2023, the International Chess Federation announced a ban on trans women competing in women’s chess tournaments starting August 21, citing they have ‘no right’ to participate. Trans men will also have any women's titles abolished, though they may be transferred into a ‘general title of the same or lower level’. _____ Our View: This decision comes as yet another blow to trans inclusion in sports. Despite people who identify as male being somewhat overrepresented in high-level chess tournaments, it is hard to see how a ban here will help drive engagement or inclusion for anyone.
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| 5. ‘LGBT’ Swatch watch owners could be imprisoned for three years in Malaysia |
| On 10 August 2023, the interior ministry of Malaysia declared that anyone who ‘prints, imports, produces ... or has in his possession’ the rainbow-coloured Swatch watches could be jailed for up to 3 years and could also be fined up to 20,000 ringgit (£3,425). The Ministry said that such watches with ‘LGBT elements’ could ‘harm morals’. _____ Our view: In May, the government also raided Swatch stores across Malaysia, seizing 172 watches worth £10,960 because they bore the LGBTQ+ acronym and had the six-coloured rainbow flag.
The Malaysian Penal Code still prohibits same-sex activity and criminalises LGBTQ+ identities. With southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Nepal embracing LGBTQ+ equality, we hope that Malaysia follows suit and decriminalises being LGBTQ+.
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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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