Japanese out politician urges South Korea to improve LGBT rights

Taiga Ishikawa, Japan’s only gay politician, has spoken about South Korea’s progress on LGBT rights.

He attended the Korea Queer Festival, which was protested against by conservative Christian groups. Police attempted to ban the parade, on public safety grounds, but the ban was overturned by the courts.

Mr Ishikawa said: “I was shocked to hear that the parade was blocked by the state forces. It saddened me. Then it hit me; there isn’t an openly LGBT lawmaker in Korea yet. Policymaking in Japan as a whole is conducted as if sexual minorities do not exist. I wish to be an advocate of LGBTs, as I am one myself."

Mr Ishikawa became Japan’s first gay politician in 2011, when he won a seat on the Tokyo Assembly. He has been firm advocate for LGBT rights. Read More 

Israel: Ministers reject opposition MK’s LGBT rights bill

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Monday voted down a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against LGBT people in any way. The legislation, proposed by MK Ofer Shelah, would make any law prohibiting discrimination based on gender, age, country of origin, etc. apply to LGBT people as well.

Shelah noted that no other Likud ministers voted in the anti-discrimination bill's favor, though some attended last week’s Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv. “Such a simple matter, that all laws prohibiting discrimination should apply to discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, did not get the approval of the current government,” Shelah said. “On Pride Week, some of the Likud tried to paint rainbows on their faces. Don’t be fooled: Behind that, you’ll find their true faces.”
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US: State Department report documents LGBT human rights violations

The State Department’s annual human rights report, 2014 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, notes anti-LGBT persecution and discrimination were pervasive throughout the world in 2014. A compilation of the information from the report regarding sexual orientation and gender identity can be found here.

 Included in this compilation is information about new anti-LGBT laws as well as the ongoing persecution and violence facing LGBT people around the world.

"While there is no doubt that equality is rising in some places around the globe, this report makes it clear that many LGBT people are not experiencing the benefits of that progress,” said Ty Cobb, Director of HRC Global.  “This report is a critical tool for documenting the violence and persecution faced by LGBT people abroad, and helps to inform our nation's foreign policy.” The situation for LGBT people around the world varies widely, as some countries embrace equality, while in others, LGBT people continue to suffer from discrimination, persecution and violence. Read More

Armenia: The human rights situation of LGBT people in Armenia 2014

Discrimination towards the LGBT community in Armenia continues to be widespread, as the state fails to undertake any actions to reduce the negative attitude towards the LGBT community and to protect their human rights. Rather than promote equality, the leading political party representatives and media affiliated with authorities continue to spread hate speech towards LGBT people, strengthening the environment of impunity in the county.

The absence of anti-discrimination legislation and accountability mechanisms for discrimination cases greatly contributes to the violation of human rights of LGBT people; with this, the lack of implementation for the existing legislation also increases the vulnerability of LGBT people. This report summarizes cases of human rights violations during 2014, records of interviews with LGBT people and data obtained from court cases, internet sources and studies of other reports.  Read More

US: Researchers and iPhone launch landmark study of LGBTQ health

Researchers are preparing the largest national study of LGBTQ health ever. The Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality, or PRIDE, Study is the first study of this kind to better understand the health of LGBTQ adults in the United States. It’s a longitudinal cohort study that uses an iPhone app to connect with and track sexual & gender minority adults over time to understand factors related to health & disease in this population.  

The PRIDE Study app is based on ResearchKit, an open-source software framework developed by Apple, which helps researchers gather data more frequently and accurately from participants using mobile devices. For example, other researchers have created apps to measure dexterity and gait in Parkinson’s disease patients and blood glucose levels in diabetes patients. The PRIDE Study is the first to use this platform to study a population rather than a specific disease. Read More

Europe: How to prevent HIV and STI in men who have sex with men

Many European countries have had specific prevention programmes for men who have sex with men (MSM) since the early years of the HIV epidemic. But sex between men is still the predominant mode of HIV transmission across the EU/EEA. In its new guidance HIV and STI prevention among men who have sex with men, ECDC identifies seven key services to reduce and prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) among MSM.

The guidance suggests scientifically proven interventions that range from vaccination, better access to testing and condoms to timely treatment and targeted health promotion. For maximum effect, these are best applied in combination. 
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OHCHR: Sexual and reproductive health and rights

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched a new information series on sexual and reproductive health and rights. The series includes topics such as Abortion, Adolescents, HIV and AIDS, Violence against Women, LGBTI people, among others. For each topic, it provides the latest data, the human rights standards and the international agreements. Find the series here  

The 29th session of the Human Rights Council concluded on 3 July at a report was presented to updated the Office of the High Commission on violence and discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The report can be read here. 

Thailand: Stand against homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools

Asia-Pacific countries have committed to taking steps to address bullying in schools during a regional consultation organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Asia-Pacific regional offices.

 “We know [that] exclusion, bullying and violence have immediate, long-term and intergenerational effects. This includes school attendance, performance, and completion,” said UNESCO Bangkok Director Gwang-Jo Kim. “And for those that think that bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity only affects LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex] people? This is wrong. It affects the whole climate of the school and community." Read More

Mormon church facing growing pressure from within on LGBT rights

After the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sought to continue its strong opposition to marriage equality. The Church released a statement on June 26: “The Supreme Court’s decision does not alter the Lord’s doctrine that marriage is a union between a man and a woman ordained by God. 

However, within the church, a number of Mormons have been advocating for LGBT equality – and see the ruling as a chance for a clean break from the church’s previous scaremongering. Mormons for Equality executive director Spencer W. Clark said: “It will take time to overcome and repent of our past, but as we’ve seen already, the more that we come to know same-sex couples and their children, the more we discover that our fears were misplaced. Mormons believe in the importance of families, and for increasing numbers of Mormons, that means all families.”

While it’s highly unlikely the Church will change its stance on same-sex marriage any time soon, its members in Mormons for Equality and Mormons Building Bridges represent a softer side of the religion. Read More 

Belgium: United Protestant Church of Belgium will accept homosexual pastors

The United Protestant Church of Belgium published a press release on stating that the EPUB now accepts homosexual pastors. The Protestant Synod decided it in an extraordinary assembly around the topic “Homosexuality and pastoral ministry”.

A work group wrote a recommendation that was sent to the local churches and then debated by districts before taking the decision in the Synod. The final decision was that homosexuality is not a criterion to exclude candidates for the ministry.

Pastor Steven H. Fuite, president of the EPUB, insists that the opinion of the Synod is only a “recommendation” and that no one is forced: “Every parish can choose the pastor they want”. The press release talks about unity in diversity. Mr. Fuite explains that this recommendation means that no parish can force their opinion into another. “The differences in our Bible interpretations should not be reasons for disunion”.  Read More