Author Archives: Andreas R. Ziegler

Georgia signs bill protecting family values, minors from LGBT and homosexual influences

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Georgia signs bill protecting family values, minors from LGBT and homosexual influences

Speaker of the Republic of Georgia’s parliament Shalva Papuashvili announced on Thursday that he signed into law a bill aimed at protecting family values and minors from LGBT and homosexual influences, according to local media.

The legislation stated that Georgia recognizes family values of the union of a man and a woman, which are strengthened by the constitutional agreement of the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia and the State of Georgia. While the legislation said that there are foreign legislations that recognize and allow the marriage of same-sex individuals, it stated that these practices ignore the best interests of minors and would be incompatible with the Code of Children’s Rights and several other legal acts aimed at defending children. 

The law defined marriage as the union of one genetic man and woman and prohibited medical intervention in sex change operations. It also disallowed official documents from not stating the genetic sex of the identity holder and criminalized gatherings that aimed to promote homosexual marriage.

While the European Commission for Democracy through Law acknowledged that Georgia’s decision to limit marriage to a man and a woman was aligned with Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the commission said that there was no “justification for barring [] transsexuals from enjoying the right to marry under all circumstances.” The commission also noted that bans on sex change surgeries violate Article 8 of the ECHR, which allows for the right to respect for private and family life.

In September, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced visa restrictions on 60 Georgians after the Georgian Legislature approved the bill. The 60 Georgians include senior government figures who Blinken said were “responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Georgia.” Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the country may revise its ties with the US if the US imposes more sanctions on Georgian officials.

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Georgia president refuses to sign anti-LGBTQ+ bill

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Georgia president refuses to sign anti-LGBTQ+ bill

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili refused to sign a highly controversial ‘Family Values and the Protection of Minors‘ bill on Wednesday passed by the country’s parliament to significantly curtail the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

The bill, which passed with overwhelming parliamentary support, seeks to ban same-sex marriage, prohibit adoption by same-sex couples, restrict gender-affirming care, and limit public expressions of LGBTQ+ identity, including media portrayals and public Pride events. This reflects a broader conservative shift in Georgia’s political climate. Sponsored by the ruling Georgian Dream party, the bill is framed as protecting “traditional family values,” a slogan that has gained popularity among nationalist and pro-Russian factions within the country. The proposed restrictions closely resemble anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Russia, which has served as a model for conservative lawmakers in Georgia.

The controversial law conflicts with Georgia’s constitution which guarantees equality and non-discrimination under Article 14, and any law that specifically targets a minority group, such as the LGBTQ+ community, could face challenges in court. In addition, Georgia is a signatory to several international human rights treaties, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Under Article 14 of the ECHR, discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited, creating a legal conflict between the proposed domestic law and Georgia’s international commitments.

Critics of the bill contend that the instrument will contribute to the further marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community, possibly inciting violence against its members, who are already vulnerable in Georgia. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the bill will “increase discrimination and stigmatisation.”

If enacted, the bill could also have broader legal implications for Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU, which has made it clear that respect for human rights, including LGBTQ+ rights, is a prerequisite for membership. By passing legislation that contradicts these principles, Georgia risks stalling or even jeopardizing its path toward EU integration.

To oppose the controversial bill, President Zourabichvili, whose role is largely ceremonial, refused signature, opening up a legal debate about the future of LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia. Although Georgia’s constitution allows President Zourabichvili to send the bill back to parliament for reconsideration, it is expected that the legislative body will ultimately override her decision, given its strong majority in favor of the bill.

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Belarus transgender rights organization says authorities detained over 15 LGBTQ+ individuals

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Belarus transgender rights organization says authorities detained over 15 LGBTQ+ individuals

Belarus transgender rights organization TG House Belarus said on Friday that more than 15 LGBTQ+ individuals, including eight transgender individuals, were detained by the Belarusian authorities in the past month.

According to TG House Belarus, the individuals were arrested in several Belarusian cities for allegedly subscribing to extremist resources. TG House Belarus stated that most of the eight transgender individuals were charged for hooliganism and two individuals were charged for pornography. The organization also stated that the detainees were subjected to physical and psychological abuse and some were forced to flee the country.

On February 19, Prosecutor General of Belarus Andrei Shved announced that the Belarus government had been preparing a bill that would punish the promotion of what they deemed to be non-traditional relationships. He stated that it was important to not allow the discussion of the topic and that opponents were attempting to destroy traditional family values and, by extension, Belarus as a nation.

Relatedly, on August 5, the Council of the EU announced that existing sanctions would extend to 28 new individuals for participating in “ongoing internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus.” The 28 individuals, who were listed in a regulation on July 16, included Belarusian government officials, operators of correctional institutions, and members of the state-run media.

EU sanctions against Belarus were initially drafted in response to elections in 2020. The sanctions have been expanded and extended due to alleged ongoing human rights violations and violence against peaceful protesters. The EU stated that the purpose of the sanctions was to “put pressure on Belarusian political leadership to prevent further violence and repression.”

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USA: Scientific study says transgender youth suicide attempts rise upon enactment of anti-transgender legislation

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USA: Scientific study says transgender youth suicide attempts rise upon enactment of anti-transgender legislation

A new study published Thursday in scientific journal Nature Human Behavior connects anti-transgender legislation nationwide to “statistically significant” increases in suicide attempts for transgender youths in subsequent years upon enactment.

The study collected survey data between 2018 to 2022 and found that suicide attempts for transgender and non-binary (TGNB) youths increased by seven to 72 percent a year after the enactment of anti-transgender legislation. The study wrote, “For TGNB young people, anti-transgender laws may signal a broader societal rejection of their identities, communicating that their identities and bodies are neither valid nor worthy of protection.”

The study wrote:

Legislators and other involved parties must consider negative impacts of these laws on TGNB people when enacting similar future legislation, while prioritizing legislation that fosters acceptance of TGNB people and equity. With the understanding that anti-transgender laws can directly impact the lives of TGNB people, we argue that increasing access to gender-affirming care, resources and facilities could be lifesaving for TGNB people, especially TGNB minors.

Legislation the study considered to be anti-transgender included laws limiting gender-affirming healthcare, bathroom prohibition laws, and prohibitions on transgender athletes from participating in sports aligning with their gender identities.

Laws restricting transgender rights have exploded in the last several years. 2023 broke the record for the most anti-transgender bills, with 615 bills introduced and 87 passed across the US. In May, South Carolina became “the 25th state to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors” upon following other states in passing a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. A month later, the US Supreme Court announced that it would review the legality of state efforts to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors in the Tennessee case of US vs. Skrmetti.

Previously, on September 9, The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision to allow two transgender girls to play sports in an all-girls team despite Arizona legislation barring their participation. In addition, the families of two transgender girls in New Hampshire sued high school and state officials in federal court on August 16, seeking to block HB 1205 from going into effect. HB 1205 is a state bill requiring schools to assess students’ eligibility for sports teams based on their biological sex, rather than their gender identity.

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UN humanitarian team expresses concerns over conflict-related sexual violence rise in Sudan

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UN humanitarian team expresses concerns over conflict-related sexual violence rise in Sudan

The UN Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Sudan on Thursday expressed concerns over the rise in conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan.

According to the team, reports from Khartoum and Al Jazira showed that an increasing number of girls and women were abducted and subjected to rape, sexual capacity, and forced marriage. The HCT stated that food insecurity and water scarcity contributed to sexual exploitation and that the number of individuals who sought gender-based violence case management services rose by 288 percent in the first seven months of this year. In addition, the team stated that an increasing number of boys and men were subjected to sexual violence.

The HCT said that the use of sexual violence as a war weapon breached human rights and international humanitarian law. The team urged all parties to the conflict to cease violent acts and conform to their legal obligations under international humanitarian law. The team also called on Sudan authorities “to take immediate action to safeguard the lives, dignity, and well-being of women, girls, men and boys, sexual violence survivors, and female humanitarian workers.”

The UN issued a dire warning on September 8 about the worsening crisis in Sudan, emphasizing the devastating impact of ongoing conflict and the inadequate international response. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that over 20,000 people have died since the conflict began in April 2023.

The conflict, a struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has created the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. Over 10 million people have been displaced from their homes in Sudan, including two million who are seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The conflict has ravaged Sudan’s infrastructure and health system, leaving 70 to 80 percent of the country’s healthcare facilities non-operational. Over 25 million people—more than half of Sudan’s population—are facing acute food insecurity.

On July 28, Human Rights Watch revealed an extensive report on sexual violence perpetrated by the RSF in Khartoum. The report highlighted that under international law, acts such as rape, forced marriage, or forced pregnancies constitute torture or war crimes and may also be considered crimes against humanity if committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population. The report also noted that international humanitarian law stipulates that access to healthcare and healthcare facilities must be protected in wartime.

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Russia adopts bill banning adoption for countries that allow gender reassignment

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Russia adopts bill banning adoption for countries that allow gender reassignment

Members of Russia’s State Duma, the country’s legislative authority consisting of 450 members, adopted a bill Wednesday which will ban the adoption of children from the Russian Federation by citizens in countries where gender reassignment is permitted, emphasizing the need to uphold “traditional values.” The bill was approved by an absolute majority of the State Duma members in the first reading, and will now become law.

Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, who proposed the bill, discussed the rationale behind the bill:

This decision is aimed at protecting childhood and traditional values. The absolute majority of State Duma deputies supported the adoption of this initiative. It is necessary to protect our children from the threats they may face when they are adopted or under guardianship by citizens of foreign countries where gender reassignment is legal.

This adoption ban comes just a year after Russian lawmakers passed a law banning gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people in the country. The bill prohibited transgender individuals from receiving hormone therapy, making changes of gender on official Russian documentation, and barred any who have already transitioned from adopting children. It also annulled transgender individuals’ marriages.

Russia has previously been restrictive with adoptions. In 2012, a federal law was passed to prohibit the adoption of Russian children by US citizens and in 2023. Russian media outlet RBC (РБК) reported in June that a decrease in adoption from foreigners of 89 per cent was registered in 2023, with only six children adopted by foreign nationals, due to the restrictive nature of such legislation. According to the presidential commissioner for children’s rights report, it is expected that the adoption of Russian children by foreigners will completely cease because of diplomatic tension heightened by current events.

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Thailand legalises equal marriage in historic moment for Southeast Asia

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Thailand legalises equal marriage in historic moment for Southeast Asia

More: https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/09/25/thailand-legalises-equal-marriage-in-historic-moment-for-southeast-asia/

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The Thai Royal Gazette announced on Tuesday that Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn had endorsed the Marriage Equality Bill, recognizing same-sex marriage.

The bill revises several sections of the Civil and Commercial Code. Amendments to the law employ gender-neutral language and grant LGBTQ+ couples marriage, child adoption, inheritance and healthcare consent rights. The law will enter into force 120 days from the day of the royal assent’s publication, on January 22, 2025. The Senate of Thailand passed the marriage equality law in June, voting 130-4 in favor of its passing with 18 abstentions. The passing of the bill in June was the culmination of years of tireless efforts of activists.

The publication of the bill notes the Civil and Commercial Code is inconsistent with the current social conditions, affirming that “it is appropriate to amend certain provisions in the Civil and Commercial Code to support people of diverse genders to be engaged and married, which will give them equal rights, duties and family status as male and female spouses.”

Thailand is regarded for its overwhelming public support for marriage equality, as illustrated through polls. Over 99 percent of participants in a poll conducted ahead of the bill’s passing in June supported the enactment of the law. Past studies and surveys have reported “persistent experiences of stigma and discrimination, violence and exclusion,” despite the support for inclusive policies and laws.

Amnesty International’s Thailand researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong stated, following the Senate’s decision in June, “While there is no doubt that the legalization of marriage for LGBTI couples is a key milestone for Thailand, much more must be done to guarantee full protection of LGBTI people in the country.” Citing the violence and discrimination LGBTI people in Thailand still experience, Tatiyakaroonwong asserted, “The authorities must build on the momentum and take further steps that protect the rights and ensure the participation of LGBTI people and organizations.”

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) celebrating the announcement, writing, “Thank you for the support from all sectors. This is a joint fight for everyone.” The former Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, also voiced his support, celebrating the enactment of the bill as “Another important step for Thai society,” noting, “Gender diversity will finally be fully accepted.”

The endorsement of the Marriage Equality Bill makes Thailand the first Southeast Asian country to implement marriage equality legislation and the third country in Asia, following Nepal and Taiwan, to recognize same-sex marriage.

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Georgia: call to rescind new anti-LGBTIQ+ law

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Georgia: call to rescind new anti-LGBTIQ+ law

The newly adopted law on “family values and protection of minors” in Georgia contains provisions that present risks to a wide range of human rights. These include the rights to equality, non-discrimination, education, health, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as privacy, liberty and security.

See: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/09/georgia-call-rescind-new-anti-lgbtiq-law

ECtHR: Poland breached the right to respect for the family life of two same-sex Polish couples married abroad by failing to recognise their relationships

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ECtHR: Poland breached the right to respect for the family life of two same-sex Polish couples married abroad by failing to recognise their relationships

The European Court of Human Rights has found that Poland breached the right to respect for the family life of two same-sex Polish couples married abroad by failing to recognise their relationships

Joint statement by ILGA-Europe, FIDH, NELFA and ECSOL

Joint statement: Welcoming European Court judgement on Poland’s failure to protect same-sex couples married abroad

Case of Formela and others v. Poland, in which the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that Poland violated Article 8 (the right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights.