Italy Rejects Anti-Homophobia Bill
ROME, ITALY – By a vote of 293 to 250, Italy’s parliament has rejected a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people from discrimination. Italy already bans discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, ethnicity and nationality, but activists say rising numbers of homophobic attacks means LGBT people need more protection.
Gay rights activists have called on the European Union to step in.
Kiwi Lesbian Couple Forced From Home after Attacks
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – A lesbian couple from New Zealand have been forced to relocate after a string of anti-gay attacks left them terrified. Police are investigating an arson attack which destroyed Lindsay Curnow and Juliet Leigh’s flower business, Blooming Bulbs. The business was torched seven days after being defaced with homophobic graffiti. The pair had also had their homes and car vandalized days earlier.
Now the couple is fleeing to Auckland, where they hope to escape the constant persecution they have suffered for seven years.
Malawi’s LGBT Advocates Threatened with Arrest
LILONGWE, MALAWI – Two of Malawi’s leading LGBT rights advocates are in hiding after being threatened with arrest for treason. Malawi is a small republic located in the middle of Africa.
According to LGBT Asylum News, the two leaders, Undule Mwakasungula, Human Rights Consultative Committee chairperson, and executive director of Centre for Development of People, Gift Trapence, are the strongest advocates for LGBT human rights in Malawi and have long been targeted by the government. The government has blamed withdrawals of foreign aid on them personally.
India’s First Married Lesbian Couple Require Protection
GURGAON, INDIA – India’s first married lesbian couple has been given police protection and moved to a safe house fearing the two women would be targeted in an “honor” killing. Savita, a 25-year old student at Choudhary Charan Singh University and her 20-year old wife Veena were married by a court in Haryana, close to New Delhi, earlier this month.
Savita had been forced to marry a man against her will earlier this year and left her husband just five months after her forced marriage. The court granted her a divorce and gave its approval for her to marry Veena. In the court ceremony on July 22, Savita was designated “husband” and Veena “wife” in India’s first lesbian marriage.
The couple later returned to court after receiving threats from friends and relatives in their village. Their lawyer said the court had served notice on 14 of Veena’s relatives and villagers who had threatened them with “dire consequences”.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police said that the couple has been shifted to a safe house and have been provided enough security.
Durban Declared South Africa’s Gayest City
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Durban has declared itself the “gayest” city in the county, according to the Durban Lesbian and Gay Community Health Center. The Center contends that, compared with other big cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban was the most accommodating towards the LGBT community and that Durban has the smallest number of reported hate crimes.
Cuba to Consider Marriage Equality
HAVANA, CUBA – According to CNN, Cuban authorities are considering legislation legalizing same-sex civil unions.
The announcement was made by Mariela Castro, daughter of Raul Castro and the director of Cuba’s national sex education center, during an interview with Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser earlier this month. Castro, the island’s leading gay rights advocate, said Cuban authorities are already studying the proposal in preparation for the upcoming Community Party conference in January 2012.
Six other Latin American nations already recognize same-sex civil unions: Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina and certain states in Mexico (in certain states).