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Equality Case Timeline
Equality on Trial's Case Timeline is the go-to place to find thorough, up-to-date information on the myriad of marriage equality lawsuits taking place across the US.
21 Comments
1.
Elihu_Bystander | September 1, 2020 at 5:48 am
“Polish bishops call for ‘clinics to help LGBT people regain natural sexual orientation’”
Additional information to Ian’s post in the previous thread.
Polish Bishops Claim Church Teaching on Homosexuality is “Infallible.”
https://www.newwaysministry.org/2020/09/01/polish…
2.
VIRick | September 1, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Argentina: An Obituary for César Cigliutti, Founder/President of CHA
Per Federación Argentina LGBT:
César Cigliutti (1957-2020) fue fundador de la Comunidad Homosexual Argentina en 1984 y su último Presidente (1997-2020). Fue un activista, comprometido con los derechos de las personas LGBT, que supo trabajar por la libertad y los derechos de todos.
https://twitter.com/FALGBT
César Cigliutti (1957-2020) was the founder of the Homosexual Community Argentina (CHA) in 1984 and its most-recent President (1997-2020). He was an activist, committed to the rights of LGBT persons, who knew how to work for the freedom and rights of all.
Per Caribe Afirmativo:
Enviamos un saludo solidario a los compañeros y compañeras de CHA Argentina ante la muerte de César Cigliutti, Presidente de la Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA). Gracias por abrir caminos y consolidar agendas para America Latina y el Caribe.
https://twitter.com/Caribeafirmativ
We send a salute of solidarity to our colleagues of CHA Argentina upon the death of César Cigliutti, President of the Homosexual Community Argentina (CHA). Thank you for opening paths and consolidating agendas for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Per Gustavo Streger:
César Cigliutti y Marcelo Suntheim fueron la primera pareja homosexual latinoamericana en unirse legalmente (como unión civil) el 18 de julio de 2003.
https://twitter.com/gstreger/status/1300581484189…
César Cigliutti and Marcelo Suntheim were the first same-sex couple in Latin America to legally unite (as a civil union) on 18 July 2003.
Per Luis Bremer:
Ahora. Homenaje a César Cigliutti en la Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires.
https://twitter.com/luisbremer
Now. A tribute (public homage) to César Cigliutti in the Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires.
La Plaza de Mayo is the same public space in downtown Buenos Aires where "Las Madres de los Desaparecidos" (The Mothers of the Missing) would hold their remembrance vigils for their loved ones following the removal of the military dictatorship. Fittingly enough, the same public space was utilized this afternoon, 1 September 2020, to pay tribute and remembrance to César Cigliutti.
3.
VIRick | September 1, 2020 at 8:07 pm
Colombia: Cartagena Judge Rejects Marriage Equality Request Because of "God's Law"
Per Camila Cuberos:
El Juez Ramiro Flórez Torres abiertamente dice que no acata la orden de la Corte Constitucional porque él aplica la ley de Dios.
https://twitter.com/camilacuberos
Judge Ramiro Flórez Torres openly says that he does not comply with the order of the Constitutional Court because he applies the law of God.
Per Gustavo Perrito:
Colombia es estado laico y la Corte Constitucional en Sentencia SU-214/2016 garantiza derecho a matrimonio igualitario. Ramiro Flórez Torres, juez décimo civil municipal de Cartagena, está prevaricando al NEGAR solicitud de matrimonio civil a dos mujeres.
https://twitter.com/GustavoPerrito
Colombia is a secular state and the Constitutional Court in Decision SU-214/2016 guarantees the right to marriage equality. Ramiro Flórez Torres, tenth municipal civil judge of Cartagena, is prevaricating by DENYING a civil marriage request to two women.
4.
VIRick | September 3, 2020 at 11:03 pm
More on Cartagena Judge Rejecting Marriage Request of Same-Sex Couple
Per SMC Soluciones Jurídicas:
En la decisión, por proteger la “moral cristiana,” el funcionario judicial cuestiona los alcances de la sentencia C-577 de 2011 que le permitió a las parejas conformadas por personas del mismo sexo solicitar la unión civil. Voceros de la población LGBTI señalan que el juez está desconociendo la sentencia SU-214/16, con la cual la Corte Constitucional aprobó en 2016 el matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo.
https://twitter.com/SolucionesSMC
In the decision, in order to protect "christian morality," the judicial official questions the scope of judgment C-577 of 2011 that allowed same-sex couples to request a civil union. Spokespersons for the LGBTI population point out that the judge is ignoring judgment SU-214/16, one in which the Constitutional Court approved marriage between same-sex couples in 2016.
Personal note: I am not at all certain why a judge was even involved in this matter of having to approve a request for marriage. In Colombia, following the Constitutional Court ruling in 2016, I had understood that a couple wishing to civilly marry simply did so before a notary of their choice, and that said marriage was then subsequently recorded at the Civil Registry.
5.
VIRick | September 1, 2020 at 9:02 pm
Mexico: Multiple States with Pending Marriage Equality Bills
Per LGBT Marriage News:
Today, 1 September 2020, many state congresses throughout Mexico began their new session under new leadership, any number of which have pending marriage equality legislation before them. We may well see votes on said measures in all of the following:
Guerrero:
https://bajopalabra.com.mx/con-temas-sin-resolver…
Sonora:
https://www.elsoldehermosillo.com.mx/local/inclus…
Tlaxcala:
https://www.elsoldetlaxcala.com.mx/local/colectiv…
as well as in Edomex (see posts #4 and #16 below), Sinaloa (second time), Baja California (third time), and Yucatán (third time), the latter 3 all with additional court challenges.
6.
VIRick | September 2, 2020 at 2:51 pm
Japan: Kyoto City Government Begins Offering Partnership Certificates
Per LGBT Marriage News:
Adults living in this populous western city of Japan who are LGBTQ couples can now be publicly certified by the city government under the "partnership oath scheme." The program that started on 1 September 2020 allows couples to jointly proclaim that their significant other is their life partner, and in doing so, receive certification from the Kyoto Municipal Government. It has been adopted as part of an attempt to encourage understanding of sexual minorities, and to improve their ability to take part in society. It is the first time the scheme has been introduced in any of Kyoto Prefecture's municipalities.
On 1 September, the city's government office held a ceremony to issue the certificates, and Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa handed them to five couples. Although the oath doesn't have any legal benefits, it does make the couples eligible for living in city-managed housing, and city employees are considering including people with certificates among those who can receive benefit payments. According to the municipal government, by the end of the first day, 20 couples had applied to be recognized under the scheme.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200902/p2a…
Kyoto, with 1.475 million residents, is Japan's 7th most populous city, and is now one of 55 municipalities/prefectures to offer such "Life Partnership" certificates to LGBT couples.
7.
VIRick | September 2, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Bans Anti-LGBT "Conversion Therapy"
Per LGBT Marriage News:
The Australian Capital Territory has passed a bill to ban harmful LGBT “conversion therapy” across the territory. The bill defines sexuality or gender identity conversion practices as “a treatment or other practice… the purported purpose of which is to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity.” From early 2021, anyone using the practices would face up to 12 months jail or a fine of $24,000.
Just.equal spokesperson Ivan Hinton-Teoh rated the ACT’s ban as “7 out of 10” and said it was far better than the Queensland government’s legislation. Survivors have slammed the Queensland bill, passed earlier this month, as “utterly ineffective.” “The ACT legislation covers religious and informal settings which the Queensland legislation does not,” he said. “This is a vast improvement, given that religious and informal conversion practices are the most common,” Hinton-Teoh said. “The ACT legislation also focuses on the intent of the practitioner and gives broad investigative powers to the ACT Human Rights Commission."
Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania are also looking to soon ban "conversion therapy" practices.
https://qnews.com.au/australian-capital-territory…
8.
VIRick | September 2, 2020 at 4:25 pm
Northern Ireland: LGBT Religious Marriages Now Legal
Per LGBT Marriage News:
The first same-sex religious marriages can be arranged in Northern Ireland from Tuesday, 1 September 2020, and follows legislation introduced by the Northern Ireland Office in July. From that date, couples can give their 28 days' notice of intent to have a religious service, meaning the first ceremonies could take place on 29 September. There are, however, exemptions and protections for religious bodies that do not wish to conduct marriages between same-sex couples.
Marriage between same-sex couples has been legally recognized in Northern Ireland since January, but the original legislation did not extend to ceremonies in churches nor to religious bodies. A consultation on extending that provision to religious same-sex marriages was opened by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), and the new regulations are based upon those results.
Same-sex marriage campaigners have welcomed the move, but are now urging the government to make marriage fully equal by allowing same-sex couples with an existing civil partnership to be able to convert their partnership into a marriage.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-5398…
9.
VIRick | September 2, 2020 at 5:21 pm
Edomex: Municipality of Cuautitlán Takes on Marriage Equality Directly
Per "Hoy Estado de México," 2 de septiembre 2020:
En un encuentro con integrantes de la comunidad LGBT, el gobierno de Cuautitlán se pronunció a favor del respeto a la diversidad sexual dentro del municipio, por lo que se trabaja en una agenda para reconocer sus derechos, tales como la adopción o el matrimonio igualitario. El presidente municipal Ariel Juárez Rodríguez detalló que Cuautitlán es el primer municipio del Edomex que menciona el respeto a la diversidad sexual de la comunidad, bajo la premisa de derecho de igualdad y a la no discriminación como principios básicos.
En este sentido, Juárez Rodríguez invitó a todos a contribuir en la conformación de una propuesta para impulsar que la comunidad tenga acceso a la Seguridad Social, cambio de identidad de género para la comunidad trans en documentos oficiales, adopción igualitaria, o el registro oportuno de nacimientos para parejas LGBT, ente otros, además del respeto a la diversidad de ideas. Agregó que, desde la sociedad civil, en lo jurídico y legislativo, es necesario el apoyo de todos en la elaboración de una propuesta que se entregará en el Congreso estatal, para enfrentar temas como: la falta de servicios médicos, educación sexual, oportunidades laborales y educativas, donde la preferencia sexual no sea motivo de discriminación entre nosotros mismos, así como entre las instancias públicas gubernamentales.
Es este encuentro acudieron más de 60 personas, donde acordaron establecer una próxima reunión para iniciar los trabajos hacia la conformación de la iniciativa. Además, se darán a conocer las actividades a realizar como comunidad y la difusión de la información sobre las acciones que el gobierno local realiza en su apoyo.
https://www.hoyestado.com/2020/09/cuautitlan-se-p…
In a meeting with members of the LGBT community, the government of Cuautitlán spoke out in favor of respect for sexual diversity within the municipality, which is why they are working on an agenda to recognize their rights, such as adoption and marriage equality. Municipal President (mayor) Ariel Juárez Rodríguez explained that Cuautitlán is the first municipality in Edomex to mention respect for the sexual diversity of the community, under the premise of the right to equality and non-discrimination as basic principles.
In this sense, Juárez Rodríguez, invited everyone to contribute to the creation of a proposal to encourage the community to have access to Social Security, change of gender identity for the trans community on official documents, adoption equality, and the timely registration of births for LGBT couples, among others, in addition to respect for diversity of ideas. He added that, from civil society, in the legal and legislative field, the support of all is necessary in the elaboration of a proposal that will be delivered in the state Congress, to face issues such as: the lack of medical services, sex education, job and educational opportunities, where sexual preference is not a reason for discrimination among ourselves, as well as among public governmental entities.
This meeting was attended by more than 60 people, where they agreed to establish another meeting to begin work toward the establishment of the initiative. In addition, the activities to be carried out as a community, and the dissemination of information on the actions that the local government carries out in support, will be announced.
Note: The Municipality of Cuautitlán, population 140,000, is a reasonably affluent suburb due north of CDMX within the Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México.
10.
VIRick | September 2, 2020 at 10:37 pm
DC: Second Federal Judge Blocks Effort to End ACA's LGBT Health Care Protections
On 2 September 2020, in "Whitman-Walker Clinic v. Azar," a second federal judge, this time in DC, has issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to rescind the Affordable Care Act’s protections against anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The DC ruling came in a case brought by Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, DC and other health organizations that serve many LGBTQ clients, represented by Lambda Legal and the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson.
Judge James E. Boasberg of the US District Court for the District of Columbia granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction, which blocks enforcement of two key portions of a rule issued in June by the Department of Health and Human Services, headed by Secretary Alex Azar, governing the interpretation of section 1557 of the ACA. One of them narrowed the definition of sex discrimination and the other granted a broad exemption for health care providers to deny services by citing the provider’s religious beliefs.
The rule issued by HHS in June undid an expansive definition of sex discrimination applied to the law when Barack Obama was president. The Obama-era rule guiding enforcement of the ACA’s prohibition on sex discrimination encompassed discrimination “on the basis of pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom, childbirth or related medical conditions, sex stereotyping, or gender identity.”
It therefore banned discrimination against transgender Americans, plus discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people if it were rooted in sex stereotyping, as well as bias against cisgender women in the reproductive health provisions. The new rule would have interpreted sex discrimination as referring only to the binary understanding of biological sex.
https://www.advocate.com/health/2020/9/02/second-…
11.
VIRick | September 3, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Bolivia: Serecí Asks Constitutional Court to Suspend Ruling of Second Constitutional Chamber
El Servicio de Registro Cívico (Serecí) acaba de negarse a cumplir este fallo (de la Sala Constitucional Segunda) y de solicitar al Tribunal Constitucional de Bolivia deje en suspenso su cumplimiento, para seguir negando derechos a David y Guido y a todas las parejas del mismo sexo.
La respuesta ahora toca nuevamente a la justicia. La Sala Constitucional Segunda deberá conminar al Servicio de Registro Cívico (Serecí) a que cumpla su fallo. Si lo hacen y reconocen la Unión Libre de David y Guido, ¡se creará un precedente importante en la lucha por la igualdad para personas LGBT en Bolivia!
Firma la petición y dile a la Justicia Constitucional de Bolivia: ¡la Unión Libre es para todos!
https://action.allout.org/es/a/unionlibre/?utm_ca…
The Civic Registry Service (Serecí) has just refused to comply with this ruling (of the Second Constitutional Chamber) and has asked the Constitutional Court of Bolivia to suspend its compliance, to continue denying rights to David and Guido and to all same-sex couples.
One again, the answer now touches justice. The Second Constitutional Chamber must order the Civic Registry Service (Serecí) to comply with its ruling. If they do so and recognize the Free Union of David and Guido, it will create an important precedent in the fight for equality for LGBT people in Bolivia!
Sign the petition and tell the Constitutional Courts of Bolivia: Free Union is for everyone!
In the petition from the "Comunidad de Derechos Humanos Bolivia," they ask two things:
A la Justicia Constitucional de Bolivia:
A la Sala Constitucional Segunda del Tribunal de Justicia de La Paz, le pedimos que conmine al Servicio de Registro Cívico (Serecí) a cumplir su fallo y registrar la Unión Libre de David y Guido.
Al Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional de Bolivia, le pedimos que rechace el pedido del Servicio de Registro Cívico (Serecí) de suspender el fallo de la Sala Constitucional Segunda y que confirme la mencionada decisión.
https://action.allout.org/es/a/unionlibre/?utm_ca…
To the Constitutional Courts of Bolivia:
We ask the Second Constitutional Chamber of the Court of Justice of La Paz to order the Civic Registry Service (Serecí) to comply with its ruling and register the Free Union of David and Guido.
We ask the Plurinational Constitutional Court of Bolivia to reject the request of the Civic Registry Service (Serecí) to suspend the ruling of the Second Constitutional Chamber and to confirm the aforementioned decision.
12.
ianbirmingham | September 3, 2020 at 11:39 pm
Chinese activist loses legal battle over homophobic textbooks
The verdict is a blow to China’s LGBT community, many of whom say they have been facing mounting pressure in recent years.
Xixi, who is originally from Guangdong in southern China, says she has experienced homophobia throughout her time in the Chinese education system from teachers, classmates and in teaching materials.
“The entire social atmosphere of mainland China is incredibly homophobic,” she said.
https://hongkongfp.com/2020/09/03/chinese-activis…
13.
ianbirmingham | September 4, 2020 at 4:14 pm
Court Blocks Trump Removal of LGBTQ-Bias Shields in Health Care
A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from enforcing a rule change that would let health care providers deny medical services to LGBTQ patients on the grounds of religion. On the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington handed down his ruling late Wednesday in a hefty 101 pages.
PDF of decision: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads…
https://www.courthousenews.com/court-blocks-trump…
14.
ianbirmingham | September 5, 2020 at 1:11 pm
"LGBT Free Zone" highway sign at entrance to Polish town Przemysl
https://i.redd.it/bnw0kp6lrdl51.jpg
15.
VIRick | September 5, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Przemyśl is actually a fairly large city of 67,000 very near the border with Ukraine in what today constitutes the most southeastern province of Poland. It is the second-oldest city in southern Poland, and over the centuries has been subject to foreign rule at various times by Austria, Russia, and/or Germany. It once boasted one of the largest Jewish communities in all of Poland. In the 1910 census, while still part of Austria, the population of Przemyśl was counted at 54,000 inhabitants, with Polish Roman Catholics accounting for 46.8%, Jews for 29.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian Greek Catholics for 22.2%, and "others," mostly German-speakers, at 1.3%.
Lest anyone forget, here is the history of the Jewish community of Przemyśl, since there really are no survivors still resident there, as has been recorded in the Yivo Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe:
https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Przemys…
The hatred and scapegoating in this part of Poland never seems to come to an end, all while they themselves are frequently being shuffled around and brutalized by vengeful, occupying neighbors, be it Austria, Russia, or Germany. During WWII alone, the push-and-shove between Stalin and Hitler completely wrecked this entire area.
In retrospect, the Jews who were deported to Russia in the early part of WWII were the "lucky" ones, as those who were later rounded up by the Germans were all killed, most sent to Auschwitz or Belzec. I have a friend whose (young, idealistic, socialist) parents were deported to Russia (to Siberia) from this part of Poland in early 1941 and who, somehow, managed to survive,– or said friend probably would not have been born, much less still be alive. An unknown number of Jews from southeastern Poland also managed to escape by smuggling themselves further southward into Romania (at that time in history, the two nations shared a common border), from which, after the war, they then emigrated on to other parts of the world.
The Ruthenian Greek Catholics are gone, too, expelled to Ukraine, many now resident in Lwow (which was part of Poland between WWI and WWII, and is now known as Lviv) and other ex-Polish cities in western Ukraine, in "exchange" for Polish Roman Catholics similarly expelled from the same areas of western Ukraine.
16.
ianbirmingham | September 5, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin will become the official Helsinki Pride week patron in both 2020 and 2021.
It will be the first time in Finnish history that the Prime Minister will be the patron of this event. LGBT flags will be raised on all flagstaffs near the Prime Minister’s office.
The event’s roadmap includes lectures, plays and exhibitions. The culmination of Pride Week is a colorful rainbow parade with over 100 thousand people taking part in it every year.
https://gayandlove.com/the-prime-minister-of-finl…
17.
VIRick | September 5, 2020 at 5:04 pm
Cayman Islands: Civil Partnership Act Signed into Law
Per LGBT Marriage News:
On Friday, 4 September 2020, the Governor of the Cayman Islands, Martyn Roper, using his reserved powers under Section 81 of the Constitution, assented to the Civil Partnership Act (and renamed from "domestic partnership"). Civil Partnerships will be available in three weeks in order to give the civil service time to adjust. In the meantime, the marriage equality case is still proceeding before the UK Privy Council, and will be heard in February 2021.
Per Cayman News Service:
Governor Martyn Roper assented to what is now called the Civil Partnership Law on Friday, 4 September 2020, paving the way for same-sex couples in the Cayman Islands to register their relationships and enter into a legally recognized union. The law, along with eleven supporting amendment bills, will provide access to family and other related rights afforded to married couples but previously denied to members of the LGBT community. Although the bill is now law, couples wanting to enter into this new partnership will have to wait until the end of September because the civil service is being given three weeks to prepare to accept and process such applications.
Some amendments have been made to the legislation as a result of the consultation period, including a tightening of open access to the register of civil partnerships, one which had caused concerns about potential abuse. In this amended law, those wanting to see the register or get information from it will need to provide an adequate reason for doing so to the registrar. Other parts of the law have also been changed to bring this legislation more in line with the administrative requirements of the Marriage Law.
In the Cayman Islands, the last time the governor’s reserved powers were used was to legalize homosexuality in 2000, and before that, in 1991, it was used to abolish the death penalty.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/09/civil-partn…
18.
VIRick | September 6, 2020 at 6:00 pm
"Colours Cayman" Seeks Leave to Intervene in Marriage Equality Case before Privy Council
Per LGBT Marriage News:
Just one day after the Civil Partnership Act became law in the Cayman Islands, Billie Bryan, Founder & President of Colours Cayman, a local non-profit that aims to foster a safe and comfortable social environment for the LGBTQIA community of the Cayman Islands, has applied to the Privy Council to intervene in support of the pending marriage equality case presently before the Council.
On 5 September 2020, said application was submitted by Colours Cayman to intervene in the Privy Council in support of the case of Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden-Bush to have marriage equality legalized in the Cayman Islands.
http://www.loopcayman.com/content/colours-cayman-…
19.
VIRick | September 5, 2020 at 7:25 pm
I love surprise, happy endings! I hope this rather formal and quite proper marriage ceremony from Monterrey brightens your day. Enjoy.
Per Ulisex Mgzn:
El final de este video demuestra que "Love Wins."
The end of this video demonstrates that Love Wins.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1302409278238715904
20.
VIRick | September 6, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Pete Buttigieg Named to Biden's Transition Team
Buttigieg was named to a 15-person advisory board that includes former Deputy Attorney-General Sally Yates and former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, both of whom worked under President Barack Obama. Also joining the board is the former US Surgeon-General under Obama, Vivek Murthy, who has been advising Biden amid the pandemic, according to CNN.
Biden also named four new co-chairs to the team including former Obama economic advisor Jeffrey Zients, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), and his campaign advisor Anita Dunn, according to Reuters.
A military veteran, Buttigieg went further in the presidential race than any previous openly gay candidate. The day after he dropped out of the race, he endorsed Biden.
https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/9/05/pete-…
21.
VIRick | September 7, 2020 at 11:49 am
Edomex: LGBT Groups Place Their Agenda Before the State Congress
Per LGBT Marriage News:
In the Edomex Congress, Morena, PT, and PRD have agreed to discuss the proposal of Beatriz García Villegas (Morena) banning anti-LGBT "conversion therapy" by 25 September; to draft the gender identity initiative by 20 November; and to discuss the marriage/cohabitation equality initiative, but without giving a specific date as to when they intend to do the latter.
And as noted, so far, now at the beginning of the third year of the present legislature in Edomex, Morena has still not yet fulfilled the requests of the LGBT community, as it had promised (while on everyone's mind is this looming fact: In many states, like Edomex, elections for the next 3-year congress will be taking place before mid-2021).
https://transeuntemx.com/2020/09/06/comunidad-lgb…
This website does not allow for my usual copy-and-paste, so I have had to resort to a summarized, freehand translation.