Italy: Prime Minister wants a vote on civil union bill by October

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he hopes to get a long-stalled civil union bill through parliament in October. Renzi vowed early in his term to get make civil unions legal under Italian law before the start of 2014, but the bill stalled in the face of stiff opposition. Renzi was cautious with his new timeline in remarks quoted by ANSA.

Renzi outlined his new timeline as the bill’s lead author, Senator Monica Cirinnà announced a deal with conservative members of the Justice Committee to allow an amendment adding language designed to emphasize that civil unions were not considered equivalent with marriage between a man and a woman.

Opposition from Catholic leaders has helped keep the bill on ice despite the fact that 75% of Italians favored some form of partnership rights for same-sex couples and nearly half backed full marriage equality in a BuzzFeed News/Ipsos poll conducted earlier this year.   Read More via Buzzfeed

Italy: Mayor proposes tax on homosexuals

Joe Formaggio, the ultra-conservative Mayor in Albettone, a town in the province of Vicenza, recently made national headlines with his newest proposal: a tax on homosexuals.

His reasoning is simple: “Gay people don’t have sons, so they have to compensate for the future lower tax income.” He added that the new tax should help “normal families” like his. He has three children. Some historians were reminded of a similar law, the celibacy tax, which was in effect during the Fascist era between 1927 and 1943 to encourage more births.

As strange as it may seem, his proposals have actually received some local support. Read More via Lettera43

Burundi: New measures restricting the freedoms of organization

After the formation of his government, the President of the Republic His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza in his speech to the nation announced new reforms. In these reforms, the President particularly noted the establishment of a Commission for national and international NGOs.

"We will examine in depth how to put feet on a commission of national and international NGOs, approve and monitor how they are doing their job: it is shown that a disorder exists in these organizations. The Commission will monitor the achievements of these NGOs to their contribution to the development of the country is more visible and increases in accordance with new regulatory provisions that will be defined soon."

Although these measures will affect all NGOs working in Burundi in general, organizations working on LGBTI theme will be affected in particular. At present, no identity LGBTI organization has been registered despite multiple attempts. The reforms announced by the President of the Republic may destroy the efforts and advocacy work already undertaken since 2009 by LGBTI organizations in Burundi. Read More via Mouvement pour les Libertés Individuelles 

Uganda: Parliament to take up bill that could re-criminalize LGBT rights work

Ugandan lawmakers are due to take up legislation in an emergency session that could achieve one of the key goals of the sweeping anti-LGBT legislation struck down by the country’s Constitutional Court in 2014: the criminalization of groups supporting LGBT rights.

The proposal, known as the NGO bill, is about much broader issues than LGBT rights. It would expand the power of the government’s current NGO Board, allowing it to ban non-governmental organizations for essentially any reason, including when a group’s goals are “in contravention of the law” or if it is “in the public interest to refuse to register the organization.” Any organization that doesn’t register, which is how many LGBT groups currently operate in Uganda, would be considered illegal.

“There is absolutely no doubt that a significant part of the NGO bill seeks to reintroduce in part the things that were in the Anti-Homosexuality Act,” said Nicholas Opiyo, the lawyer who made the winning argument that got the law struck down last August. Cissy Kagaba, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda, said “We are approaching elections and government is concerned about our ability to mobilize and influence the masses against corruption and related other related evils that the government is engaged in.” If the bill passes, she warns, “[w]ithin in 6 months we shall cease to exist”  Read More via Buzzfeed

Europe: Parliament strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s suppression LGBTI people

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, in which it denounces the intimidation and repression of LGBTI people, as well as those defending their rights. The overall human rights situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated continuously over the last few years, with many independent journalists and civil society leaders now imprisoned without appropriate access to healthcare. Those not imprisoned, are often subjected to intimidation and harassment. Independent LGBTI activists had to flee the country for fear of persecution.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup on LGBTIRights, reacted: “Over the last year, at least 3 LGBTI persons were killed with trans-/homophobic motives, which is unfortunately no wonder in a context where inflammatory speech against LGBTI people comes from the highest levels, including politicians.”

Tanja Fajon MEP and Kati Piri MEP, Vice-President and Member of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, continued: “We call on the High Representative, the Commission and the Council to address this at the highest possible level, including through the human rights dialogue and a stop of the negotiations on the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan if things do not improve.”   Read More via European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights

Russia: Putin awards anti-gay crusader Milonov medal for diligent work

President Vladimir Putin has awarded the Deputy of St. Petersburg legislative Assembly Vitaly Milonov the medal of the order "For merits before Fatherland" II degree for his legislative activity and many years of diligent work. Medal of the order "For merits before Fatherland" is awarded for "implementation specific and useful for the country's Affairs" and "a great contribution to the protection of the Fatherland."

Known for provocative initiatives and statements, Milonov offered an uncharacteristic apology for his “rude” statements while in the same radio interview referring to liberals as “dogs” and an LGBT rights activist as “non-human.”

Offering more of his trademark comments, Milonov said he would like to become head of a Russian region that he would name “Spiritual Constantinople,” — a region without alcoholics or LGBT people, Govorit Moskva said Thursday in a separate report.

“We would create a model region: There would be not a single prostitute, not a single drug addict, all alcoholics would be in [treatment facilities] LTPs, we would have 'vice police' units operating, [there would be] not a single gay person,” Govorit Moskva quoted him as saying. “It would be the ideal region.” Read More via Moscow Times

Malaysia: Love is not terrorism, Najib

What possible connection can there be between a woman who loves another woman and the brutal extremist armed group that calls itself Islamic State (also known as Isis)?

Well, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, they both pose direct threats to the “moderation” that his vision of Islam advances. At an international seminar in Bangi, local media reports say, Najib asserted that extremist armed groups and sexual and gender minorities both pose a threat to Malaysian society.

"Groups like the Islamic State and lesbians, gay, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT) both target the younger generation,” he said, “and seem successful in influencing certain groups in society.”

Dr Teh Yik Koon, a Malaysian scholar who has extensively researched the situation of transgender people in Malaysia, told Human Rights Watch, “People rely on the government to tell them what’s right and wrong—especially when it comes to [what is perceived as] a religious question.” This is not the first time Najib has attempted to scapegoat LGBT people. Read More via Human Rights Watch

Ghana: Presidential candidate, if elected, will kill gay people by firing squad

Ghanaian politician George Boateng has vowed to unseat President John Mahama in the National Democratic Congress party’s presidential primaries in November. And in doing so, has already started making pronouncements about what he will deliver if he is elected.

Speaking on Kasapa radio, he said it was time to ‘eradicate’ homosexuality from Ghana: ‘There is too much indiscipline in Ghana, under my presidency when a corrupt person, gay or lesbian are arrested the law will make it possible for the courts to sentence the offender to death by firing squad.'

Gay sex is currently illegal in Ghana, punishable by up to three years in jail if it is consensual. There is uncertainty over whether female homosexuality is illegal. Violence against LGBTI people is widespread but highly under-reported and not prosecuted. Read More via Gay Star News

Nepal: Lawmakers approve first LGBTI protections in new constitution

Nepalese lawmakers have approved the first LGBTI protections in the country’s constitution as they finally act to pass the new constitution after years of political gridlock. Sexual minorities and transgender issues are addressed in several of the articles of Nepal’s new constitution which lawmakers are voting on article by article to approve.

‘Nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of special provisions by law for the protection, empowerment or advancement of the interests of socially and culturally disadvantaged women, Dalits, indigenous peoples, tribes, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim, ethnic minorities, backward classes, minorities, marginalized, farmers, workers, youth, children, senior citizens, gender and sexual minorities, handicapped persons, pregnant persons, disabled or helpless, people of backward regions and economically disadvantaged citizens,’ the new constitution states.  Read More via Gay Star News

Kenya: LGBT rights must be protected to ensure healthy lives for all

Next week, 193 governments will attend the UN’s General Assembly in New York to adopt new sustainable development goals. But for sexual minorities the question is: how serious are governments about ensuring no one is left behind in the goal to ensure healthy lives for all?

After battling with acceptance of his HIV status, Joshua* visited a local hospital because he had genital warts. He recounts the painful experience: “When the nurse found out I was gay she started shouting and asking me why I was doing such bad things.”

Some medical practitioners refuse to offer services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI), citing moral or religious reasons. Fear of such discriminatory treatment has led to low access of services by LGBTI people and threatens global progress on the HIV response. Read More via Key Correspondents 

Sweden: First LGBT retirement home - a model for rainbow ageing?

There's a lengthy waiting list for a place at Sweden's first retirement home for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, its success highlighting a growing demand for accommodation specifically for elderly LGBT people.

Sweden is ranked as one of Europe's best countries for LGBT rights, according to an index that ranks European countries based on legal benchmarks for LGBT equality. Opened in 2013, Regnbagen, or rainbow house, doesn't look any different from the other modern apartment blocks in the quiet, leafy Stockholm suburb that overlooks the city's port.

Christer Fallman, Regnbagen's founder, said he liked the idea of creating a home where elderly gay and bisexual people could peacefully retire. "We are a group of people that has been harassed and seen as criminals and dismissed by law," he said. "The whole question started within myself: what will I do, what are my possibilities as a single man if I don't find anyone to live with, what will my older days look like?" Read More via Reuters

Argentina abolishes gay blood ban

Argentina lifted its ban on blood donation from gay and bisexual men, a bold move that puts the country at the forefront of the blood equality movement. At a signing ceremony, Health Minister Daniel Gollán declared that the change is “scientifically and technically accurate” and based on a medical approach that replaces that old concept of ‘risk groups.’ ” Gollán explained that, under the new policy, Argentina could finally “move toward a national blood system that is safe, caring, and inclusive.” It joins a growing minority of countries, including Italy and Spain, which assess donors based on individual risk rather than excluding an entire class solely because of their sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, the United States still leans heavily on the widely debunked concept of “risk groups.” The Food and Drug Administration plans to revise America’s current lifetime ban for gay and bisexual men, allowing them to donate if they’ve been celibate for a year. 

Read More via Slate