This is a critical time for the EU Commission to adopt a comprehensive LGBTI strategy

Europe is at a dangerous crossroads and that’s why this is a critical time for the Commission to adopt a comprehensive LGBTI strategy over the next five years, say ILGA-Europe in the media release on 17 September. An EU LGBTI strategy, adopted and owned by the political leadership of the European Commission would give a very important political sign that the EU will not only continue but also strengthen its work on protecting and advancing the human rights of LGBTI people in the European Union. Also, it will help all Directorate Generals of the European Commission to feel empowered to ensure full implementation of existing commitments and to plan proposals and actions that will advance LGBTI human rights and equality.
Read more about our call for an EU-level LGBTI strategy.

By Christy Mallory and Brad Sears

An estimated 113,000 LGBT adults live in Oklahoma. There are approximately 74,000 LGBT workers age 16 and older in the state.

Oklahoma does not have a statewide law that expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, leaving LGBT residents vulnerable to discrimination. Researchers estimate that local ordinances protect about 29% of Oklahoma’s workforce from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Local ordinances also protect only about 3% of adults from this type of discrimination in housing and public accommodations.

Read the press release

Read the report

By Naomi G. Goldberg, Christy Mallory, Amira Hasenbush, Lara Stemple, and Ilan H. Meyer

Harmful policing strategies and tactics push many LGBT people, particularly young, low-income and LGBT people of color, into the criminal justice system, write Williams Institute scholars along with public policy and legal experts in a newly released book, The Cambridge Handbook of Policing in the United States. Negative interactions with law enforcement weaken LGBT people’s trust in law enforcement, and as a result, LGBT victims of violence are less likely to report incidents to police and have their complaints fully addressed.

In the chapter, “Police and the Criminalization of LGBT People,” authors examine the persistent tension between the need for police protection against LGBT-focused hate crimes and the over-policing of LGBT communities. It investigates discriminatory targeting, harassment, and violence by the police and provides potential remedies, such as community engagement, LGBT-inclusive training for law enforcement, and the revision of local and federal policies and practices.

The chapter was authored by Naomi G. Goldberg of the Movement Advancement Project and Lara Stemple of UCLA School of Law, along with Williams Institute scholars Christy Mallory, Amira Hasenbush, and Ilan H. Meyer.

To request a copy of the book chapter, please email williamsinstitute@law.ucla.edu.

Recently (26/9), the Belgian Constitutional Court issued a decision concerning blood donation by MSM. In Belgium, MSM can give blood after a period of 12 months without intercourse.  The French-speaking LGBT movement in Belgium has challenged this before the Constitutional Court. See:

https://www.const-court.be/public/n/2019/2019-122n.pdf (in Dutch)

https://www.const-court.be/public/f/2019/2019-122f.pdf (in French)

It’s a long and well-argued judgement. The Constitutional Court states that the 12-month period must be maintained. However, the law must be revised every two years, so that medical developments can be looked at (and the 12-months period can be shortened or abolished). This is in line with the case law of the EU Court of Justice.

Nevertheless, the Constitutional Court has annulled a small part of the law on blood donation : it should be possible for MSM to donate plasma placed in quarantine without a waiting period. The Court has requested that the law be amended in this respect.

https://www.france24.com/en/20191003-russian-court-blocks-major-lgbt-online-groups

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/03/christian-doctor-fired-refusing-transgender-woman-loses-employment-tribunal/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PNnewsletter

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/09/25/freddy-mcconnell-trans-man-gave-birth-father-high-court-legal-battle/

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/09/24/ivf-france-sperm-lesbian-couples-pma-same-sex-bisexual-bioethics/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PNnewsletter

On 1st of August 2019 entered into force a new version of the respective internal directive:

Click to access dir0-2-promotion-egalite1.pdf

“La Direction de l’Université condamne toute forme de discrimination notamment à raison de sexe, d’identité de genre ou d’orientation sexuelle, d’origine sociale, nationale ou ethnique, d’âge ou du fait de vivre en situation de handicap. Aucune forme de discrimination n’est tolérée.

La Direction de l’Université prend des mesures visant à concrétiser dans les faits le principe de l’égalité. Elle mène une politique active de promotion de l’égalité, notamment en ce qui concerne l’égalité entre femmes et hommes et les personnes en situation de handicap.

Tous les services et instances de l’UNIL contribuent à l’objectif de promotion de l’égalité à l’Université.”

For more information on Activities in this field visit: http://www.sogiesclaw.com

La PMA et sa réglementation en Europe de l’ouest │Journées d’études de l’IHM: La PMA et sa réglementation en Europe de l’ouest : l’emprise des normes sociales et de genre à la lumière de la diversité des dispositions nationales

Thursday 21 November 2019 – 9h00 to Friday 22 November 2019 – 17h30 – IDHEAP – Aula

Cycle de trois journées d’études

La PMA et sa réglementation en Europe de l’ouest L’emprise des normes sociales et de genre à la lumière de la diversité des dispositions nationales

Jeudi 21 novembre, 9h-17h30 
Réglementaion de la PMA, enjeux de genre et encadrement éthique.
Identifier et comprendre les différences nationales

Vendredi 22 novembre 9h-17h30 
(Non) accès à la PMA et droits des personnes LGBT.
Appréhender les dynamiques d’inclusion et d’exclusion

Vendredi 27 mars 2020, 9h-17h30 
Le “droit aux origines” : du domaine de l’adoption à celui de la PMA.
Histoire, enjeux et controverses 

Responsable du projet
Catherine FUSSINGER – Institut des humanités en médecine, IHM – CHUV & FBM / UNIL
Comité scientifique et d’organisation
Marta ROCA I ESCODA – Centre en études genre (CEG), SSP, UNIL
Nolwenn BÜHLER – STSLab, SSP, UNIL │ Laboratoire d’études des processus sociaux, UNINE
Gaia BARAZZETTI – Institut des humanités en médecine, IHM – CHUV & FBM / UNIL│CoLaboratoire, UNIL
Véronique BOILLET – Centre de droit public, FDCA, UNIL
Andreas R. ZIEGLER – Centre de droit comparé, européen et international, FDCA, UNIL

Renseignements : Alba.Brizzi(at)chuv.ch │Tél : 021 314 70 50

Detailed programme (pdf) can be downloaded here: https://agenda.unil.ch/display/1568112892438