Equality On Trial

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• 1. VIRick  |  June 22, 2020 at 5:17 pm

  Trump Administration Sued for Refusing to Reverse Anti-Transgender Health Care Rule

  With the Trump administration refusing to reverse its rule permitting anti-transgender discrimination in health care following the US Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ rights in "Bostock v. Clayton County" effectively countermanding it, LGBTQ legal advocates have returned to the courts to bring the federal government into compliance.

  On 22 June 2020, the LGBTQ legal group Lambda Legal sued the Trump administration over a rule from the Department of Health and Human Services permitting health care workers to refuse service to transgender people, including transition-related care and gender reassignment surgery. The case and the 85-page complaint is now pending before the District Court for the District of Columbia.
  https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/06/22/trump-…

  Per Equality Case Files:

  Today, 22 June 2020, Lambda Legal and Steptoe & Johnson LLP filed a federal lawsuit in the District Court for the District of Columbia, "Whitman-Walker Health v. HHS," challenging the US Department of Health and Human Services' recently-published health care discrimination rule that purports to remove LGBTQ people and other vulnerable populations from the protections of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, one which explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, among other bases.

  The Complaint for Declaration and Injunctive Relief in "Whitman-Walker Health v. HHS," with all attachments, is here:
  http://files.eqcf.org/cases/120-cv-01630-1/

  Whitman-Walker was founded in November 1973 as the Gay Men's VD Clinic, part of the Washington Free Clinic. Whitman-Walker Health (WWH), formerly Whitman-Walker Clinic, is a non-profit community health center in Washington DC, with a special expertise in HIV/AIDS healthcare and LGBT healthcare.

  Its newest medical facility is located at 1525 14th Street, NW, while its administration continues to operate out of the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center located at 1701 14th Street, NW, both in the Logan Circle (13th and P, NW) gayborhood and within walking distance of the White House, not that many blocks further north of La Fayette Square, where Trump had the protesters tear-gassed so he could push through the crowd to have his unseemly photo-op, awkwardly holding up a bible while standing in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, a church in which he has never attended services.

• 2. VIRick  |  June 26, 2020 at 8:19 pm

  Transgender Women Sue Trump Admin. over Anti-LGBT Health Care Rule, 2nd Case

  Two transgender women of color who have faced bias and hostility in health care services are suing the Trump administration for refusing to back down from its rule allowing medical practitioners to engage in anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

  The experiences of both women, Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker and Cecilia Gentili, are laid out in the 70-page federal complaint that has been filed by the Human Rights Campaign and the DC-based national law firm, Baker Hostetler, before the District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The litigation was filed as part of the LGBTQ’s group new legal project and marks the first-time the organization has filed its own affirmative impact lawsuit on LGBTQ rights.

  As plaintiffs, both women are filing the lawsuit against the Department of Health & Human Services for rescinding an Obama-era rule that interprets Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, one which clearly bars discrimination on the basis of sex in health care, to also prohibit discrimination on the basis of transgender status, including the refusal of transition-related care and gender reassignment surgery.

  Instead, the new Trump administration policy, which was made final earlier this month, relies on a narrow definition of the word “sex,” one which the US Supreme Court countermanded in the recent decision in "Bostock v. Clayton County," a decision which found that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination under federal law.

  The Human Rights Campaign, according to the complaint, sent a letter to the Trump administration urging HHS to wait until after the "Bostock" ruling had been handed down before finalizing its rule, but HHS took that action anyway. The Trump administration has not backed down on its rule change despite the Supreme Court decision effectively rendering it unlawful.

  The lawsuit, filed on 26 June 2020, seeks a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s rule change on the basis that it violates the law in the aftermath of the "Bostock" decision, exceeds statutory authority under the Affordable Care Act, is arbitrary and capricious, and violates the right to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment.
  https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/06/26/trans-…

• 3. VIRick  |  June 23, 2020 at 2:09 pm

  California Has Banned State-Funded Travel to Idaho over LGBT Rights

  Effective from 1 July 2020, the date upon which the Idaho state laws, HB 500 and HB 509, are to take effect, California will restrict state-funded travel to Idaho. The two anti-transgender bills were signed into law despite “significant concerns” from Idaho’s attorney-general, California Attorney-General Xavier Becerra’s office said in its press release.

  Even prior to the "Bostock" ruling, Idaho Attorney-General Lawrence Wasden had raised concerns about both bills’ compliance with equal protection and privacy laws, while simultaneously pointing out the continuing drain of funds from the state treasury in the state's vain attempt to defend against the impossible. In quick succession, Idaho famously lost its very expensive fight over marriage equality, despite spending a fortune on appeals, lost its fight over refusing to change gender markers on state-issued birth certificates, despite spending another fortune on appeals, lost its fight over denying same-sex couples the right to be buried in its state veterans' cemetery, and effectively lost its fight over denying transition-related health care to prisoners in its state penal system, a matter which they are still vainly appealing, while fresh federal lawsuits challenging both HB 500 and HB 509 have already been filed.

  California's AB 1887, which took effect from 1 January 2017, restricts state-funded travel to states with laws that authorize or require discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. AB 1887’s restriction on using state funds for such travel applies to all California state agencies, departments, boards, authorities, and commissions, including those of the University of California, the Board of Regents of the University of California, and the California State University.
  https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/06/23/ag-bec…

  The AB 1887 list, which is continuously being up-dated, with Idaho to be listed in one week's time, currently prohibits California state-funded and state-sponsored travel to all of the following states:
  1. Alabama
  2. Iowa
  3. Kansas
  4. Kentucky
  5. Mississippi
  6. North Carolina
  7. Oklahoma
  8. South Carolina
  9. South Dakota
  10. Tennessee
  11. Texas
  https://www.oag.ca.gov/ab1887

  For now, Arkansas, Florida, and Indiana have been removed from the "no travel" list.

• 4. VIRick  |  June 23, 2020 at 9:49 pm

  New York: Two Gay Congressional Candidates Win in Democratic Primary

  In a multi-candidate primary, Ritchie Torres has soundly defeated veteran homophobe Rubén Díaz Sr, the most viciously anti-LGBT politician in New York City, to win the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic 15th Congressional District encompassing much of the Bronx. With 12 candidates running, and with all precincts counted, Torres garnered 30.5% of the vote, while third-place Díaz obtained less than 15%. After the November general election, Torres will become the first out gay Afro-Latino congressional representative ever. Currently, Torres serves as a member of the city council of New York City.
  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/23/us…

  In another multi-candidate primary for an open seat, Mondaire Jones has declared victory in the heavily Democratic 17th Congressional District encompassing Rockland and most of the northern half of Westchester county. With all precincts counted, Jones garnered almost 45% of the vote in the 7-candidate race, more than double the second-place finisher. After the November election, Jones will become the first out gay black non-Latino congressman.
  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/23/us…

  In the 12th Congressional District, encompassing portions of east side Manhattan and western Queens, with 85% of the precincts counted, the incumbent, Carolyn Maloney, with 41.5% of the vote, is in danger of being unseated by Suraj Patel, who has 40% of the vote.

  In the 14th Congressional District, encompassing portions of east Bronx and north-central Queens, AOC won her first re-election campaign, while in the 16th, encompassing north Bronx and the southern half of Westchester county, it would appear that Jamaal Bowman, with almost 61% of the vote, has defeated the incumbent, Eliot Engel, who only garnered 35% of the vote in the Democratic primary.

  Note: Primary results will not be declared official until all absentee ballots have been counted on 30 June 2020.

• 5. VIRick  |  June 24, 2020 at 5:29 pm

  Gabon: Lower House Votes to Decriminalize Homosexuality

  Per LGBT Marriage News and ILGA World:

  Less than a year after a new penal code criminalized homosexuality, Gabon’s lower house of parliament voted to reverse the law that bans same-sex sexual relations. The vote on Tuesday, 23 June 2020, passed with 48 MPs voting to take the law off the books, while 24 voted against, and 25 abstained from the vote.

  While hailed by human rights leaders as a positive move, the bill must also pass in the upper house of the Senate before the law is repealed. If the Senate does not agree on the same terms, then the two houses must come together to agree on a text. The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has a majority in the Senate, so it is not a given that the bill will be passed.

  Currently, since 5 July 2019, homosexuality is against the law in Gabon, and that includes same-sex marriage. People who are caught can be punished with up to six months in prison and fines of up to 7,600 euros.
  http://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200624-anti-gay-law…

• 6. ianbirmingham  |  June 25, 2020 at 4:08 am

  U.S. Embassy in Moscow Flies Gay Pride Flag

  The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has hung a rainbow flag on its front facade, photos posted on social media Thursday show. Starting Thursday, Russians will vote on a set of constitutional amendments that would add language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman to Russia’s basic law.

  "LGBTI rights are human rights. Human rights are universal," the embassy wrote on its Instagram. "Everyone deserves to live free from hatred, prejudice and persecution."

  Thursday also marks the 42nd anniversary of the rainbow flag’s first appearance as a gay pride symbol at the 1978 Pride parade in San Francisco.

  President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Kremlin staff hadn't noticed the flag at the U.S. embassy, but added that "in any event, any display of propaganda of non-traditional sexual minorities in our country is not allowed by law."

  Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump banned the country’s embassies from flying the rainbow flag during June, which is celebrated as LGBT Pride month around the world. Because the ban only applies to official flagpoles, embassies have placed the flag inside their buildings and hung it on exterior walls as workarounds.

  https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/06/25/us-emba…

• 7. VIRick  |  June 25, 2020 at 3:39 pm

  8th Circuit Court of Appeals: Extraordinary Reversal of LGBT Housing Discrimination Appeal

  Per Equality Case Files:

  On 24 June 2020, in "Walsh v. Friendship Village," the housing discrimination case wherein which a married same-sex couple is appealing the District Court ruling in favor of a Missouri retirement community that denied them a shared residence because they are of the same sex, the defendants (that is Friendship Village) who won in District Court, are asking the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate the order of dismissal in their favor and remand said case back to District Court for further proceedings in light of the Supreme Court ruling in "Bostock."

  "While this case involves the Fair Housing Act, rather than Title VII (of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), the relevant language in each statute is identical: each prohibits discrimination 'because of . . . sex.' In light of 'Bostock,' the District Court’s Memorandum and Order granting Friendship Village’s motion for judgment on the pleadings should be vacated and the case remanded for further proceedings. Briefing and arguing this appeal when the outcome is a foregone conclusion would waste the Court’s time and the parties’ time and money."

  The Motion to Vacate Judgment is here:
  http://files.eqcf.org/cases/19-1395-14024566/

• 8. Elihu_Bystander  |  June 25, 2020 at 4:24 pm

  That was quick concerning the effect of Bostock. It is also obvious that Friendship had a competent attorney who called a stop to the litigation.

• 9. VIRick  |  June 25, 2020 at 4:37 pm

  Although Friendship Village still claims that the discrimination they directed against Mary Walsh was legal at the time, in light of "Bostock," they now want the Order of Dismissal in their favor to be reversed, as any attempt on their part to mount a competent defense of said discrimination in the forthcoming appeal is futile,– even before the retrograde 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

  The dominos are quickly falling. Just as "Bostock" directly covers LGBT discrimination in employment, Mary Walsh's case extends to directly cover LGBT discrimination in housing. As Friendship Village's legal team points out, the Fair Housing Act contains identical language to that of Title VII, prohibiting discrimination "because of . . . sex."

• 10. JayJonson  |  June 26, 2020 at 9:58 am

  The boiler plate anti-discrimination language used by federal agencies of all kinds includes prohibition of discrimination on the basis of "sex." Bostock has made clear that "sex" includes sexual discrimination and gender identity. As the savvy attorney for Friendship Village realizes, the Bostock decision extends far beyond Title VII.

• 11. guitaristbl  |  June 25, 2020 at 4:09 pm

  I want to apologize in advance for bothering the thread with such a matter but my country has been amidst recent turmoil over a case concerning the corruption scandal of the big pharmacautical company Novartis.

  NOVARTIS HELLAS, through its employees and agents, knowingly and willfully conspired
  and agreed to corruptly provide improper benefits and things of value to
  employees of state-owned and state-controlled hospitals and clinics in Greece
  (“Greek State HCPs”) and other HCPs in Greece with the intent to obtain an
  improper advantage and to increase sales of a certain Novartis-branded
  prescription drug in Greece. with a whole other implications in the scheme. Today the company reached an out of court agreement at the District Court of New Jersey for a humongous amount of money payed from novartis overwhelmingly directed to Greece as the country most hurt by the scandal (although it has global implications with its overpricning of certain drugs scheme).

  https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/12…

  Our local media have become inscreasingly authoritarian in their approach in accordance with the right wing government that controls their vast majority and have started a witch hunt against former deputy minister of justice accusing him of setting up an extra judicial conspiracy to frame political opponents as involved in the Novartis scandal (3 people including a high profile former health minister are facing charges over it). It is my utter belief the man is innocent and framed for trying to uncover such scandals as deputy justice minister of the previous progressive government.
  Now this decision comes down and the mainstream media present it as a total absolution of all political personel involved. But the decision on page 15 makes starkly clear to my eyes that it implies the involvment of foreign (greek in this case) officials and governments in the whole scheme. I would like to get a second more legalistic opinion on that.
  Reporting and sense of democracy are rapidly eroding in Greece and honestly this is a cry of agony. We are trapped in a vortex that turns us into the next Hungary, the more emboldened the current right wing mafia becomes. Please share and spread. Please. I am honestly almost in tears and so depressed with what my country is rapidly turning into, just so the corrupt monkeys that govern us can hide yet another big recession coming, mired in opaque scandals with briberies of media corporations amongst other things. We are at a tipping point.

• 12. ianbirmingham  |  June 25, 2020 at 10:30 pm

  Guitarist, the linked indictment specifically refers to two Novartis employees and to one employee of a [Greek] state-owned clinic located in Athens. Because Greek hospitals and clinics are owned by the Greek government, their employees are all legally considered to be "foreign officials". Other state-owned hospitals and clinics were also involved, but the indictment focuses on this single Athens clinic as its example.

  This indictment does not appear to involve any political figures. It only involves two Novartis employees and a healthcare worker who apparently is an eye doctor working in this Athens medical clinic. Other Greek eye doctors working at other hospitals and clinics were apparently also participating in the same type of corrupt activity which was offered to them by Novartis, but those other eye doctors were not specifically indicted in this court case.

• 13. guitaristbl  |  June 26, 2020 at 3:29 am

  But does this court have the authority to indict foreign political figures or medical personnel for that matter? Also point iv on page 15 about those foreign officials exercising influence on government and governmental organisations doesn't it leave open for possible political involvement to be investigated (as it is being done) by the proper courts in the proper jurisdiction? This is my question. The part of indictments for the US is done but it can continue in the involved countries?

• 14. ianbirmingham  |  June 26, 2020 at 5:29 pm

  American courts can indict anyone who violates American law, including political figures. A noteworthy example is Manuel Noriega, the machete-swinging Panamanian dictator who was apprehended in January 1990 by US military forces, tried and convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering and money laundering in Miami's federal courthouse, and then incarcerated for the next 17 years in Miami's Federal Correctional Institution.

• 15. VIRick  |  June 25, 2020 at 8:28 pm

  The Complete Essence of Costa Rica: "We Choose to Lead by Example"

  Per LGBT Marriage News:

  In a recent interview with "Time Magazine," the president of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, in commenting upon his country's decision to legalize same-sex marriage, asserted that this was a means to lead other states by example. His exact, succinct quote is: "We choose to lead by example."

  In a longer quote, he continued, “There is a set of rights that cover all people around the world, and it’s a worldview and a global ethic. So, in terms of marriage equality, it is a way to protect the LGBTQ community, while also being a way to reinforce not only one specific right, but the strength of the whole set of rights. It is a message of equality and of respect, and was the key message we tried to send.”
  https://time.com/5858689/carlos-alvarado-quesada-…

  Costa Rica is small in size, but big on leadership. Although many Costa Ricans think otherwise, their nation is not the most liberal in Latin America. Uruguay is far ahead of them, as are any number of large metropolitan areas throughout the region, from Mexico City to Bogotá to Buenos Aires. In addition, most of Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Brasil, Colombia, and even Ecuador all achieved marriage equality ahead of Costa Rica. In addition, several others, like Bolivia and Chile, have already implemented the gender identity provisions. However, in each of these previous instances, they achieved it for themselves, in most cases, even before the CIDH ruling was handed down. On the other hand, Costa Rica took on a massive challenge and achieved it for everyone else, particularly for the most retrograde, like Paraguay and Guatemala, all of whom are now obligated to follow suit.

  It was Costa Rica's self-appointed responsibility to first seek, then obtain, and finally implement the binding double ruling from the CIDH on both marriage equality and self-perceived gender identity, a ruling that now must be implemented in all 20 Latin nations that are signatory members to the accord, the American Convention on Human Rights.

• 16. ianbirmingham  |  June 25, 2020 at 10:13 pm

  The lawyers who got India to legalise homosexuality will now push for SSM

  The two Indian lawyers — Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju — who won the case for scrapping India’s 158-year old colonial law that criminalises homosexuality in the country two years back — are now rooting for same sex marriage.

  India’s Supreme Court passed the landmark judgement to strike down Section 377 in September 2018. Guruswamy and Katju were among the few who came out and fought for gay rights in India and later they were featured in the Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in the world.

  The groundwork for the ‘Marriage Project’ has already started. Sonu and Nikesh — a gay couple in Kerala who recently got married— have already filed a petition to legalise their marriage.

  https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/the-l…

• 17. VIRick  |  June 26, 2020 at 9:02 pm

  USA: 5th Anniversary of Supreme Court Marriage Equality Ruling

  Former President Barack Obama has released a video on the five-year anniversary of that momentous day that is bringing the internet to tears.

  "Five years ago today was a day I’ll never forget,” Obama posted with the video. “After decades of protest, and organizing, and the determination of so many to never give up, the Supreme Court declared marriage equality a reality in America. As I made some comments in the Rose Garden, I looked at so many young members of my staff, and I noticed that they and all the people I saw on TV gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court shared the same expression on their faces: joy.”

  "Later that day, Michelle and I went to Charleston to remember the nine Black Americans who were murdered at Mother Emanuel church, and to reflect on the grace that community showed––and what it might mean if more of us found the courage to do the same. And as night fell at the White House, a spontaneous celebration popped up in Lafayette Park––a fitting end to a momentous week."

  “It was a week of progress––of real reflection on the painful symbols of our past and continuing injustices today, in the battle for the right to health care, and in the struggle for full equality for every single American. A week of moments that should sustain us in our longer journey to make this country we love more perfect––and convince us that we can.”
  https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/06/happened-insi…

• 18. VIRick  |  June 26, 2020 at 10:13 pm

  Mauritius: Government Drops Objection to Case Challenging Section 250

  Per LGBT Marriage News:

  The Government of Mauritius has dropped its objection to the Supreme Court hearing the case which seeks a judgment that the ban on same-sex sexual activity, as stated in Section 250 of the Mauritius Penal Code, is unconstitutional.

  From the onset, Co-Defendant #1, the Director of Public Prosecutions, had agreed to abide by the court's decision. On 12 June 2020, the Lead Defendant, the Attorney-General of the Republic, and Co-Defendant #2, the Commissioner of Police, dropped their objections, and agreed to the same. The case will now proceed. The Supreme Court has thus granted the Plaintiffs leave to lodge (permission to file) their case for constitutional redress. The Court will then rule upon said complaint for constitutional redress, and all parties within the government are now on record that they will abide by that decision (meaning that they will not seek an appeal).
  https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/code-penal…

  "Le Mauricien" is wonderful with its bilingual reporting, giving one the choice of reading about the proceedings in standard French or in hyper-British-Indian English, with all the untranslated legal terms being in extremely arcane British English. Of course, these three language variants summarize for us much of the history of Mauritius.

  Note: It would appear that the recent court ruling in India decriminalizing same-sex sexual relations is beginning to have its anticipated domino effect, and that Mauritius, having inherited the same British colonial ban, may well be the first to follow India. At one point, it seemed as if Singapore would be the first to follow. However, Mauritius, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, has a much larger portion of its population who trace their roots back to the British Raj of India than does Singapore which is mainly Chinese, surrounded by two relatively hostile neighbors. Still, Singapore has a multiplicity of pending lawsuits on this subject, whereas Mauritius has but this one single, consolidated case.

• 19. VIRick  |  June 27, 2020 at 10:51 am

  House Approves Bill Designating Pulse Nightclub a National Memorial

  On Friday, 26 June 2020, the US House of Representatives approved a bill that would designate the Pulse nightclub as a national memorial.

  A press release that US Reps. Darren Soto, Val Demings, and Stephanie Murphy released notes that House Resolution 3094 “grants a federal designation honoring the 49 lives taken on 12 June 2016, as well as the survivors, first responders, and the entire Central Florida community.” Soto, Demings, and Murphy are Democrats who represent Orlando and vicinity in Congress.
  https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/06/27/house-…

• 20. VIRick  |  June 27, 2020 at 6:43 pm

  Virtual LGBT Pride Weekend 2020 in Latin America

  The winning bilingual LGBT comment for Pride weekend 2020 in Latin America is:

  Per Pako Salado:

  Homofóbicos: Lo bueno es que no van a poder andar exhibiéndose este año con su orgullo LGBT (Homophobes: The good thing is that they will not be able to go out exhibiting themselves this year with their LGBT pride).

  The Gays: Hold my earrings.

  accompanied by an over-the-top clip of the most flamboyant, rainbow-costumed, solo dog-walker imaginable, marching (being pulled) down the street by four Husky dogs in matching, rainbow-costumed outfits.
  https://twitter.com/pakosaladot

• 21. ianbirmingham  |  June 28, 2020 at 2:26 am

  Beautiful! Where can these rainbow-themed costumes be purchased?

• 22. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 9:19 am

  Ian, I have no idea. Although Pako is from Mexico City, from its background, the scene being depicted appears to be from southern California, most likely from the Los Angeles area.

  My only question is this: What are all those puffy white things between the multiple rainbows supposed to be? Clouds? They are even wrapped around the dogs' tails.

• 23. ianbirmingham  |  June 28, 2020 at 5:03 pm

  Yes, they are clouds. I did a search and I found the adult costume for $60 at eBay, but it's sold out:

  https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cloud-Rainbow-Inflatable…

  Original manufacturer also sold it for $60, but it's discontinued:

  https://www.morphsuits.com/cloud-and-rainbow-infl…

  Looks like the company won't be making any money from this viral video…

• 24. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 9:51 am

  The Winning Move for Virtual LGBT Pride Weekend 2020 in Latin America

  Early Saturday morning, 27 June 2020, someone neatly painted a gorgeous rainbow-colored crosswalk on the cobblestones directly in front of the Catholic Cathedral in Xalapa, Veracruz. As Jazz Bustamante dryly noted:

  La catedral de la capital de Veracruz se puso muy incluyente, apoyando al orgullo LGBTTTI.
  https://twitter.com/tv_yazi/status/12769596273897…

  The cathedral in the capital of Veracruz became (was made) very inclusive, supporting LGBTTTI pride.

  In truth, the archdiocese of Xalapa has been one of the noisiest, most intransigent opponents to inclusion in Veracruz state.

• 25. VIRick  |  June 27, 2020 at 8:14 pm

  Baja California Sur: First Anniversary of Marriage Equality

  Per Milena Quiroga Romero, Diputada del Congreso de BCS (Morena):

  Porque debemos garantizar todos los derechos para todas las personas y no dejar nadie atrás, hace un año, el 27 de junio 2019, decidimos decir "Sí" a todas las voces que nunca fueron escuchadas, y aprobamos el matrimonio igualitario en Baja California Sur.
  https://twitter.com/quirogamilena_/status/1277048…

  Because we must guarantee all the rights for all persons and leave no one behind, a year ago, on 27 June 2019, we decided to say "Yes" to all the voices that were never heard, and approved marriage equality in Baja California Sur.

• 26. ianbirmingham  |  June 28, 2020 at 3:57 am

  Hundreds thronged a central square in Taiwan’s capital Taipei for a Pride event on Sunday
  
  Proudly democratic Taiwan is a bastion of liberal values in a part of the world where in many countries homosexuality remains illegal or taboo. Taiwan legalised same sex marriage last year, the first in Asia.

  The “Taiwan Pride Parade for the World” billed itself as a show of solidarity with countries unable to hold LGBTQ celebrations due to restrictions on public events to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The pandemic is under control in Taiwan.

  Darien Chen, who represented Taiwan at Mr. Gay World 2013 and organised Sunday’s event, said they were holding high the banner for the rest of the world, with hundreds of events cancelled in the traditional Pride month.

  Taipei holds its main Pride parade in late October when the weather is cooler.
  
  https://www.metro.us/giant-rainbow-flag-unfurled/

• 27. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 10:47 am

  Spain: 15 Years of Marriage Equality

  Per PSdeG-PSOE de Arteixo, written in Gallegos (Portuñol):

  Grazas ao compromiso do Goberno de Zapatero (PSOE) aos dereitos civís do colectivo LGTBI, este ano podemos festexar 15 anos de matrimonio igualitario. Desde o PSOE, seguimos a traballar na mesma liña.
  https://twitter.com/psoearteixo

  Thanks to the commitment of the Zapatero Government (PSOE) to the civil rights of the LGTBI community, this year we can celebrate 15 years of marriage equality. From the PSOE, we continue to work in the same direction.

  Worldwide, Spain was the third nation to legalize marriage equality, and the very first to simultaneously legally allow same-sex couples to adopt. In addition, Spain allows couples from anywhere to marry in Spain. As a result:

  Per Kifkif, the Arabic-speaking LGBT rights/rescue group operating in Spain:

  Récord de matrimonios entre personas del mismo sexo en España en 2019; por primera vez, se celebraron más de 5.000 bodas. Y buena parte de la "culpa" es de migrantes LGTBI.
  https://twitter.com/Kifkif_iguales

  Record number of same-sex marriages in Spain in 2019; for the first time, more than 5,000 marriages were celebrated. And much of the "blame" is on LGTBI (im)migrants/ refugees.

  PSdeG-PSOE = Partido dos Socialistas de Galicia-Partido Socialista Obrero Español

• 28. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 12:59 pm

  Mexico: Supreme Court LGBT Pride Declaration

  Per Suprema Corte (SCJN):

  El Día Internacional del Orgullo LGBTI

  El rechazo y exclusión social por razón de orientación sexual e identidad de género provocan la violencia y discriminación que enfrentan las personas LGBTI. Todas las personas tienen derecho a la igualdad. Ya lo dijo la corte.

  Negar a las parejas del mismo sexo el derecho a casarse perpetúa la idea de que son menos merecedoras de reconocimiento que las parejas heterosexuales, ofendiendo con ello su dignidad como personas y su integridad.
  https://twitter.com/SCJN

  International LGBTI Pride Day

  The rejection and social exclusion because of sexual orientation and gender identity provoke the violence and discrimination that LGBTI persons confront. All people have the right to equality. The court already said so.

  To deny same-sex couples the right to marry perpetuates the idea that they are less deserving of recognition than heterosexual couples, thereby offending their dignity as individuals and their integrity.

• 29. scream4ever  |  June 28, 2020 at 2:01 pm

  You will never see the SCOTUS doing this sadly.

• 30. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 7:44 pm

  Scream, that expression, "Ya lo dijo la corte" (The court already said so), has become a rallying cry among LGBT rights activists throughout Mexico.

  So, in addition to being startled at seeing a Pride Declaration from the Supreme Court of Mexico (SCJN) on International LGBTI Pride Day, posted by someone at the Supreme Court itself onto a gay Spanish-language website, I was actually most surprised to notice that the court has also picked up and added the rallying cry of LGBT rights activists, "Ya lo dijo la corte," to their declaration because, quite frankly, ever since their 2015 jurisprudence, as stated, the court already said so.

• 31. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 9:55 pm

  LGBT Pride Declaration from the CIDH

  Per Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos:

  Jurisprudencia que transforma la vida de las personas: "Un derecho que le está reconocido a las personas no puede ser negado o restringido a nadie, y bajo ninguna circunstancia, con base en su orientación sexual o identidad de género." (Ya lo dijo la corte).
  https://twitter.com/CorteIDH

  Per Inter-American Court of Human Rights:

  Jurisprudence that transforms the lives of everyone: "A right that is recognized for everyone cannot be denied or restricted to anyone, and under no circumstances, based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity." (The court already said so).

  Not to be outdone by the Supreme Court of Mexico (SCJN), this is yet another LGBT Pride Declaration, but this time posted by someone at the CIDH itself (in Costa Rica) to the very same gay Spanish-language website, "Noticias LGBT."

• 32. VIRick  |  June 28, 2020 at 11:01 pm

  From Colombia with Love on the Virtual LGBT Pride Weekend

  There have been an incredible host of positive LGBT Pride Weekend videos and photos from a whole array of Colombian governmental offices at multiple levels, all posted for sharing on the Colombian-based site, "Noticias LGBT." Most are locally-produced and feature local LGBT individuals.

  These include: Alcaldía de Montería, Alcaldía de Palmira, el resguardo indígena Jaikarazabi, en Mutatá de Antioquia (Foto: Alcaldía de Mutatá), Recuerdos de Bogotá y Mesa LGBT Bogotá, Alcalde de Fusagasugá, Gobernación del Amazonas, Gobernación de La Guajira, Hospital Caicedo de Antioquia, Biblioteca de (la isla de) San Andrés, Alcaldía de Tunja, Aduana de Cartagena, Alcaldía de Cartagena, Alcaldía de Barranquilla, Secretaría de Cultura y Patrimonio del Atlántico, Gobernación de Antioquia, Teleantioquia, among many others.