The United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) voted against the addition of a GLBT group from Sweden. They postponed consideration of two other groups: Spain’s FELGT and Brazil’s ABGLT to the committee’s list of consultative groups. UN member states Egypt and Sudan were some of the most vocal opponents to approval of the groups. Sören Andersson, president of RFSL, said in a ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) release, ‘We are not disheartened by the intolerance and hatred behind the decision but will continue to actively advocate for the issues.’
The United Nations has suggested that medical workers offer to test people rather than doing tests only upon request. The recommendation from the World Health Organization and UNAIDS aims to facilitate earlier detection and better prevention of HIV/AIDS.
In its annual ‘hall of shame,’ which marks the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17, Human Rights Watch listed Pope Benedict XVI, US President George W. Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as undermining human rights by actively promoting prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Human Rights Watch also highlighted areas of progress in GLBTI Civil rights, including: Nepal’s grant of citizenship to a transgender individual; Denmark’s equal access to reproductive technology for heterosexual and lesbian women; Mexico City’a and the Mexican state of Coahuila’s passage of civil union laws; and the United Nation Human Rights Council’s Yogyakarta Principle. On May 17, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups in more than 50 countries commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia, an initiative launched in 2005 that commemorates the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its roster of disorders.
ASIA
India – An arrest warrant was issued for Richard Gere, after the actor created a scandal by kissing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on the cheek at a New Delhi AIDS awareness event. Despite the warrant, the actor has left India without arrest.
India – A veterinarian in eastern India reported a chicken had undergone a natural sex change to become a rooster. The Asssociated Press report of the story quoted a 2000 report published by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, ‘Every once in a while you hear a story about a hen that changed into a cock. Such stories are often met with scepticism, but sex reversals do, in fact, occur, although not very frequently.’
AFRICA
South Africa – The Medecins sans Frontieres, an independent humanitarian medical aid agency, issued a warning that recruitment of qualified medical staff is failing to meet the growing demand caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Zimbabwe – Despite Zimbabwe’s oppressive laws against homosexuals, which criminalise ‘sexual deviancy’, such as hand-holding between people of the same sex, the country is likely to take over as chair for the United Nations Commission of Sustainable Development. Several members of the EU as well as the United States have criticised Zimbabwe as a possible leadership.
Ethiopia – Some of Ethiopia’s highest religious officials endorsed a plan for HIV-positive members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church to take their anti-retroviral medications with blessed holy water.
EUROPE
UK – Conservation group Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) elected to make a pair of gay flamingos surrogate parents. The two male flamingos have attempted in the past to take over other nests and eggs, which led the conservation group to select them to care for the abandoned young.
UK – Results of a study in London said that homophobia has prevented police in some case from effectively tracking down criminals. The report specifically cited Colin Ireland’s serial murders of gay individuals. Police failed to realise that all victims had been from the same bar.
UK – Two London nurses who were dismissed from their jobs under accusation of patient abuse and misconduct won a large payout after a court decided they were dismissed because of their sexuality. The court found the evidence to support the claims of misconduct insufficient.
UK – This month in Cambridge a transsexual woman took over as mayor. The woman and her partner, also a transsexual, have reportedly been widely accepted by the Cambridge community.
Italy – In Rome, thousands protested against a bill that would recognise unmarried couples. The bill would grant greater legal protection to both de facto heterosexual and same-sex couples, prompting conservative groups, including many Catholic groups, to organise in opposition.
Poland – Legislation was drawn up in Poland to criminalise ‘promoting homosexual propaganda in schools.’ If passed, the proposed law would forbid discussion or mention of homosexuality in schools and teachers would not be permitted to disclose their homosexuality. The bill does not go into detail as to what specifically constitutes ‘homosexual propaganda.’
Russia – Moscow and St. Petersburg have both banned gay pride parades that were scheduled to take place in late May. Despite the ban, Moscow’s gay pride groups went ahead as planned. Some of the participants were arrested and beaten. European GLBT rights groups have criticised the EU, particularly Portugal’s prime minister José Sócrates, who is soon to take control of the EU presidency, for its silence about Moscow’s ban and action against the pride participants.
Moldova – Moldova’s capital Chisinau banned a LGBT rights march by the group GenderDoc-M. Alexandru Corduneanu, vice-mayor of Chisinau, stated, ‘All countries are ruled by principles. Moldova is ruled by Christian principles, and that is why we cannot allow you to go against morality and Christianity by permitting this parade.’
Latvia – In the small Eastern European nation, anti-gay extremists demonstrated before the Parliament building to try to influence lawmakers to prevent a gay pride parade in the city of Riga on June 3.
Serbia – In Eurovision 2007, Serbia took home honours with a performance by Marija Serifovic. Serifovic’s tuxedo dress and female backup dancers have led to many reports calling her a lesbian. Serbian gay and lesbian groups say the singer has never actually stated she is a lesbian.
MIDDLE EAST
Iran – ‘In Iran, the walls of homes are transparent and the halls of justice are opaque,’ said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch. Iran has been condemned for its police and militia crackdown against people who deviate from official standards of dress or behaviour on the grounds of immorality. On May 10, police raided a birthday party in the city of Esfahan and arrested 87 people, at least 8 of whom were cross-dressing. Many arrested were partially stripped and beaten. (Source: Human Rights Watch)
Israel – Following potential approval for a gay pride parade in Jerusalem, members of extremist group haredi have announced they will publicly demonstrate if the events take place. Last year, the haredi stopped gay pride with violent riots
Pakistan – A transgendered man and his wife were put in prison after approaching a court for protection. The court accused the couple of lying about the man’s gender and imprisoned the couple on charges of perjury.
THE AMERICAS
US – A state court ordered a sperm donor to pay child support to the two lesbian parents who used his sperm to conceive. Legal experts have said this is the first time a court has recognised legal obligations of three parents. Carl Frampton, Jr., the sperm donor, died in March, but the case continued with the verdict being handed down in early May.
US – Jerry Falwell, a religious leader and hard-line campaigner against GLBT rights, died this month. The televangelist was the founder of the group the Moral Majority. Falwell was known for his statements that claimed Teletubbie Tinky Winky was a gay role model, gays and lesbians helped 9/11 happen, and ‘AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals.’
US – Trans individuals gained further rights in Berkeley, California and West Palm Beach, Florida. In Berkeley, the city government is entertaining the possibility of paying for sex reassignment surgery for city employees. Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, a law passed making discrimination against transgendered people.
US – In California, prisons will now allow same-sex partners the same visitation rights afforded to heterosexual partners. The policy change came in response to a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In a quote on 365Gay.com, Alex Cleghorn, staff attorney with the ACLU in Northern California said, ‘Giving those serving a prison sentence an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones has proven to be a critical tool in rehabilitiation.’
US – In Colorado, the governor has signed a measure that allows gay couples to adopt. Religious groups lobbied hard against the bill, but could not change Governor Bill Ritter’s mind. In an issued statement, Gov. Ritter said, ‘I know how important it is for children to grow up in a stable environment… This law gives children in a one-parent family a chance to grow up in a two-parent home.’
US – Since the state of Massachusetts legalised same-sex marriage in May 2004, political debate has ensued as to whether other states would recognise Massachusetts unions. This month New York state decided that it would recognise New York citizens who married in Massachusetts.
US – Republican Vice President Dick Cheney became a grandfather when his daughter Mary gave birth to a baby boy. Mary and her same-sex partner Heather Poe will be parents to the child.
Canada – A Montreal woman has lodged a complaint after a gay bar refused to serve her, saying the bar did not serve women on the day she visited.
