No Gay Marriage In Hungry
Hungary’s new constitution has outraged local and international LGBT groups as it restricted marriage strictly to heterosexual couples. However, the constitution does allow for same-sex couples to legally register their relationships, Associated Press reported. Thousands of protestors demonstrated outside the country’s parliament building last month against the redrafting of the constitution. At the demonstration, gay rights activist Attila Nemeth told the crowd ‘the constitution under preparation is not ours. Nobody’s constitution can limit our human rights and freedoms.’ AP reported Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the constitution would allow the former communist country to complete a transition to democracy. Human rights groups like Amnesty International have said other measures were attempts to limit freedoms.
Gay ‘branding’ A Hoax
Police revealed last month a US university student who claimed he had been ‘branded’ in a homophobic attack had actually made it up. The first-year student Quinn Matney told local media he had been crossing a footbridge when a man grabbed his wrist and branded him with a hot object while shouting homophobic abuse, according to PinkNews. Initially, police said they were treating the incident as a hate crime but after further investigation found his report to be false. University of North Carolina Chancellor Holden Thorp said in a statement: ‘The Department of Public Safety has determined that the alleged aggravated assault… did not occur.’ According to PinkNews, Matney is now likely to face criminal charges for creating a false report.
First for Japan
Japan elected its first openly gay politician last month who hailed the win as a victory for the rights of sexual minorities. According to AFP, 36-year old Taiga Ishikawa was elected to the Toshima Ward Assembly in Tokyo on Tuesday April 26. He said he hoped his victory would help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. ‘I hope my election victory will help our fellows nationwide to have hope for tomorrow, as many of them cannot accept themselves, feel lonely and isolated and even commit suicide,’ Ishikawa told AFP. He said he wanted to help young LGBT people and reinforce support in schools.
Civil Unions in the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man celebrated its first same-sex civil unions last month after authorities legalised unions for gay couples last month. The first ceremonies were held shortly after the new law was enacted on April 6, PinkNews reported. Gay couples now share the same tax, inheritance and benefits rights as married couples. Assistant chief registrar Ian Gilmore told PinkNews: ‘With effect from April 6th, prospective civil partners will be able to start the procedures that will ultimately lead to them signing a civil partnership schedule, and from that point onwards law will recognise their partnership’. According to PinkNews, the Isle of Man has lagged behind the UK on gay rights with homosexuality still illegal on the island till 1992.
Malaysia’s Curative Camps
The International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has urged Malaysian authorities to stop sending male students who are not masculine enough to ‘curative’ camps. The IGLHRC found a Malaysian education department had ordered 66 male children, aged between 12 and 17 to be rounded up and sent to a camp for curative purposes. IGLHRC criticized statements by Razali Daud, Director of Education for Terengganu who said in a statement ‘We understand that some people end up as mak nyah (transvestite) or a homosexual, but we will do our best to limit the number’. IGLHRC’s Program Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, Grace Poore called on the director to recant the statements and said he was creating an environment that could encourage bullying and violence.
Final Days of DADT
US marines have begun the last leg of training to prepare for gay people to serve openly in the military for the June 1 deadline. The training asks marines to consider their reactions to a range of scenarios including a fellow member holding a banner promoting gay rights as he or she participates in a parade, Forbes reported. Training for Marines, Navy, Army and Air Force began at the start of the year and is expected to finish by June. The repeal will not go into effect until 60 days after the President, Defence Secretary and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify the lifting of the ban will not hurt the military’s ability to fight.
Benn Dorrington
