weatheriscool wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:19 am
Biden administration ties record for number of confirmed LGBTQ judges in federal courts
Nicole Chavez
By Nicole Chavez and Annette Choi, CNN
Eleven federal judges who identify as LGBTQ, including Berner and DuBose, have been appointed and confirmed to lifetime positions since the beginning of the Biden administration, according to data analyzed by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a lobbying group.
Thailand set to be first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage
1 day ago
Lawmakers in Thailand's lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill on Wednesday that would make the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize equal rights for marriage partners of any gender.
The bill passed its final reading with the approval of 400 of the 415 members of the House of Representatives who were in attendance, with 10 voting against it, two abstaining and three not voting.
The bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code to change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners.” It would open up access to full legal, financial and medical rights for LGBTQ+ couples.
The bill now goes to the Senate, which rarely rejects any legislation that passes the lower house, and then to the king for royal endorsement. This would make Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to pass such a law and the third in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal.
Danuphorn Punnakanta, a spokesperson of the governing Pheu Thai party and president of a committee overseeing the marriage equality bill, said in Parliament that the amendment is for “everyone in Thailand” regardless of their gender, and would not deprive heterosexual couples of any rights.
Russians arrested as Vladimir Putin launches crackdown on LGBTQ community
3 hours ago
Two nightclub employees have been arrested under new laws in Russia as Vladimir Putin launches a crackdown on the LGBT community.
Diana Kamilyanova and Alexander Klimov face 10 years in prison after being detained by masked police officers and accused of ‘aiding and abetting extremist activity’.
Russia’s supreme court has branded the “international LGBTQ public movement” as an extremist organisation.
Critics say the move is aimed at providing Russians with an “enemy within” to consolidate President Putin’s rule, as well as distract from economic and social problems.
Although same-sex relations are not against the law in Russia, the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on LGBTQ citizens since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Maryland poised to become trans sanctuary state https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/04 ... ary-state/
Maryland would become the 12th state to implement such a law to protect trans people if Democratic Governor Wes Moore signs it
Published 1 day ago
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A bill that would make Maryland a sanctuary state for transgender people and their health care providers received final approval this week.
The Maryland House of Delegates on April 4 passed a version of Senate Bill 19, the Trans Shield Act, that state Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery County) introduced. The Maryland Senate earlier this year passed SB 19 that state Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Anne Arundel and Howard Counties), Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) and Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery County) introduced.
The Washington Blade previously reported Maryland would become the 12th state to implement such a law if Democratic Gov. Wes Moore signs it. D.C. has enacted a similar statute.
Jill Biden calls Trump ‘dangerous to the LGBTQ community’
Fri, April 12, 2024 at 5:48 PM GMT+1
First lady Jill Biden on Friday decried former President Trump as a “bully” and a threat to gains for the LGBTQ community if he is reelected in November.
The first lady spoke at the Human Rights Campaign’s “Equality in Action” gathering in Virginia, where she highlighted progress for the LGBTQ community during the Biden administration and warned of the dangers of a second Trump term.
“Donald Trump is a bully. He is dangerous to the LGBTQ community, to our families, to our country and we cannot let him win. We have to fight like hell until [President Biden] and [Vice President Harris] have another term,” Jill Biden said.
The first lady noted President Biden signed legislation protecting gay marriage, reversed a Trump-era rule banning transgender individuals from serving in the military and relaxed restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
“Yet there are forces outside these walls that are trying to erase these hard fought gains, trying to unwind all the progress that we’ve made,” the first lady said.
