Monday, September 30, 2013
United Nations Holds Historic Meeting On LGBT Rights
Thursday's meeting was organized by Navi Pillay, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights.
“When I became high commissioner for human rights five years ago, there was almost no discussion at the United Nations on the human rights challenges faced by lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex people,” Pillay told foreign ministers attending the meeting. “That is no longer the case. And I want to commend you, members of the core group, for the part you are playing in bringing about a new era of openness and dialogue.”
Eleven countries signed on to a resolution stating “those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender must enjoy the same human rights as everyone else.”
At the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also announced a $1 million contribution from The Netherlands to the Global Equality Fund, a global initiative to support gay rights first announced in 2011 by former secretary Hillary Clinton.
(Related: Hillary Clinton announces global fund to support gay rights.)
The meeting was attended by ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, El Salvador, France, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Lambda Legal to Challenge Gay Marriage Ban in West Virginia
Now, West Virginia's same-sex marriage ban is going to have its day in court in a lawsuit to be announced tomorrow, the Charleston Gazette reports:
Lambda Legal will
hold a press conference at 10 a.m. in Huntington to announce the
lawsuit, according to a release from the firm. The group was among those
who filed a lawsuit in Virginia in August challenging that state's ban
on gay and lesbian marriage.
A spokesman for Lambda Legal wouldn't release details of the West
Virginia lawsuit on Monday. According to the group's website, it has
been working with Fairness West Virginia, a gay rights group, "to find a
way for all same-sex couples and their families in the Mountain State
to get equal legal treatment and protections."
Casey Willits, executive director of Fairness West Virginia, would only confirm Monday that Fairness has been working with Lambda.
This is of course, of particular interest for me, because this is the state I currently dwell in.
The lawsuit is a federal lawsuit, something not made clear in the article.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Gay Pride Ban In Serbia Sparks Spontaneous March
A spontaneous march took place in Belgrade, Serbia after the
government announced its decision to ban a gay pride march for the
third consecutive year.
According to several reports, dozens of LGBT rights activists gathered in front of the prime minister's office after learning that the parade, originally scheduled for Saturday, had been called off. They began a spontaneous protest that quickly grew to include hundreds of people with the help of social media.
“We don't give up!” the activists shouted as they marched and waved rainbow flags. They were escorted by police in full riot gear.
Serbian authorities expressed concerns that allowing the parade to proceed could lead to a repeat of violence that broke out in 2010, when police clashed with anti-gay extremists for hours.
Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's deputy prime minister, said the ban was “in the interests of the citizens.”
However, Friday's march was peaceful.
According to several reports, dozens of LGBT rights activists gathered in front of the prime minister's office after learning that the parade, originally scheduled for Saturday, had been called off. They began a spontaneous protest that quickly grew to include hundreds of people with the help of social media.
“We don't give up!” the activists shouted as they marched and waved rainbow flags. They were escorted by police in full riot gear.
Serbian authorities expressed concerns that allowing the parade to proceed could lead to a repeat of violence that broke out in 2010, when police clashed with anti-gay extremists for hours.
Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's deputy prime minister, said the ban was “in the interests of the citizens.”
However, Friday's march was peaceful.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Shocking News Update: Chris Christie Says He'll Appeal Ruling Legalizing Gay Marriage
On Friday, Christie refused to take questions about the ruling, instead issuing a brief statement through a spokesman.
“Gov. Christie has always maintained that he would abide by the will of the voters on the issue of marriage equality and called for it to be on the ballot this Election Day,” said spokesman Michael Drewniak. “Since the Legislature refused to allow the people to decide expeditiously, we will let the Supreme Court make this constitutional determination.”
Friday, September 27, 2013
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