Nigeria votes on same-sex marriages

November 30 2011

www.iol.co.za/news/africa/nigeria-votes-on-same-sex-marriages-1.1188962

Abuja - The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill outlawing same-sex marriages in Africa's most populous country as well as banning public displays of affection between homosexual couples.
Approval of the bill, which must still be voted on by the House of Representatives and signed by President Goodluck Jonathan, came after debate that saw one lawmaker go as far as to suggest that offenders be killed.
The bill spells out a 14-year jail term for anyone entering into same-sex marriage or civil union.
Those who abet or aid such unions could receive 10 years, as would “any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations” - a provision that seems to target gay advocacy groups as well.
The bill also sets out a 10-year sentence for “any person who directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationships”.
Amnesty International’s director of the Africa Programme, Erwin van der Borght, slammed the bill as “reprehensible”, saying in a statement that it “threatens the human rights of a large number of people”.
“If passed, this measure would target people on the basis of their identity, not merely their behaviour, and put a wide range of people at risk of criminal sanctions for exercising basic rights and opposing discrimination based purely on a person's actual or presumed sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that his country will consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognise gay rights.
Senate President David Mark said during debate on the bill on Tuesday that “our values are our values”.
“If there is any country that does not want to give us aid or assistance just because we want to hold on to our values, that country can keep her aid and assistance,” he said.
“No country has the right to interfere in the way we make our own laws, because we don't interfere in the way others make their own laws.”
Senator Baba-Ahmed Yusuf Datti of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change party said during debate, in an apparent reference to same-sex couples violating the proposed law, that “such elements should be killed”.
During a public hearing last month, gay activists staged a protest outside parliament calling for the bill to be dropped, saying it infringed on their fundamental human rights.
It was unclear why lawmakers decided a ban was necessary, with gay marriage not known to be prevalent in Nigeria and homosexuals already harshly discriminated against.
The West African nation is strongly religious, roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south. Islamic sharia law is in place in 12 northern states, though it is selectively enforced.
On Tuesday, one rights activist called the bill a waste of time in a country lacking even the most basic infrastructure, including adequate electricity, despite Nigeria's status as Africa's largest oil producer.
“I can't recall a particular place where this type of marriage has taken place in Nigeria,” said Adetokunbo Mumuni, director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
“This particular thing they have assented to is a thing of no substance to Nigeria. They should focus on things that affect the majority of Nigerians.”
South Africa is the only African country that allows same-sex marriage.

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Friday November 25th 2011

AUSTRALIAN GOV'T BLOCKS MARRIAGE OF FORMER TASMANIAN PREMIER'S SISTER

Marriage equality advocates are angry that the Australian Government is blocking the legal overseas same-sex marriage of the sister of the former Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett.

Mr Bartlett's sister, Angela Borella, was set to marry her Portuguese partner in Lisbon next year, but her plans have been thrown into disarray because the Australian Government refuses to provide her with the certificate required by the Portuguese authorities to show she is not already married in Australia.

Australian Marriage Equality Campaign Director, Rodney Croome, said Ms Borella is one of many gay and lesbian Australians who have been disadvantaged because of the Federal Government's mean-spirited policy.

"Not content with stopping same-sex couples marrying in Australia, the Federal Government is trying to stop us marrying overseas as well", Mr Croome said.

"The Australian Government says it can't issue the certificate in question to same-sex couples because same-sex marriages aren't recognised here, but these certificates aren't about what Australian marriage law says, they're about whether an Australian is free to marry under foreign marriage laws."

"When the ALP National Conference considers marriage equality next week, I hope delegates take notice of the pain and disadvantage caused by the current denial of equality to people like Angela and support a new policy in favour of marriage equality." 

"But if Government policy doesn't change, we will commence legal proceedings against the Government on the basis that it misusing these certificates for a purpose they were never meant for."

As a matter of course the Australian Government issues Certificates of No-Impediment to Marriage (CNI) to heterosexual Australians marrying overseas, but has refused such certificates to same-sex partners since at least 2005.

In an opinion article to be published today on The Punch website, Ms Borella wrote,

"My partner and I were full of excitement about the future ahead and fulfilling our plan. But my feelings immediately dissolved in to sadness, embarrassment and shame when I found I couldn't have a CNI. I had never felt more de-valued as an Australian citizen."

"The failure of the Australian Government to issue us a CNI impedes greatly on our relationship here. For example, I am unable to access certain entitlements like health care unless I am married. I'm also concerned about my partner. What about her right to enter a marriage with the woman she loves? After all, we are living in Portugal, not Australia."

Ms Borella's brother, former Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett, told the Age newspaper her predicament is "upsetting" and called on the Government to support marriage equality.

"It is now time for the Labor Party to show progress and real leadership on this issue. My sister has found true love and for her not to be able to express that true love in another country that agrees with same-sex marriage because of the Australian context is very upsetting for everyone," he said.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/expremier-calls-for-gaymarriage-law-so-sister-can-wed-true-love-20111124-1nx3s.html

Ireland: Bishop quits before child sex abuse report

  Thursday, 24 November 2011

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bishop-quits-days-before-child-sex-abuse-report-due-16081875.html

A Catholic bishop stepped down yesterday just six days before child sex abuse audits into two dioceses where he served are due to be published.

Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty's resignation on health grounds was accepted by Pope Benedict just two weeks after offering it. He left his post immediately.

Two separate audits of the Derry and Raphoe dioceses, carried out into how the church dealt with paedophile priests, have been pencilled in for release next Tuesday or Wednesday, sources have said.

However, previous dates set aside for the release of the reports carried out by the church-run National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) have been postponed.

Church insiders say the contents of audits being carried out by the organisation have been seen by retired Bishop Hegarty as well as the current Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce.

Donegal-born Dr Hegarty served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 until 1994 before taking up his position in Derry, where he admitted this year that allegations of child sex abuse had been made against 26 priests over the past 50 years.

Allegations against up to 20 priests have been made in the Raphoe diocese over a similar period.

.

         www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=12460
        Another Irish bishop steps down
         November 23, 2011

The Vatican has announced the resignation of another Irish bishop, leaving 7 of the country’s 26 dioceses without an active bishop.

Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry announced that he was stepping down because of “a health condition which has been assessed to render me unable to fulfill the obligations of my office.” He did not identify the medical condition, but disclosed that although he is now taking treatment, the problem is considered irreversible.

At the age of 71, Bishop Hegarty is 4 years short of the usual retirement age. The timing of his resignation may be significant because he had previously served as Bishop of Raphoe, where numerous complaints of chld abuse have been filed. An investigative report on the handling of sex-abuse complaints in the Raphoe diocese, prepared by the National Board for Safeguarding Children at the request of the Church, has recently been completed and submitted to the current head of the diocese, Bishop Philip Boyce. Its public release is expected in the coming weeks.

News of Bishop Hegarty’s resignation prompted new interest in reports that the Vatican is planning a reconfiguration of the Irish hierarchy, after an apostolic visitation that followed the eruption of the sex-abuse scandal in that country. The Irish Catholic has reported that the Vatican will eliminate a large number of the country’s dioceses. The fact that 7 episcopal sees are now empty would make such a change easier.

Oxford college flies university’s "first-ever rainbow flag"

November, 23, 2011

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/11/23/oxford-college-flies-first-ever-rainbow-flag-above-university/
An Oxford University college has flown the rainbow flag above a campus building for the first time in its history.
Wadham College hosts the annual Queerfest, a party which celebrates gay history and culture, and raises awareness for LGBT rights.
In recent years this has been preceded by Queerweek, a collection of talks, discussions and social events.
While the 2011 Queerweek celebrations, which began on the 14 November, saw the lights in the college’s front quad turned pink, organisers sought a more visible display to people outside the college.
Queerweek organiser Michael Brooks, 19, a Philosophy and German undergraduate, told PinkNews.co.uk the reaction from the university and the city has been positive.
Brooks agreed on the idea of raising a flag among the city’s spires with the other event organiser, Sarah Pine, before approaching university authorities.
He said: “We discussed it with the college Dean and then it went through to Governing Body. Everyone responded really positively to the idea and we ended up flying the rainbow flag over Wadham for an entire week.
“Putting up the flag was such a simple thing to do, but it had a huge effect on Oxford. I heard many people from different colleges talking about it. I saw tourists stopping outside Wadham to take photos of it.
“It challenges the stereotypes people have of Oxford and I hope that it will make those within Oxford who do hold very conservative views concerning LGBTQ rights to think differently.
“I was speaking to one student about the rainbow flag and he told me that he was surprised that the ‘powers-that-be’ at Wadham allowed us to fly the flag. I think that this shows that other Oxford colleges do not offer enough support to their LGBTQ community and it’s time for that to change.
Ross Brooks, the author of Oxford’s LGBT city guide Queer Oxford, said he was “stunned and delighted” to have seen the rainbow flag over a university building.
He told PinkNews.co.uk: “For centuries, LGBT culture has been integral to life here in Oxford although it has not always been acknowledged and appreciated.
“It was heartwarming to see Oxford University celebrating diversity in the community so proudly and publicly.”
He added the college was the scene of a notable gay scandal.
The author said: “On 3rd February 1739, Robert Thistlethwayte, Doctor of Divinity and infamous Warden of Wadham, attempted to seduce William French, a commoner of the College.
“The ensuing scandal shook the University to its foundations. Thistlethwayte’s career at Oxford was ruined – he fled to France – but he was immortalised in several delightful limericks which have been uttered here in Oxford ever since the 1730s.”
One of the mentioned rhymes runs:

There once was a Warden of Wadham Who approved of the folkways of Sodom, For a man might, he said, Have a very poor head But be a fine Fellow at bottom

While the flag was first used by the LGBT community in the 1970s, it is believed this is the first official gay symbol to be displayed since teaching began on the university’s site in the 11th century.

Hungarian health authority says human dignity of trans pharmacist has to be respected

Budapest, November 24, 2011 – In its recent decision on appeal the Hungarian Office of Health Authorization and Administrative Procedures has ordered the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of State to issue a new pharmacy license to a trans pharmacist that does not contain reference to her birth name and gender. The authority agreed with the applicant that revealing her transgender status in such official documents is a violation of human dignity.

The applicant was born male, completed a degree in pharmaceutical sciences and became a head pharmacist in the Hungarian countryside while still being officially male. In 2011 she changed her gender and started replacing her documents to reflect her new name and gender. While she had no problem obtaining a new diploma, when requesting an amendment to her pharmacy license she met an obstacle. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of State would only issue a new license that contained both her birth name and her new name and thus the new license would have revealed to everyone that she had undergone gender reassignment.

The applicant turned to the legal aid service of Háttér Support Society for LGBT People who helped her put together an appeal. The appeal argued that forcing a trans person to out herself every time she has to show her pharmacy license was an unacceptable breach of human dignity and privacy, and given the transphobic social attitudes in Hungary it would expose the applicant to higher level of discrimination. In the appeal procedure the Hungarian Office of Health Authorization and Administrative Procedures shared the applicants concerns that the amended license containing both her birth name and her new name was a breach of human dignity and ordered the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of State to issue a new pharmacy license that does not contain reference to the applicant’s birth name.

The case shows very well the uncertainty and vulnerability of people undergoing gender reassignment in Hungary due to the lack of legislation on gender recognition. While in other countries such legislation clarifies the data protection principles that authorities, employers and service providers have to follow, due to the lack of such legislation in Hungary trans persons have to rely on the benevolence of individual clerks.

TBH: AN UNHEARD VOICE IN EDUCATION: A teacher writes . . . 'I was lectured on my sexuality'

The Irish Times, Tuesday, November 22, 2011

I write as one of a large group of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people who works as a primary teacher in a Catholic school in this country. Given my sexual orientation (about which I am open) I am subjected to the following on a daily basis.

I must participate in and teach a religion I don’t believe in. I must uphold the Catholic ethos of the school by not discussing my sexuality beyond close friends on the staff.

As the teachers’ representative on the board of management I must partake in prayers at the start of each meeting, which goes against my own belief system.

A few years back when my school principal became aware of my sexuality I was given a lecture about not publicly promoting my sexuality. I have not been successful in applying for any promotion since. I should be first in line because I am the most senior teacher in the school and I hold a Masters of Education degree. I have regular visits from the local priest to keep an eye on how I am teaching religion. No other teacher in the school gets these “visits”.

Most of my fellow teachers are not regular mass-goers. Their lives do not all fall into the norms of Catholicism when it comes to marriage. Yet they are not singled out like I am. The INTO have been sympathetic, but I was told that the school is not breaking any rules by enforcing religious practise on me or curtailing my freedom to discuss my life in the staffroom. They advised that I do not rock the boat.

I believe I am an excellent teacher. I want to live in Ireland and teach generations of our children. However, the only schools within a 50-mile radius of my home are Catholic. Even if I left this part of the country I would still have to find a position within a very limited pool of non-Catholic schools – less than 10 per cent nationwide. I have to accept daily prejudice to pay my mortgage and other life expenses.

I believe, as in most countries, the Government should run the schools with religion as an optional after-school extra at the discretion of each faith. This would be fairer for everyone, not just for teachers like me whose sexual orientation is at odds with the ethos of the school. It would be fairer for children from families of other religions and none, fairer for Catholic families who believe in a more inclusive Ireland and fairer for the many teachers who are obliged to teach a subject they are not comfortable with. I don’t believe such a system would discriminate against Catholics. They would be free to practise their faith in an organised way after school and at weekends. My only hope is that the Minister for Education now follows through with his plan to have more schools handed over to non-religious boards of management.

This column is designed to give a voice to those within the education system who wish to speak out anonymously.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/education/2011/1122/1224307943611.html

Bible: Hebrew text homo-friendlier than christians admit

At 21:28 2004.02.09, Roger wrote:

... we shall stage our first public enactment of the Eastern Church's adelphopoiesis ceremony for uniting same-sex couples. We'll include the Catholic Ordo ad Fratres Faciendum too

        The Hebrew Old Testament doesn't prescribe marriage ceremonies:  but does acknowledge gay couples. --

         www.homosexualeunuchsandthebible.com/id7.html

In the Bible, God nowhere set up statu[t]es for a priest to marry couples. In fact, any couple that was in a long lasting relationship was considered married. Generally, when it says a man married a woman, the Hebrew word used says the man took the woman.
        ...
The Bible does record a verse that shows that not all unions were between a man and a woman: “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your lawful wife, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, you nor your fathers;” (Deuteronomy 13:6 Lamsa). [*] The underlined words your friend, who is as your own soul in the Aramaic literally means: “your lover according to your soul [emotion(s)].” The word rakh-ma, translated here as “friend,” also means a loved one (in a relationship), as shown here: “His mouth is like sweet honeycombs; his garments are lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” (Song of Solomon 5:16 Lamsa).


At 22:14 2008.06.22, Mike wrote:

Well, for your information,  Leviticus says (pretty much the same in both verses that appear to condemn homosexuality), "And with a male do not lie sexually in the beds of a woman" - ie, it is a conditional statement, with both clause and condition, the condition being that you shouldn't do it in the beds of a woman - and that is the only restriction. ...

         www.homosexualeunuchsandthebible.com/id10.html
        Confirms this view of Leviticus[*], explaining that the Hebrew mish-che-be in Leviticus 18,22 and Leviticus 20,13 is "beds" [plural], and that "the 'beds of a woman' may be referring to a practice which still occurs in some parts of Libya. A married couple has three beds: the man's bed, the woman's bed and the marital bed. So, the beds of a woman would be her bed and the marital bed" ... leaving a husband free to entertain a male partner in his own bed.


         www.hebrewoldtestament.com/B03C018.htm#V22
        Leviticus 18,22 uses MShKBY ...

         www.hebrewoldtestament.com/B03C020.htm#V13
        and Leviticus 20,13 uses MShKBY too.


[*] -- King James Version

Leviticus 18
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 20
13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Deuteronomy 13
6 ¶If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

Beyond gay and straight

After 40 years of gains on homophobic law repeal, is there any more
need for a separate identity?

By Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner

Today’s gay pride parade in London celebrates 40 years since the
formation of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in Britain. This was a
watershed moment in British queer history. For the first time,
thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender  (LGBT) people
stopped hiding in the closet and suffering in silence. I was one of
them. We came out and marched in the streets, proclaiming gay pride
and demanding our freedom.

This had never happened before. In 1970, many LGBT people were ashamed
of their homosexuality and kept it secret. Some wished they were
straight and went to doctors to get ‘cured’.

This internalised homophobia was not surprising. Forty years ago, the
state branded homosexuality as unnatural, indecent and criminal; the
church condemned LGBT people as immoral, wicked and sinful; and the
medical profession classified us as sick, abnormal and disordered.

LGBT people were sacked from their jobs, evicted from flats, refused
service in pubs, arrested for kissing in the street and had their
children taken from them by the courts. There was no legal protection
against such discrimination. It was lawful.

The Gay Liberation Front was the first major challenge to this
heterosexism. Inspired by the Black Power slogan “Black is Beautiful”,
it proclaimed "Gay Is Good." Back then, it was very radical to suggest
there was anything good about being gay. Most people thought queers
were mad, sad and very, very bad.

Even liberal-minded heterosexuals often supported us out of sympathy
and pity. Many reacted with horror when GLF declared: “2-4-6-8! Gay is
just as good as straight!” Those assertive, affirmative words – which
were so empowering to queers everywhere – frightened the life out of
smug, arrogant straight people, who had always assumed they were
superior.

GLF’s rebellion against heterosexual supremacism kick-started a still
on-going revolution in public opinion, laws and cultural values. It
overturned the conventional wisdom on matters of sex and human rights.
Our joyous celebration of gayness contradicted the uptight straight
morality that had ruled the world for centuries and which had
oppressed heterosexuals as well as homosexuals.

While most politicians, doctors, priests and journalists saw
homosexuality as a social problem, GLF said the real problem was
society’s homophobia. Instead of seeking to justifying our existence,
we demanded that the gay-haters justify their bigotry.

GLF's unique style of ‘protest as performance’ was not only incredibly
effective, but also a lot of fun. Christian morality campaigner Mary
Whitehouse had her Festival of Light rally in Central Hall Westminster
invaded by a posse of gay nuns. They staged a kiss-in when one of the
speakers, Malcolm Muggeridge, disparaged homosexuals, saying “I just
don’t like them.” The feeling was mutual.

There were also more serious acts of civil disobedience to confront
the perpetrators of discrimination. We organised freedom rides and
sit-ins at pubs that refused to serve ‘poofs’ and ‘dykes’. I disrupted
a lecture by the eminent psychologist, Professor Hans Eysenck, when he
advocated the use of electric-shock aversion therapy to ‘cure’
homosexuality.

In the 40 years since GLF, queer people have become more visible than
ever before and most of the public are relaxed about same-sex
relationships. All major homophobic laws have been repealed, apart
from the ban on same-sex civil marriage. Positive images of LGBT life
abound on television. Politicians and entertainers are openly gay. The
police are serious, at last, about tackling homophobic and transphobic
hate crimes. Gayness is no longer classified as an illness.

At this pace of progress, in the long term, homophobic prejudice and
discrimination are doomed. It is then that the LGBT community will
face an unexpected challenge.

LGBT identity is largely a defence against homophobia. Faced with
victimisation, we had to defend our right to be LGBT and create our
own community institutions to fill the void created by an uncaring,
bigoted society. But when legal equality and social acceptance have
been won, will there be any need for a separate LGBT identity and
community? If one sexuality is not deemed more valid than the other,
much of the raison d’être for distinguishing between gay and straight
disappears.

This is the ultimate paradox. GLF spawned a movement that created the
conditions for its own dissolution. The more we secure the acceptance
and human rights of LGBT people, the less we need a separate gay
identity, community and movement. In a queer-friendly society, the
differences between homo and hetero lose their significance. When no
one cares who is gay and who is straight, there will be no point in
maintaining a distinction between the two sexualities. Labelling
people and behaviour becomes irrelevant. The movement becomes
redundant.

Forty years after GLF pioneered a trailblazing freedom agenda, I am
still celebrating LGBT Pride. But my eye is firmly fixed on the real
prize: a world beyond gay and straight.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/02/40-years-gay-pride

And this is the one thing you are forbidden to forget :D

http://animediet.net/uncategorized/bridging-the-gap-why-the-world-needs-sailor-moon/comment-page-1#comment-21641

Can a shining light from the tail end of the brightest days of Japan be just what anime and manga need today?

There was simply no way I could resist. Ran to my local Kinokuniya to swipe up my own copy of the Kodansha Comics release of the girls manga-milestone Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. It isn’t as if it required the more common internal debate that often clouds recent J-media purchases either. The tale of ultimate shoujo underdog, Usagi Tsukino & her meeting destiny as the leader of a celestial army of defenders against an oncoming onslaught of otherworldly weirdos has been a not-so-guilty favorite since I first discovered it through friends during the mid-1990s. And after reading this latest transtlation, along with stellar treatment, I can even see past what many will consider to be passe, juvenile, and even a little confusing since it in many ways through charm and energy (and possibly, even a sly amount of satire). And it also occurred to this writer as to what made this so exciting to more than one segregated audience. The truest definition of crossover, Naoko Takeuchi’s most beloved creation has seen fandoms even some of the most diehard mecha show fans could only dream of. Whether fans discovered it through the syndicated DiC version that played on tv screens, or merely by way of word of mouth, it only gained ground by leaps and bounds by the time the internet became more accessible to the masses. One might even venture the notion that a great deal of how we view and accept anime in a cultural sense owes a great debt to this very fandom.

By now, most fans of both printed and animated mediums since the 90s are well aware of Sailor Moon, and the various iterations it has taken around the world. In fact, it’s pretty hard to imagine modern fandom without it. Even long after Japan had become something of a shadow of the colorful wonderland portrayed in the comic and animated versions (oh, and even live-action), the optimistic worldview presented in it best encompassed by Usagi and friends as they struggled to maintain normal lives in between yoma invasions hit a fascinating chord with so many not even familiar with Japanese life circa the late 1980s-early 90s. It offered a window to this very culture, and in many ways gave off the aura of an idyllic, almost Disneylike utopian vision. Which was almost always in danger of destruction by way of any number of nasty (albeit beautiful) villains out to deprive the world of its spirit in the name of negative energy.

Even as the series broke ground by being a mainstream product that played with not only gender roles, but gender itself, the powers that be could never truly wash away how culturally challenging much of it really was, despite on the surface looking like little more than a hybrid of classic maho shoujo tales and super sentai legend. It was glaring proof that anime and manga was far more than the realm of boys, and opened the door for an entirely new, and untapped market. So a shiny, glass world of friendship and dreams in endless struggle with our lesser selves seemed a perfect means to usher in a whole new era of admirers of J-media. An era less content with being huddled away in the corner of a sci-fi convention shelling out VHS bootlegs for absurd prices, and vocal enough to make great strides in how the world viewed not only shoujo, but manga in general. The sheer impact of the series and its characters could be felt in nearly every facet of the ensuing years of growing awareness, and unexpected success. And all due to a wholly unique (to westerners at least) presentation, and attitude.

My initial experience with Usagi and friends came about through a most unexpected source. Through a sweet family of friends whom I had known for years, who’s elder sibling had a wholesale enthusiasm for the animated series. In fact, much of his enamored state came from seeing a vision so open to how gender roles played so freely within what seems like your classical superhero tale. It was like a door opened. So when it was time for me to investigate his obsession for myself, I was knocked aback by how different it felt alongside the largely testosterone-centric anime output that we had been privy to for decades. And then the manga took it galaxies further by further treating central relationships as matter of fact, and not so much as some kind of mutant novelty. Was very refreshing to witness. So when the fandom became something beyond anything I could ever have dreamed of with the shows I had grown up with, the writing was on the wall. Takeuchi’s creation had done something no other property to that date had done; connected beyond the already existing choir, and into something altogether different.

And most importantly…it was a creation intended for younger audiences! Remember them? Despite all that has been said, the real exciting element that helped make SM such a crossover phenomenon, was that it held within it  a certain balance of childlike innocence at odds with often mature terrors. Even if it often took on the guise of oh so many action shows, complete with extended battles, and recycled story techniques, there almost always seemed to be just enough wide-eyed wonder regarding the daily world to counter the harshess often doled out by the villains. And as Usagi must contend with what ostensibly is to be her destiny, she must also suffer the pains and foibles common to just being young. (insecurity, and an added dash of almost supernatural clumsiness on top of all this) So as she begins her journeys, and makes new and diverse friends along the way, there is a sense that stakes are indeed growing with each passing day. The identifiable character elements often transcend their seemingly simple demeanors, often granting the world of Sailor Moon something that can just as easily invite adults as well as children.

And after so many years of false starts, censorship, and unwavering fan support, Sailor Moon seems to be primed and ready for a definitive return. Naturally, the world has moved on dramatically since those bright and colorful days. But on the whole, the spirit of friendship amidst great, and terrible odds is something that is universal enough to work in any era. Applicability seems possible, as long as the character dynamics remain true to their origins, albeit within new, more challenging circumstances. The current landscape deserves not so much a shot of nostalgia, so much as a reminder of what makes the things we appreciate and respect so special. One can only hope that the recent release of both Sailor Moon, and the previously unreleased stateside Sailor V, that the still remaining embers of love for this franchise will flame up just enough for an entirely new generation to enjoy.

It was more than mere magic that helped create the contemporary anime and manga fan; it was the heart and ingenuity Naoko Takeuchi so iconically shared on the page. And even as a genre-hybrid work, it was and remains a reminder of what it takes to strike a chord with such a wild range of admirers. And while Sailor Moon is far from a perfect saga, it is filled with enough sweetness and sincerity to speak volumes long after its creation. Whether you’ve ever caught yourself talking with your cat, or retained all the wonders of young friendship, there is always a little of the Odango-atama in all of us.

World's first pro-gay reggae album

Jamaican singer bids to challenge homophobia

Tolerance album features 11 gay-positive tracks

London - 26 August 2011

"Jamaican reggae singer Mista Majah P has released the world's first pro-gay reggae album. Called Tolerance and featuring rainbow stripes on the cover, the album includes 11 songs, variously in support of same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples, as well as attacks on homophobic bullying and the US military policy, Don't Ask Don't Tell. The tracks also feature swipes at the anti-gay prejudices of 'murder music' reggae singer Beenie Man and of the Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding," said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Mr Tatchell is the international coordinator of the Stop Murder Music campaign, which since 2004 has protested against eight reggae singers who have put out songs encouraging and glorifying the murder of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Although Mista Majah P is not gay, he supports the LGBT communities and gay equality. Explaining why he created the album, Mista Majah P said:

"I want to counter the myths that all Jamaicans are homophobic and that all reggae music is violent and anti-gay. I'm seeking to challenge ignorance and reach out to gay people."

He added:

"My hope is that this cd, Tolerance, will break down the homophobic stance that certain reggae artists and heads of government have taken towards the LGBTQ community. Because of the hateful songs that some performers have been singing, gay people have been threatened and harmed. Some foolish people act upon what these artists are preaching because they worship these artists like gods. My music is about tolerance. It shows that reggae music can respect gay and lesbian people. Reggae music used to be about love, peace and unity. Now it is too often about bigotry and violence. I want to bring the music back to its progressive roots," said Mista Majah P

"Since releasing the album, Mista Majah P has received numerous death threats and has been warned to not return to Jamaica (he currently resides in California). He's undeterred and defiant, stating that 'murder music' has given reggae a negative image, which is bad for the music industry and for all reggae artists," noted Mr Tatchell. 

Listen to samples of all 11 tracks on the Tolerance album here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mistamajahp22

QUEEN'S SUPPORT FOR UNBELIEVERS

24 November 2010

The gay Humanist charity, the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT) has warmly welcomed the Queen’s recognition that people of no faith can lead moral lives and make an equally important contribution to society.

Addressing the Church of England General Synod, the Queen told members that believers and atheists were equally able to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of the country.

The Queen, who is supreme governor of the Church of England, said: "In our more diverse and secular society, the place of religion has come to be a matter of lively discussion. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue and that the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation depend on the contribution of individuals and groups of all faiths and none."

The PTT secretary George Broadhead commented: "This is a remarkable and very welcome recognition. Coming as it does from the Head of State, it is also extremely important. For far too long religionists, even relatively moderate ones, have tried to claim that only they can lead moral lives and that religious faith of some sort is vital to society's wellbeing. The Queen's words knock this on the head and should be a lesson to all those who denigrate unbelievers and - in the case of Islamists - threaten them with hellfire and death.

Transsexuality No Longer a Mental Disorder in France

Several decades have passed since the West stopped considering homosexuality a mental illness. But for transsexuals, that kind of milestone has been elusive — until now. Last month, France became the first country in the world to remove transsexualism from its official list of mental disorders — a major victory when it comes to acceptance of this oft misunderstood condition. "I'm relieved. People might begin to look at us differently," says transsexual blogger Caphi (a blended name she's chosen to represent Philippe, the man she was born as, and Caroline, the woman she's transforming into). "It's a start."
But only a start, many transsexuals in France say. In practice, the declaration will do little to improve their legal or medical rights in the country. For example, transsexuals are still required to have a sex-change operation before they can change their gender in the eyes of the law. And to get the green light for surgery, they must still undergo extensive medical and psychiatric evaluations. "It's a symbolic victory," says Georges-Louis Tin, president of the Paris-based IDAHO committee, which fights homophobia and what it calls "transphobia," or discrimination against transsexuals. "Transsexuals are no longer mentally ill," he says. "They're normal citizens. But we haven't yet reached the point where they're allowed to make their own decisions instead of depending on doctors and psychiatrists." (See "The Year in Health 2009: From A to Z.")
Some transsexuals say the country's open-minded Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, removed transsexualism from the list of mental disorders because it was an outdated classification and because she wanted to acknowledge the work transsexuals have done to further their cause. But others see a potentially more troubling motive. Tin worries that politicians may be making allowances on this front to avoid engaging in debate on legalizing gay marriage or removing barriers to allowing gay adults to adopt. (See pictures of the gay-rights movement.)
Indeed, the French transsexual community doesn't exactly consider the country to be at the forefront of promoting the rights of sexual minorities. A just-released study commissioned by the Health Ministry, for example, paints a dreary picture of the treatment of transsexuals from a legal and medial standpoint. Sex-change surgeries and treatments are covered by the state — as in some other countries — but those who opt for surgery have little choice in selecting their doctor. Surgeons complain that they are poorly equipped to perform the complicated procedures and that few have received specialized training, according to the survey. And some even say they are ostracized by their colleagues if they perform such surgeries. For these reasons, many transsexuals choose to undergo the procedure — at their own cost — across the border in Belgium, home to some of the best sex-change specialists in the world.
Laure Laudet, who is scheduled to have an operation in France to become a woman in the fall, has been so worried about French doctors' lack of expertise in the field that she's done much of her own research, particularly on which hormones she should take. "In the trans community, people have to find their own information, figure out who the good doctors are and negotiate their treatments," she says. Recently, she had to travel 250 miles (400 km) to visit with a second psychiatrist — not the one she's been seeing for two years — to sign off on her operation. At the last minute, she says, the psychiatrist canceled the appointment to travel abroad. "And then they're surprised that some people try to commit suicide or castrate themselves," she says. (See the top 10 news stories of 2009.)
But what advocacy groups find most egregious is that France, like many other countries, requires transsexuals to undergo surgery — and become sterilized — before they can receive identity cards and other official documents confirming their new gender. "If we refuse, we're basically undocumented," says Caphi. According to most advocates, about half of transgender people — a term many prefer, though the French state doesn't use it — have no desire to go under the knife, preferring instead to simply live their lives as a member of the opposite sex in their dress and behavior.
This will be the next big battleground. Spain and Great Britain have adopted more lenient stances, even though transsexualism is still technically on the books in both countries as a mental illness. Spain requires transsexuals only to undergo some form of hormonal treatment to modify their physical appearance before it will issue new documents, while the British simply ask applicants, with recommendations from their doctors, to promise to live out the rest of their lives as their chosen sex. (See 10 things to do in Paris.)
In France, several members of the advocacy organization TransAide have unsuccessfully sued the state in recent years to try to obtain a legal sex change without an operation. They've since lodged appeals and intend to bring their cases before the European Human Rights Court if necessary. "We want to prove that sterilization is what's really at play here," says Delphine Ravise-Jiard, one of the plaintiffs. And the group's got friends at the European level. Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, has been fighting to end the mandatory sterilization of transsexuals in the European Union, calling it a human-rights violation.
The tide may be turning. At least that's what IDAHO's president hopes. The French Health Ministry has already agreed to push other countries in the E.U. to drop transsexualism from their lists of mental disorders. And that, Tin says, is a start.

Church of Sweden says yes to gay marriage

22 Oct 09

The Synod of the Lutheran Church of Sweden has come down in favour of church
weddings for homosexuals in a vote held on Thursday morning.

The decision, which is based on a proposal from the church’s governing
board, means that the Church of Sweden will conduct wedding ceremonies for
both heterosexual and homosexual couples.

The proposal was approved by 176 of 249 voting members.

The decision comes just three days after the 30th anniversary of the date
when homosexuality stopped being classified as a disease in Sweden.

“The Synod’s decision takes a stance in favour of an inclusive view of
people. Regardless of whether one is religious or not, this affects the
entire social climate and the view of people’s equal value,” Åsa Regnér,
head of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) - the
country's largest gay rights group, said in a statement.

In June, the church board took the first step towards permitting same-sex
marriages by submitting a petition to the Church of Sweden Synod – the
church's highest decision-making body.

The board proposed the church continue to perform wedding ceremonies
following new legislation which came into force on May 1st and grants
same-sex couples in Sweden the same legal marriage status as heterosexuals.

Current church regulations will likely continue to apply in practice, with
some alterations, such as replacing “man and wife” with “lawfully wedded
spouses” when a homosexual couple is married.

Individual pastors would also still be able to refuse to perform marriage
ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Since 2007, the Church of Sweden, which counts around 74 percent of Swedes
as members, has offered gays a religious blessing of their union.

The ruling by the Synod, which has 251 delegates - two of which were absent
from Thursday's vote, puts Sweden among the first countries in the world to
allow gays to marry in a major church.

Representatives from the Catholic and Orthodox churches in Sweden, however,
were disappointed by Thursday’s decision.

“It is with great sorry that we receive news that the Church of Sweden’s
Synod has today decided to wed same-sex couples that it will be referred to
as marriage. This is a step backwards, not only from Christian tradition,
but also from all of the major world’s religions views of what marriage is,”
write Vicar Fredrik Emanuelson of the Catholic Church and Father Misha
Jaksic, coordinator of the family of Orthodox Churches at the Christian
Council of Sweden (CCS), in a joint statement.

“We don’t wed same-sex couples in our churches and faith communities because
doing so stands in clear opposition to the church’s tradition and to our
entire view of creation.”

In moving ahead with the decision to perform same-sex marriages, the Church
of Sweden also ignored concerns expressed earlier this year by the Church of
England in a strongly worded letter to Swedish archbishop Anders Wejryd that
the move could lead to “an impairment of the relationships between the
churches”.

Church of England spokesperson Steve Jenkins confirmed that relations
between the two churches may be headed for a turbulent phase in the wake of
the decision.

“Those concerns remain,” he told The Local, referring to the letter from
English bishops Christopher Hill and John Hind.

He added that he didn’t know of any plans by the English Church to issue a
formal statement in response to the Church of Sweden’s decision.

http://www.thelocal.se/22810/20091022/

BARACK OBAMA: LGBT PRIDE MONTH, 2009

From the White House:
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New
York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common
for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America
was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June
1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT
Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting
contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American
society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all
professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT
Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic
HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this
country’s response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT
rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly
today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to
appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the
first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best
qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration —
in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT
employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is
more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the
fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to
live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a
wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined
efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around
the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the
full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures
include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and
Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the
workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and
our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the
HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and
providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS
across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire
Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains
unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to
advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every
American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT
community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to
promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the
people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice
everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

Arresting o f the LGBT activists in Russia on May, 16th, 2009

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/05/photo-gallery-gay-rights-protesters-arrested-by-riot-police-in-moscow-on-saturday.html

Social workers reject ‘reparative therapy’ for gays

Irish Examiner, 5 May 2009

Social workers have taken a stand against therapies which claim to "cure" homosexuality on the grounds that they add to the mental distress of gay and lesbian people.
Declan Coogan, spokesman for the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW), said sexual orientation conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, "is based on the erroneous belief that homosexuality is an illness".

"There is no evidence that conversion therapy is effective, though there is evidence of mental health risks associated with the use of such approaches with gay, lesbian or bisexual people," he said.

Mr Coogan’s comments are on foot of a motion passed last week by social workers attending the AGM of the IASW where delegates voted to oppose use of reparative therapy in Ireland. Mr Coogan said IASW discouraged social workers from making referrals to agencies that claim to "cure" homosexuality.

GLEN, the gay and lesbian equality network, said attempting to change lesbian and gay peoples’ sexual orientation did not work "and can be harmful, especially for younger and more vulnerable gay people".

Odhrán Allen, GLEN director of mental health strategy, said people would be surprised to hear that "reparative therapy" is still being offered by some professionals.

He said the new IASW policy "clearly identifies this practice as wrong".

Mr Allen said having the support of family and friends was "the most helpful factor for lesbian and gay people as they become comfortable with their sexual orientation".

Mr Allen said those who sought reparative therapy often did so because of the stresses arising from their experience of prejudice and stigmatisation as a result of their homosexuality.

Last month the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Britain issued a statement saying there was no sound scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed.

It also criticised "so-called treatments of homosexuality" as recommended by NARTH, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) in the United States".

The college said gay and lesbian people had a right to protection from therapies that are potentially damaging, "particularly those that purport to change sexual orientation".

A study in Britain published in March found, of 1,848 mental health professionals surveyed, 222 reported having assisted at least one client/patient to reduce or change his or her homosexual or lesbian feelings. Counselling was the commonest (66%) treatment offered and there was no sign of a decline in treatments in recent years.

More than two-thirds of the 222 therapists who had provided such treatment believed a service should be available for people who want to change from homosexual to heterosexual

The study concluded that, given lack of evidence for the efficacy of such treatments, "this is likely to be unwise or even harmful".

Croatia: Children`s Book With Gay Characters Presented

14/04/2009

Zagreb readership will have the opportunity of encountering the children`s book “Zvijeri plisane”  (meaning Stuffed Monsters) which has raised wind because of its homosexual characters. The book does not include a mother and a father, but Doris and her girlfriend.
The authors says that the reason for writing this book has nothing to do with his sexual orientation.
- No, I`m not homosexual, I have never had such an experience, this is not my reason to write this book. I`ve written about aliens, therefore what is that supposed to mean – author Zoran Krusvar said.
- If there are 5-10 percent people with homosexual preferences in the world, the important this is to have the same percentage of representation in literature. Furthermore, children need to be informed at a certain point – Zoran Krusvar added.
In his story “Zvijeri plisane”, the stuffed animals start their adventure forced to change their owner. None of the animals have sexual insignia, apart from the turtle which wants to be a squirrel and gives the innuendo of transgender persons. The initial owner of the toys, Doris, has a girlfriend and the story ends with a happy end.
- We are not all the same and it is very important to develop tolerance towards others. The theme of homosexuality in this book is in the background, it is not intrusive – it only promotes tolerance. There are physiological differences in the brains of homosexual and heterosexual persons, they are just different.
Will the children understand?
Although he is pleased with the story he has written in a month, Krusvar claims that it many not have been perfectly written for children, seeing how this was his first attempt in this  genre.
Children`sunderstanding of this book depends on their age, the older ones might understand everything, while Krusvar did not wish to guess about the understanding of the younger audience.
- There is no text in Croatia which would introduce children to information on homosexual persons, this is necessary information. When something is new, it can be controversial, but when other examples follow, it is no longer a problem. During the middle of last century, Americans had problems with integrating African-Americans into society, and now, they have an African-American president – Krusvar concludes.
We do not need what is not in nature and God’s laws
Totally expectedly, the conservative HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) member Andrija Hebrang, who has already publicly said that a child cannot be brought up well by a mother alone, was also not impressed with the “mum + mum” variant, or “dad + dad”, and considers the distribution of the book amongst the school population to be inappropriate:
“That is unallowable from pedagogic and moral reasons, because it imposes a public opinion of unnatural relationship in the community. It is also illegal” says Hebrang.
His party colleague Nedjeljka Klaric was even harsher, and said that it violates God’s laws:
“That is totally inappropriate. A children needs a positive identification of the mother and father. I do not know in which way the child could do this in a same-sex union. When you ask me about same-sex marriages and their rights to be parents, I am against what is absent in nature and in God’s laws. That is against God and that book should be banned”.
Mrsic: I vote for same-sex marriages
Mirando Mrsic from SDP (Social Democratic Party) considers that politics should not decide on this, but the experts, according to the good of the children:
“Absolutely in all of that the good of the children must be looked at. First the experts must speak their opinion if the book should be distributed amongst children. We already know that children brought up in a same-sex parenting environment do not have tendencies for same-sex sexual relationships. I think those people should be allowed to live how they want, and the legalization of same-sex marriages needs a national consensus. Personally I would vote for”.
Ratko Gajica from SDSS (Independent Democratic Serbian Party) agrees that the book is a “cute spark”.
“As far as parenting in a same-sex union, I am against all prohibitions, let the people have their will and arrange their lives as they like. This can violate some usual stereotypes, but if the law and morals are not violated, let them do what they want.

The SDP member has already publicly advocated for gay right on many occasions. Sime Lucin considers that a book that advocates “gay is okay” is totally necessary:

“Certainly from youth the children need to be educated that gay unions are not anything unnatural. Only that way can we reduce homophobia, and we are an “envious” homophobic society. Unfortunately, since the last nine years when there has been more talk about the rights of the gay population in Croatia, it has pushed homophobia into the public domain. I do not think the Church is the problem here, it has its doctrines and I do not have anything against them promoting them. However, the state institutions are the problem, which should be secular, which do not look at the greater benefit of the society. Now we all are disgusted by the underage pregnancies in Great Britain, as if they do not occur in Croatia”.

Ajova legalizovala gej brakove

05/04/2009

Vrhovni sud američke države Ajova legalizovao je gej brakove u toj državi.
Kao rezultat tajnog glasanja, sudije su izjavile: „Zakon koji limitira građanski brak na uniju između muškarca i žene nije u skladu sa Ustavom države Ajova, koji garantuje ravnopravnost.“
Parnica Varnum protiv Briena, u kojoj šest istopolnih parova tuži matičara Timothija Briena jer je 2005. godine odbio da venča istopolne parove. Oni su pred sudom izazvali državni zakon koji kaže da brak mogu da sklope samo muškarac i žena.
Lambda Legal je krajem 2005. godine podnela tužbu i ime tih parova, tvrdeći da uskraćivanje braka istopolnim parovima krši Ustav države Ajova. U avgustu 2007. godine sud je doneo odluku da je uskraćivanje prava na brak istopolnim parovima protivustavno.
Nakon dve godine tu odluku je potvrdio Vrhovni sud i Ajova je postala treća američka država koja je legalizovala gej brakove.

Švedska legalizovala gej brakove

Nakon šest sati debate, velikom većinom glasova švedski parlament je legalizovao istopolne brakove.
Šest od sedam parlamentarnih partija je podržalo predlog zakona koji rodno neutralno definiše brak, odnosno definiše ga kao zajednicu dve osobe.
Samo je Demohrišćanska stranka bila protiv zakona. Yvonne Andersson iz ove partije je saopštila da oni žele da održe „nekoliko hiljada godina stari koncept braka“.
Evon Frid iz Levičarske partije, koja podržava ovaj zakon, izjavila je da ovo nije negativna promena, već pozitivna.
Zakon je izglasan sa 261 glasom za, 22 protiv i 16 uzdržanih.
Zakon će stupiti na snagu 1. maja i zameniće zakon iz 1995. godine koji je dozvoljavao istopolnim parovima da registruju partnerstvo. Parovi koji su registrovali partnerstvo mogu da zadrže taj status ili da zatraže promenu u brak.
Soren Juras, predsednik švedske LGBT federacije RFSL, izjavio je da je ovo velika pobeda.
Ova promena za sada neće uticati na crkvene bračne ceremonije.

Srbija: Usvojen Zakon o zabrani diskriminacije

http://www.mondo.rs/v2/tekst.php?vest=129098

26.3.2009.

Skupština Srbije završila je danas rad, a prethodno su poslanici
opozicije napustili skupštinsku salu nezadovoljni što u vreme
predviđeno za postavljanje poslaničkih pitanja nisu došli premijer
Mirko Cvetković i većina ministara. Skupština je danas usvojila Zakon
o zabrani diskriminacije koji treba da uspostavi sveobuhvatan i
integralan sistem zaštite od diskriminacije.

Za zakon, koji je izazvao burne reakcije u javnosti i koji je bio
povlačen iz skupštinske procedure na zahtev verskih zajednica, glasalo
je 127 poslanika iz vladajuće koalicije i Liberalno demokratske
partije.

Protiv zakona glasalo je 59 poslanika, uglavnom opozicionih stranaka,
ali i poslanici iz Jedinstvene Srbije koji su deo vladajuće koalicije,
kao i jedan poslanik Partije ujedinjenih penzionera. Poslanici Srpske
napredne stranke nisu učestvovali u glasanju.

Zakon zabranjuje diskriminaciju po bilo kom osnovu, a naročito po
osnovu rase, pola, nacionalne pripadnosti, društvenog porekla,
rođenja, veroispovest i s obzirom na zdravstveno stanje.

Diskriminacija je, prema zakonu, zabranjena i po osnovu političkog ili
drugog uverenja, imovnog stanja, kulture, jezika, starosti i psihičkog
ili fizičkog invaliditeta.

Njime je utvrđena opšta zabranu diskriminacije na načelu jednakosti i
propisuje oblike i slučajeve diskriminacije, kao i postupke zaštite od
diskriminacije.

Zakon ustanovljava poverenika za zaštitu ravnopravnosti kao
samostalnog državnog organa, nezavisanog u obavljanju poslova
utvrđenih zakonom.

Nadležnost poverenika je da ukazuje na nedozvoljene oblike ponašanja i
da izriče preventivne mere opomene.

Poverenika bira Skupština na period od pet godina, na predlog
skupštinskog odbora nadležnog za ustavna pitanja. Svaka poslanička
grupa ima pravo da predloži Odboru kandidata za poverenika.

Za poverenika može biti izabran državljanin Srbije koji je diplomirani
pravnik, ima najmanje deset godina iskustva na pravnim poslovima u
oblasti zaštite ljudskih prava.

Zakon predviđa i sudsku zaštitu od diskriminacije, a propisano je da
su kazne prekršajne, u skladu sa Zakonom o prekršajima. Zakon utvrđuje
da svako ima pravo da ga nadležni sudovi i drugi organi javne vlasti
Srbije efikasno štite od svih oblika diskriminacije.

Svi su jednaki i uživaju jednak položaj i jednaku pravnu zaštitu, bez
obzira na lična svojstva, a svako je dužan da poštuje načelo
jednakosti, odnosno zabranu diskriminacije.

Oblici diskriminacije su neposredna i posredna diskriminacija, kao i
povreda načela jednakih prava i obaveza, pozivanje na odgovornost,
udruživanje radi vršenja diskriminacije, govor mržnje i uznemiravanje
i ponižavajuće postupanje.

Novčane kazne za kršenje ovog zakona iznose od 10.000 dinara do
100.000 dinara.

Taj zakonski predlog povučen je iz skupštinske procedure 4. marta, dan
pre nego što je trebalo da se nađe na prvoj sednici redovnog prolećnog
zasedanja republičkog parlamenta. U skupštinsku proceduru vraćen je
nakon što su razmotrene primedbe verskih zajednica.

Ključne primedbe verskih zajednica bili članovi 18. i 21, koji se
odnose na zabranu diskriminacije u pogledu verskih prava i seksualne
orijentacije.

Kako je rečeno u Vladi nakon razmatranja primedbi odbačene su primedbe
verskih zajednica koje bi promenile karakter zakona, a prihvaćene su
pojedine sugestije i neki termini su precizirani.

U članu 18. je precizirano da se neće smatrati diskriminacijom
postupanje sveštenika i verskih službenika koje je u skladu sa
doktrinom, uverenjima ili ciljevima crkava i verskih zajednica
registrovanih u skladu sa zakonom.

Iz člana 21. izbrisan je stav tri koji se odnosi na transseksualce,
jer je njegova suština sadržana u drugim odredbama istog predloga u
kojima je predviđena zabrana diksriminacije prema rodnom identitetu i
seksualnoj orijentaciji. [prim. moderatora: ovo nije tačno. iz člana
21. izbačeno je u potpunosti svojstvo rodnog identiteta, pored stava
3., te tako ne postoji posebna zakonska zaštita za transrodne,
interseksualne, a ni za pre-operativno transseksualne osobe. ni jedan
od prihvaćenih amandmana se nije bavio vraćanjem ovog svojstva nazad u
zakon. utoliko, zakon štiti privatnost i pravo na izjašnjavanje samo
svojstva seksualne orijentacije, a zaštita post-operativno
transseksualnih osoba je zamišljena članom 20. koji štiti od
diskriminacije po polnoj osnovi ili zbog promene pola. na ovaj način,
doneti zakon je minimalni stepen zaštite lgbt populacije, i u mnogim
situacijama neće biti moguće ga sprovesti. takođe, zakon i dalje
dvostruko definiše seksualnu orijentaciju: kao orijentaciju i kao
opredeljenje - u članu: 13, kao i obrazloženju koje je pisao
zakonodavac, što dovodi u pitanje poznavanje materije od strane
zakonodavca - figures, right?]

U članu 21, koji je izazvao najviše polemike, navodi se da je
seksualna orijentacija privatna stvar i da niko ne može biti pozvan da
se javno izjasni o svojoj seksualnoj orijentaciji. Svako ima pravo da
se izjasni o svojoj seksualnoj orijentaciji, a diskriminatorsko
postupanje zbog takvog izjašnjavanja je zabranjeno, piše u tom članu.

Zakon je jedan od uslova za stavljanje Srbije na belu šengen listu, a
nadzor nad sprovođenjem zakona vrši ministarstvo nadležno za ljudska i
manjinska prava.

Zakon će na snagu stupiti osmog dana od objavljivanja u Službenom
glasniku osim članova koji se odnose na poverenika, koji će se
primenjivati od 1. januara 2010. godine.

Na Zakon o zabrani diskriminacije podneto je ukupno 446 amandmana, od
kojih je Vlada Srbije usvojila šest amandmana.

Najviše amandmana, oko 400, podneli su poslanici Srpske radikalne
stranke (SRS).

Poslanici Skupštine završili u sredu pre ponoći dvodnevnu raspravu u
pojedinostima o zakonu tokom koje su poslanici u predviđenom vremenu
koje dozvoljava poslovnik razmotrili amandmane, a od kojih je vlada
prihvatila šest.

Ministar za ljudska i manjinska prava Svetozar Čiplić je, zaključujući
višednevnu raspravu, rekao je da je ovo jedan od reformskih zakona
koji će biti donet sa razlogom.

On je ponovio da je član 18 predložen uz saglasnost crkava i verskih
zajendica, a osporavani član 21 ne daje novo već štiti postojeće pravo
iz Ustava.

"Svi znamo da je Srbija jaka koliko je ljudska i čovečna, a ovaj zakon
tome doprinosi," rekao je ministar.

Poslanici vladajućih stranaka, osim Jedinstvene Srbije, i poslanici
opozicione Liberalno demokratske partije najavili su da će podržati
zakon jer je on jedan od najznačajnijih propisa koje parlament usvaja
i kojim se garantuje zaštita i jednakost svih osetljivih grupa.

Tokom rasprave poslanik PUPS Konstantin Arsenović najavio je da neće
glasati za zakon.

Ostale opozicione stranke najavile su da neće podržati zakon, navodeći
da je loš i neprimenljiv, a njihove kritike bile su naročito usmerene
na rešenja koja se odnose na seksualnu orjentaciju, tvrdeći da se time
favorizuju određene grupe u društvu na štetu većine.

Suština amandmana SRS, DSS, NS i SNS odnosila se na brisanje ili
izmenu odredbi o pravu da se slobodno izražava seksualna orjentacija
što je definisano članom 21.

Ta rešenja najviše su kritikovali radikali navodeći da je
homoseksulanost devijacija koja se ne može stavljati u istu ravan sa
drugim oblicima diskriminacije u društvu.

Ovaj propis predstavlja i poslednji pravni uslov za stavljanje Srbije
na belu šengen listu.

Hungarian Government Approves New Registered Partnership Bill

Budapest, February 11, 2009 – The Hungarian Government has approved today a new bill on registered partnership. The bill replaces a previous law on registered partnership that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December 2008 just weeks before its supposed entry into force. As opposed to the previous version, the new bill introduces the institution of registered partnership only for same sex couples, however, it also introduces a different scheme of domestic partnership registration for both same sex and different sex couples. Support for the bill in the Parliament is still an open question.

Two months ago, on December 15, 2008 the Hungarian Constitutional Court ruled that the law on registered partnership adopted by the Hungarian Parliament a year earlier was unconstitutional. The Court found that the solution chosen by the legislator – i.e. creating an institution similar to marriage for both same sex and different sex couples – duplicates the institution of marriage for different sex couples, and thus contradicts the special protection of marriage enshrined in the Constitution. On the other hand the Court also held that same sex couples have the right to an institution similar to marriage. Within a day Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány instructed the Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement to prepare a new bill on registered partnership taking into account the opinion of the Court. After consultations with various LGBT organizations, the Ministry prepared a new bill that has been approved by the Government today.

The new bill retains much of the content of the previous bill with one exception: the institution of registered partnership would only be available to same sex couples. Establishment and dissolution of registered partnerships would be the same as for marriage, and registered partners would be entitled to most of the rights available for married couples. Notable exceptions are the right to take the partners' name and the right to adopt children. Besides introducing registered partnerships for same sex couples, the bill would also introduce a new scheme for registering domestic partnerships. Unlike registered partnership, this new opportunity would not grant any new rights or duties to couples cohabiting without marriage, but would only make it easier for them to prove the existence of such a relationship. This second registration scheme would be available to both same sex and different sex couples.

Although the Government fully supports the new bill, its adoption by the Parliament is still an open question. Hungary currently has a minority government after the liberals left the government coalition early last year. Conservative opposition parties heavily criticized the previous bill on the account that it introduced same sex marriage under a different name. It is yet to be seen whether their position has changed as a result of the Constitutional Court declaring such an institution a constitutional right. Based on "parliamentary mathematics" the bill has a high chance of being passed: governing parties hardly ever vote against proposals by their own government and the liberals fully support the new bill. It is, however, very hard to predict how delicate negotiations involved in running a minority government will affect voting on the bill.

First gay premier takes helm in Iceland

February 2, 2009

Iceland's political parties have reached an agreement that will
give the country its first female prime minister and the world its first
openly gay leader.
Johnanna Sigurdardottir is a former flight attendant and union leader.

Johnanna Sigurdardottir is a former flight attendant and union leader.

Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, will lead the government when it is sworn in at
6 p.m. (1 p.m. Eastern) on Sunday, her political advisor Hrannar Arnarsson
told CNN via e-mail.

A former flight attendant who entered politics via the union movement,
Sigurdardottir was minister of social affairs and social security in the
outgoing Cabinet, which resigned Monday.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/02/01/iceland.pm/

06/01/2009

Serbian celebrities for gay rights

"Queeria center" from Belgrade presented the calendar for the year 2009, called „Dreams".
Message of this year's calendar is the cooperation among people and realization of their own dreams through overcoming boundaries and borders.
Photos for this year's calendar were taken in Belgrade (Serbia), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Zagreb (Croatia). Models on the calendar are public figures, but also queer activists and friends of Queeria.
Among the models are: Lena Bogdanovic (actress), DJ Marko Nastic, Maja Uzelac (director and TV personality), Milica Tomic (artist), Aleksandar Macasev (designer), Ida Prester (Croatian singer and TV personality), Gordan Bosanac (queer activist from Croatia), activists from Bosnian LGBT group "Q", and many others.
This calendar is an autonomous project of Queeria center which has the goal to create wide public support for the queer community in Serbia. The concept of this calendar is to bring celebrities and human and gay rights activists together in promoting queer culture.
So far Queeria center has published three calendars: "Friends" (2007), "Freedom" (2008) and "Dreams" (2009). Some of the biggest Serbian stars have been the models for this calendar, for example: actress Mirjana Karanovic, actor Svetozar Cvetkovic, MTV award winner and singer Aleksandra Kovac, writer Marko Vidojkovic, playwright Biljana Srbljanovic, writer Srdjan Valjarevic, female painter Biljana Cincarevic, drag queens Viva La Diva and Diva Grazia, human right layer Biljana Kovacevic Vuco...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01UUGv_qT3w

Srbija osudila nasilje po osnovu seksualne orijentacije i rodnog identiteta

Saopštenjem Generalne skupštine UN

66 država potvrdilo prava za sve

Njujork, 18. decembar

U Generalnoj skupštini UN, 66 država[1], a među njima i Srbija, podržalo je saopštenje kojim se potvrđuje da međunarodna zaštita ljudskih prava uključuje seksualnu orijentaciju i rodni identitet. To je prvi put da je izjava, kojom se osuđuju povrede ljudskih prava lezbejki, gej muškaraca, biseksualnih i transrodnih osoba, predstavljena Generalnoj skupštini.

Saopštenjem se osuđuju ubistva, tortura i hapšenja LGBT osoba ali i lišavanje ekonomskih, društvenih i kulturnih prava, uključujući i pravo na zdravstvenu zaštitu. Zemlje potpisnice podstiču sve nacije da „promovišu i štite ljudska prava svih osoba, bez obzira na njihovu seksualnu orijentaciju i rodni identitet,“ i da ukinu sve krivične kazne zbog seksualne orijentacije ili rodnog identiteta.

Iako ovo saopštenje nije pravno obavezujuće – ono šalje snažnu poruku nedeljivosti ljudskih prava i prepoznavanja LGBT osoba kao ravnopravnih i jednakih. Labris – organizacija za lezbejska ljudska prava, izražava zadovoljstvo što se Srbija, juče, našla među onim državama koje su branile pravo na seksualnu orijentaciju i osudile nasilje i diskriminaciju po ovom osnovu.

Saopštenje je dobilo podršku sa pet kontinenata, uključujući i šest afričkih nacija a Argentina je pročitala saopštenje pred Generalnom skupštinom. Među potpisnicama se, između ostalih, nisu našle Amerika, Rusija i Kina. Ipak, države koje su podržale ovo saopštenje, prevazišle su snažan otpor grupe zemalja koje redovno pokušavaju da blokiraju pažnju UN-a po pitanju kršenja prava na osnovu seksualne orijentacije i rodnog identiteta. I Vatikan je bio među onima koji su se snažno protivili ovom saopštenju. Ovakav stav Katoličke crkve je izazvao oštre kritike organizacija za ljudska prava širom sveta pa je Vatikan ipak pozvao na ukidanje krivičnih kazni za istopolno orijentisane osobe.

Potpisnice Saopštenja Generalne skupštine su:

Albanija, Andora, Argentina, Jermenija, Australija, Austrija, Belgija, Bolivija, Bosna i Hercegovina, Brazil, Bugarska, Kanada, Kape Verde, Centralnoafrička Republika, Čile, Kolumbija, Hrvatska, Kuba, Kipar, Češka Republika, Danska, Ekvador, Estonija, Finska, Francuska, Gabon, Gruzija, Nemačka, Grčka, Gvineja Bisao, Mađarska, Island, Irska, Izrael, Italija, Japan, Letonija, Lihtenštajn, Litvanija, Luksemburg, Malta, Mauricijus, Meksiko, Crna Gora, Nepal, Holandija, Novi Zeland, Nikaragva, Norveška, Paragvaj, Poljska, Portugalija, Rumunija, San Marino, Sao Tome i Principe, Srbija, Slovačka, Slovenija, Španija, Švedska, Švajcarska, FNRJ Makedonija, Timor-Leste, V.Britanija, Urugvaj i Venecuela.