San Marino appoints the world’s first openly gay head of state
Just because something is advanced in age doesn’t mean it’s set in old ways—something that the world’s oldest republic, San Marino, proved by appointing the world’s first openly gay head of state. Astoundingly, San Marino was founded in the year 301 and is one of the very few medieval Read More...
France and New Zealand criminalize "conversion therapy"
Conversion therapy is the damaging and degrading practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual identity or gender identity, based on the idea that an individual’s sexual orientation is something that needs to be “cured.” Late last year, we shared an article celebrating Canada’s Read More...
The fight for LGBTQ+ rights within German Catholic Church
Just over a week ago, 120 priests and other employees within the Catholic church community in Germany came out as queer as part of a campaign that demanded an end to institutional discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community within the church. The campaign calls on the Roman Catholic Church in Read More...
Same-sex couples in Israel can now become parents through surrogacy
Last July, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of lifting the surrogacy ban for same-sex couples. On Tuesday, the country announced that starting next week the ruling will go into effect, finally allowing Israeli same-sex couples to become parents through surrogacy. Before, surrogacy in Read More...
Tokyo becomes biggest city in Japan to recognize same-sex partnerships
In March of this year, we shared the news that in Sapporo, Japan, the district court ruled that the government’s failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, which was viewed as a symbolic victory and a huge step forward for the LGBTQ+ community in Japan. Now, more steps have Read More...
Kenyan LGBTQ community salutes singer Chimano for coming out
Back in 2019, LGBTQ+ rights campaigners challenged the Kenyan High Court to overturn a law that bans gay sex and makes it punishable by up to 14 years in prison. While they were unsuccessful, attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community have been softening within the country itself, especially among the Read More...
Canada fast-tracks bill to ban conversion therapy
A bill that would ban the practice of conversion therapy in Canada has been unanimously adopted by the House of Commons, fast tracking it for approval by the Senate. Bill C-4 bans the practice of conversion therapy, which is a harmful attempt to change an individual’s sexual or gender Read More...
Botswana decriminalizes homosexuality
Back in 2019, campaigners in Botswana fought to remove jail sentences for those caught in same-sex relationships, arguing that the punishment (which, since 1965, is up to seven years in prison) is unconstitutional. The country’s High Court ruled in favor of the campaigners much to their Read More...
Indian health insurance to expand coverage options for transgender people
Ayushman Bharat, India’s flagship health insurance scheme for the least privileged communities in the nation, has announced that the government’s new scheme, Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE), will provide medical coverage for transgender individuals Read More...
Swiss voters approve legalization of same-sex marriage
Switzerland is celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage this week after a referendum resoundingly approved the measure. In a vote held on Sunday, 64.1 percent of Swiss voters confirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. Swiss lawmakers voted to expand the Read More...