Page 3 - Lgbtq

Some parties seek LGBT vote as most Indians disapprove of homosexuality

Election manifestos of Congress and CPM promise stronger legal protections for the community

Thailand lawmakers overwhelmingly pass bill to legalise same-sex marriage

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 legalise 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 a

Denying same-sex marriage unconstitutional, change required: Japan Court

A Japanese high court ruled on Thursday that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions. Plaintiffs and the LGBTQ+ community in Japan cheered it as giving them hope for change toward equality. The court does not have the power to overturn the current marriage law, which has been interpreted to restrict marriage as between a man and a woman. Government offices may continue to deny marriage status to same-sex couples unless the existing law is revised to include LGBTQ+ couples or a new law is enacted that allows for other types of unions. The Sapporo High Court ruling said not allowing same-sex couples to marry and enjoy the same benefits as straight couples violates their fundamental right to equality and freedom of marriage. The case was brought by three same-sex couples who appealed three years ago after a lower court recognised the unconstitutionality of excluding same-sex couples fr

Putin's crackdown casts a wide net, ensnaring LGBTQ+ community, lawyers

It's not just opposition politicians who are targeted in the crackdown by Russian President Vladimir Putin's government in recent years. Also falling victim are independent voices as well as those who don't conform to what the state sees as the country's traditional values. Russia's once-thriving free press after the collapse of the Soviet Union has been largely reduced to either state-controlled media or independent journalists operating from abroad, with few critical outlets still working in the country. Prominent rights groups have been outlawed or classified as agents of foreigners. Lawyers who represented dissidents have been prosecuted. LGBTQ+ activists have been labelled "extremists. A look at those who have come under attack during Putin's 24-year rule that is likely to be extended by six more years in this month's presidential election: INDEPENDENT MEDIA Independent news sites largely have been blocked in Russia since the first weeks of the war in Ukraine. Many have moved

The bigotry of the victim

This is a disturbing book, and a much-needed one, because the obsession with appearance continues to thrive in spaces where gay men seek romance, sex and companionship

LGBTQ not entitled to reservations like SC, ST, OBC: Ex CJI UU Lalit

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice UU Lalit, on Thrusday said the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) community is not entitled to claim "vertical' sort of constitutional reservations like those given to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), or Economically Weaker Section (EWS)".Speaking at an event, the former CJI, however, said the community might claim a "horizontal reservation status on the lines of the ones for women and disabled people", according to a press release.Justice Lalit, who retired as the 49th CJI in November 2022, make the remarks in answer to a query during the Q & A session after delivering a special lecture on Affirmative Action and Constitution of India' at the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) in Goa.On whether the LGBTQ community will ever come under the ambit of constitutional affirmative action/reservation, Justice Latit, who is also the Principal ..

No 'vertical' reservation on lines of SC, ST, OBC for LGBTQs: Ex-CJI Lalit

Former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit on Thursday said the LGBTQ community is not entitled to claim "vertical" reservations like those given to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), or Economically Weaker Section (EWS). He, however, said they may claim "horizontal" reservation on the lines of the ones for women and persons with disabilities. Justice Lalit, who retired as the 49th CJI in November 2022, was answering a query during the question and answer session after delivering a special lecture on 'ffirmative Action and Constitution of India' at the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) here. When asked whether the LGBTQ community will ever come under the ambit of constitutional affirmative action/reservation, he said, "Theoretically yes, but if I give the counter argument, not to belittle the idea, but to see that my birth in a community like SC, ST or OBC is something beyond my capacity while sexual ...

Greece to soon present legislation allowing same-sex marriage: Official

Greece's centre-right government will soon submit legislation allowing same-sex civil marriages, despite reservations from its own lawmakers and the country's influential Orthodox Church, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. But he stressed that the proposed law would not extend the right to parenthood through surrogate mothers to same-sex couples an issue that has divided Greek society. What we are going to legislate is equality in marriage, Mitsotakis said. We will remove any discrimination concerning sexual orientation in the issue of marital relationship. But, he added, "we won't change the law on assisted parenthood. The idea of women who are turned into child-producing machines on demand ... that is not going to happen. Several lawmakers from the right wing of the governing New Democracy party have expressed opposition to any overhaul of Greece's marriage and parenthood laws to include same-sex couples. Mitsotakis said in Wednesday's interview with state-ru

DCW dealt with over 170,000 cases under Maliwal's chairpersonship: Report

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Friday said it has dealt with over 1.7 lakh cases during Swati Maliwal's tenure as the chairperson, a 700 per cent surge compared to her predecessor Barkha Shukla Singh. The DCW released its report spanning 2015 to 2023, showcasing its role in ensuring women's safety in the national capital over this period. During a media briefing this morning, outgoing DCW chief Maliwal, said over the past eight years, the commission's 'Rape Crisis Cell' had received over 41 lakh calls on the women's helpline, assisted survivors in 1,97,479 court hearings, and counselled 60,000 sexual assault survivors. The DCW's focus on LGBTQIA+ rights and addressing cyber-crimes against women showcased its commitment to justice, Maliwal said. "The commission's relentless pursuit of women's safety included advocating for a special task force, tackling acid violence, and exposing illegal liquor and drug practices," she added. In the last eight years, the commission has de

'LGBTQ Fashion Show' in Siliguri highlights issues faced by community

The show was organised to make the stakeholders, especially the people holding important positions in society, aware of the problems and issues faced by the LGBTQ community

Pope allows blessings for same-sex couples if they don't resemble marriage

Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to an exhaustive moral analysis to receive it. The document from the Vatican's doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn't confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage. The new document repeats that condition and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings in question must be non-liturgical in nature and should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding. But it says requests for such ...

Russia outlaws 'extremist' LGBT movement, bans all activities in country

The court ruling stated that "the international LGBT public movement and its subdivisions" were extremist, and issued a "ban on its activities on the territory of Russia"

Russian authorities ask SC to declare the LGBTQ 'movement' extremist

The Russian Justice Ministry on Friday said it has filed a lawsuit with the nation's Supreme Court to outlaw the LGBTQ+ international public movement as extremist, the latest crippling blow against the already beleaguered LGBTQ+ community in the increasingly conservative country. The ministry said in an online statement announcing the lawsuit that authorities have identified signs and manifestations of extremist nature in the activities of the LGBT movement active" in Russia, including incitement of social and religious discord. Russia's Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing to consider the lawsuit for November 30, the ministry said. It wasn't immediately clear what exactly the label would entail for LGBTQ+ people in Russia if the Supreme Court sides with the Justice Ministry. But the move in itself represents the latest, and by far the most drastic, step in the decade-long crackdown on gay rights in Russia unleashed under President Vladimir Putin, who has put traditional family ...

Sometimes it's vote of conscience: CJI on judgement on queer couples

CJI Chandrachud was speaking at the 3rd Comparative Constitutional Law discussion on the topic 'Perspectives from the Supreme Courts of India and the United States'

Watch | What common people said about SC's same-sex marriage ruling

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, delivered its much-anticipated judgement on pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriage.

Need for pragmatism

Govt must create enabling legal framework for LGBTQIA+ rights

SC rejects same-sex marriage; ball in govt's court

India's Supreme Court has refused to give marriage equality rights to LGBTQIA+ community. For now, the ball is in the govt's court. But same-sex marriage is legal in more than 30 places

Same-sex marriage: While one door is shut, another opened, says Jethmalani

"They said - we do not have the power to do it, we will be trespassing on the jurisdiction of the legislature in the govt. So, we are calling upon them to examine this issue," Mahesh Jethmalani added

Will continue struggle on streets, say LGBTQIA+ members on SC ruling

Expressing disappointment with the Supreme Court verdict refusing to accord legal recognition to same-sex marriage, some members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Tuesday vowed to continue their struggle on the streets and to engage with the state on the matter. At a press conference, the National Network of LBI (Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex) Women and Trans Persons shared the implications of the verdict and outlined its continued commitment to the LGBTQ+ rights movement. A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court unanimously refused to accord legal recognition to the union of same-sex couples in the country, but recognised equal rights for queer people and their protection. Reacting to the ruling, Chayanika, an LGBTQIA+ community member, said, "We are upset but want to move ahead.... We have no place to be dejected or complacent. We will continue our struggle." "Just leaving us in 2018 (when the Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex) is not what we expected the bench to do. The be

In 3:2 verdict, SC bench backs off from recognising same sex marriage

Chief Justice Chandrachud and Justice Kaul agree on granting rights to queer couples