New report: Sexual and reproductive rights of LGBTQ people in Europe

Inspire, the European Partnership for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights launched their new report entitled “Queering SRHR: Report on the state of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of LGBTIQ people in Europe”. The report starts by examining the rights of LGBTIQ families within Europe and by mapping the current state of LGBTIQ-centred discrimination across the world. It then proceeds to analyse in depth the sexual and reproductive healthcare barriers and inequalities that affect the daily lives of LGBTIQ individuals. Read here the report in full.

Guidelines to human rights-based trans-specific healthcare

Transgender Europe (TGEU) shared in December 2019 a brand-new guideline for the creation of healthcare legislation and protocols that are compliant with human rights. The guidelines depict what trans-specific healthcare should look like. It provides concrete examples of what trans people’s rights look like and what should or shouldn’t happen in trans-specific healthcare. It provides a set of recommendations for the creation of legislation and protocols. Read here the report in English.

Georgia’s Constitutional Court lifts ban on blood donation

LGBTI activists in Georgia legally challenged the 10-year ban for men who have sex with men and gay men from giving blood donations. The Constitutional Court declared on 17 December that the ban is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The Court postponed abolishment of the disputed provision until 31 March 2020. Read more from Tbilisi Pride’s news article.

Welcoming European Parliament resolution tackling the rise in hate against the LGBTI community

A resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December made a strong call for an EU LGBTI strategy to counter the rise of official hate-speech and its consequences across the European Union. The resolution wraps up the debate on public discrimination and hate speech against LGBTI people that was held in plenary in Strasbourg on 26 November. The resolution calls on Poland to firmly condemn discrimination against LGBTI people and to revoke resolutions attacking LGBTI rights. The resolution also reiterates a call on the Commission to adopt an EU LGBTI strategy and a comprehensive, permanent and objective EU mechanism on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights that includes the protection of LGBTI rights.

Read more on our press release.

Monaco approves the law on civil union for all couples

On 4 December, the National Council of Monaco unanimously adopted a bill allowing all couples to unite through a civil union contract. It will give rights related to illness and inheritance and allow couples to co-own a lease. “The legal regime of the contract has no effect on the rules of descent, of parental authority and on the rights of the child” said the National Council of Monaco. The recognition of civil unions will come into force after the promulgation of the text by Prince Albert II.

Apply to attend the 5th International Intersex Forum (30/3-3/4, Bangkok)

ILGA World and an organising committee of global intersex leaders are holding the 5th International Intersex Forum between 30 March and 3 April 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. The 4-day Forum will bring together intersex activists, advocates and organisations from all world regions to strategise, exchange and learn from each other. General applications are open until 13:00 pm CET on 29 February 2020.

https://ilga.org/5IIF-fifth-International-Intersex-Forum-apply-now

USA – Illinois: Trans masculine person who gave birth will make history by being named as child’s dad on birth certificate

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/trans-dad-myles-brady-davis-baby-birth-certificate-illinois-lambda-legal/

Ugandan Muslim leader faces life in prison for accidentally marrying a man

SOGICA (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Claims of Asylum – A European Human Rights Challenge) Conference – 7-8 July 2020, University of Sussex

The deadline for emailing them a submission for the final conference is Monday 22 January 2020. 

Registration to attend the conference is also open and is free although we are asking for contributions to our bursary fund to enable project participants and activists to attend. 

For full details, please visit the conference page of our website.
 

US Federal appeals court blocks attempt to discharge members of Air Force due to positive HIV status

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld a ruling on Friday that blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to discharge members of the Air Force due to their HIV positive status.

The ruling, written by Judge James Wynn, highlights what he describes as the failure of the US government to take into consideration the scientific developments in treating HIV and the effect that has on an individual’s ability to perform his or her job. “[S]uch obsolete understandings cannot justify a ban, even under a deferential standard of review and even according appropriate deference to the military’s professional judgments.”

The original complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleged that two air force members were discharged solely due to the fact that they were carriers of HIV, even though they were asymptomatic and adhered to a strict treatment regime scientifically proven to halt the progression of HIV. Plaintiffs argued that their discharge was a violation of the Equal Protection under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. Plaintiffs stated that their HIV status served as a discriminatory basis for discharge even though the disease did not have any bearing on how they carried out their duties.

Service members with HIV do not enjoy the same treatment. Contrary to widespread misunderstandings about HIV a new diagnosis does not have the same ramifications it did when HIV first entered the public consciousness decades ago. For most people living with HIV, medication renders their HIV inconsequential to their daily lives. Service members with HIV continue to contribute meaningful to the military and to their country, just as any other Service member would.

This new ruling will allow plaintiffs to continue to serve in the US Air Force and serve as precedent for discriminatory discharge from not only the Air Force but other branches of the US military.

The post Federal appeals court blocks attempt to discharge members of Air Force due to positive HIV status appeared first on JURIST – News – Legal News & Commentary.

https://www.jurist.org/news/2020/01/federal-appeals-court-blocks-attempt-to-discharge-members-of-air-force-due-to-positive-hiv-status/