Author Archives: Andreas R. Ziegler

European Union: Interesting Publication: LGBTIQ at a crossroads: progress and challenges

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European Union: Interesting Publication: LGBTIQ at a crossroads: progress and challenges

Sex, sexual orientation and gender – Equality, non-discrimination and racism

FRA’s third LGBTIQ survey shows that people still experience hate-motivated violence and discrimination. Trans and intersex people face even greater victimisation. Yet, signs of progress show that the EU’s and Member States’ efforts can positively affect people’s lives. More LGBTIQ people are open about their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

Download for free:https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2024/lgbtiq-crossroads-progress-and-challenges

USA: Texas city approves transgender bathroom ban

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Texas city approves transgender bathroom ban

The city council of Odessa, Texas voted this week to approve a ban on transgender individuals’ use of bathrooms on city property that do not correspond with their sex assigned at birth.

Tuesday’s 5-2 vote amends a 1989 ordinance that made it “unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally enter any public restroom designated for the exclusive use of the sex opposite to his or her own…” The new amendments will expand the language to allow prosecution of transgender people for using bathrooms that align with their personal gender identification. Penalties include trespassing charges, fines, and liability for damages, including court costs and legal fees.

Restrooms in city libraries, parks, airports, and other government facilities are subject to the ban under the new language which includes, urinals, toilets, showers, and changing areas in the definition of restroom.

The Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union condemned the new ordinance, calling it “shameful” while a spokesperson from PFLAG, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, called the legislation “unnecessary” and “a complete waste of the city’s time, money, and resources.”

Texas Values president Jonathan Saenz who advocated for the bill insisted that the ordinance was needed align the language of the ordinance with “our current culture” while denouncing changes toward “long held beliefs” on gender and sex.

The bill includes exceptions for minors under the age of 12 accompanying an adult into a restroom for normal use, law enforcement, emergency medical aid, and custodial maintenance or repair.

Transgender rights have faced increasing restrictions in the Lone Star state with the Texas Supreme Court recently upholding a ban on gender affirming care for transgender youth. There are now fears that the Odessa bill could presage a statewide ban on the transgender people’s use of restrooms that align with their gender identity.

The post Texas city approves transgender bathroom ban appeared first on JURIST – News.

More than 800 US veterans given honourable discharges after ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ review

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More than 800 US veterans given honourable discharges after ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ review

The Pentagon has announced that more than 800 veterans who were thrown out of the US military over their sexual orientation will receive honourable discharges.

Under a policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that was in effect from 1994 to 2011, thousands of openly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members were separated from the military.

Many were given less-than-honourable discharges, which blocked them from receiving veteran benefits such as healthcare, student loans and tuition assistance.

A little more than a year ago, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had the military begin reviewing veterans’ records to possibly upgrade discharge statuses.

More: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20jdze9qdpo

BUSINESS STATEMENT ON THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL OF UGANDA

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BUSINESS STATEMENT ON THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL OF UGANDA

As a coalition of global companies – including those with operations and employees in Uganda – Open For Business is concerned about negative impacts of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill:

● Firstly, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people has a detrimental effect on employees and runs counter to the interests of businesses and economic growth in Uganda. The evidence shows that policies designed to exclude minorities such as the LGBTQ+ community have a real cost – not only on people, but on business performance as well as national economic competitiveness. There is a strong economic rationale for better inclusion in Uganda.

● Secondly, the Bill, if enacted, will make it a crime to pursue policies of diversity and inclusion in Uganda by making it illegal to provide information and support to LGBTQ+ employees. Further, it will compel companies to report those perceived to be LGBTQ+ to the authorities.

This contravenes international standards of corporate responsibility and best business practices.

Context

We are a coalition of businesses from the technology, industrials, airline, financial services, healthcare, consumer products, entertainment and consulting sectors. This briefing is intended to express our concern at the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB), which proposes harsh penalties for people perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or non-binary (LGBTQ+) or those who support inclusion for LGBTQ+ people.

see the full statement here

click here for our press release

More: https://open-for-business.org/special-focus-uganda

Italy bans couples from travelling abroad for surrogacy

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Italy bans couples from travelling abroad for surrogacy

Italy has made it illegal for couples to go abroad to have a baby through surrogacy.

The move extends a ban on the practice inside the country to also include those who seek it out in places where it is legal, like the US or Canada. Those who break the law could face up to two years in prison and fines of up to €1m (£835,710).

The law, proposed by the Italy’s far-right governing party, is seen by critics to target LGBT couples – who are not allowed to adopt or use IVF in the country.

Surrogacy is when a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple or individual, usually due to fertility issues or because they are men in a same-sex relationship.

More: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62rmv63069o

New Article: Giulio Fedele, From Fedotova v. Russia with Love: Unpacking the Right to Same-Sex Unions Under the ECHR

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New Article: Giulio Fedele, From Fedotova v. Russia with Love: Unpacking the
Right to Same-Sex Unions Under the ECHR


Giulio Fedele, From Fedotova v. Russia with Love: Unpacking the
Right to Same-Sex Unions Under the ECHR
(doi: 10.12829/114379)
Diritti umani e diritto internazionale (ISSN 1971-7105)
Fascicolo 2, maggio-agosto 2024

See: https://www.rivisteweb.it/issn/1971-7105/issue/9552

Germany: Federal High Court decides sperm donor must consent to adoption even if he declared he wanted to remain anonymous

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BGH: Samenspender in Adoptionsverfahren beteiligen

  • Heute, 15:29h 2 Min.


Tafel des Bundesgerichtshofs (Bild: Gerd Eichmann / wikipedia)

In einem Adoptionsverfahren muss dem leiblichen Vater auch dann eine Beteiligung ermöglicht werden, wenn er den Angaben zufolge als Samenspender anonym bleiben möchte. Davon gibt es nach einer Entscheidung des Bundesgerichtshofs (BGH) zwar Ausnahmen. Bloße Erklärungen der Kindesmutter und ihrer Ehefrau, dass der ihnen bekannte private Samenspender mit der Adoption einverstanden sei und keinen Wert auf eine Beteiligung am Adoptionsverfahren lege, reichten jedoch nicht (Az. XII ZB 147/24).

Das Familiengericht, das über die Adoption entscheiden muss, habe einen Samenspender auch dann zu benachrichtigen, wenn entsprechende Textnachrichten vorliegen, deren Authentizität nicht überprüfbar ist. Im konkreten Fall aus Niedersachsen ging es dem Beschluss zufolge um “Lichtbilder einer – nicht fälschungssicheren – WhatsApp-Kommunikation”. Das Amtsgericht Bersenbrück hatte den Adoptionsantrag zurückgewiesen, das Oberlandesgericht Oldenburg Beschwerden dagegen verworfen.

Der BGH bestätigte dies nun. Der zwölfte Zivilsenat in Karlsruhe verwies dabei unter anderem auf das grundrechtlich geschützte Interesse des möglichen leiblichen Vaters, die Rechtsstellung als Vater des Kindes einnehmen zu können. Erst im April dieses Jahres habe das Bundes­verfassungs­gericht betont, dass leiblichen Vätern ein effektives Verfahren zur Verfügung stehen muss, das ihnen die Erlangung der rechtlichen Vaterschaft ermöglicht.

Die Partnerin der Mutter hatte dem Beschluss zufolge angegeben, der Samenspender habe sich zwar bereit erklärt, das Kind zu treffen und mit diesem Kontakt zu haben, wenn dies das irgendwann wünsche. Er wolle aber derzeit nicht aktiv am Leben des Kindes teilhaben. Die beiden Frauen hätten vermeiden wollen, dass der leibliche Vater später dazu nicht mehr bereit sei, wenn sie seinen Namen gegen den Willen preisgeben. Da ohne diesen Schritt der Mann aber nicht über das Verfahren informiert werden konnte, hat das Oberlandesgericht laut dem BGH zurecht angenommen, dass die Adoption nicht ausgesprochen werden darf. (dpa)

CJEU: Meta must “minimise” use of personal data (e.g. sexual orientation) for ads

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CJEU: Meta must “minimise” use of personal data (e.g.sexual orientation) for ads

In today’s ruling in C-446/21 (Schrems v. Meta), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has fully backed a lawsuit brought against Meta, over its Facebook service. The Court decided on two questions: First, massively limiting the use of personal data for online advertisements. Secondly, limiting the use of publicly available personal data to the originally intended purposes for publication.

See: https://noyb.eu/en/cjeu-meta-must-minimise-use-personal-data-ads