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Marriage equality comes to Slovenia, continues to spread in Mexico; Civil Union legislation approved in Sicily, debated in Peru; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…that in doing so it breached European law. The British government asked a number of countries and all 50 U.S. states to clarify whether the jurisdictions recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who wed in the United Kingdom. Equalities Minister Jo Swinson told the Guardian, “One of the things we committed to do in the coalition agreement is recognising that for gay people who are in a civil partnership or now have got married, and who are tra…

U.S. Religious Right Groups Support Move Toward ‘Illiberalism’ of Hungary and Poland; and More in Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…h in condemning the death penalty in all circumstances,” Nauert said. “The United States unequivocally condemns the application of the death penalty for conduct such as homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery, and apostasy. We do not consider such conduct appropriate for criminalization.” OutRight Action International’s Jessica Stern supported this explanation: “There’s been some misreporting and misconceptions,” Stern told NBC News. “The U.S. always o…

Christian Zionists, Bibi, Obama, and Armageddon

By Sarah Posner

…hn Hagee, founder of the leading Christian Zionist organization Christians United for Israel, wrote in his 2006 book, Jerusalem Countdown, which argued that U.S. military intervention to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions was required lest America risk God’s wrath: Those nations who align with God’s purpose will receive His blessing. Those who follow a policy of opposition to God’s purpose will receive the swift and severe judgment of God without limit…

Burma’s Spirit Festival, and More in This Week’s Global LGBT Roundup

By Peter Montgomery

…mber – though other surveys put the opposition percentage lower. India and United Kingdom: 50 years after decriminalization in UK, India hangs onto colonial era law At The Times of India, Vikram Doctor notes that the United Kingdom’s parliament voted to decriminalize homosexuality in 1967, asking why India “still hangs on to this colonial legacy” fifty years later. His piece includes history about the anti-sodomy law in the U.K. and the “morass of…

Vatican Enlists Allies Against Gay Marriage; Iranian Gays Pushed to Change Gender; And More in This Week’s Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…nternational collaboration. From IGLHRC: Aken’ova said recent gains at the United Nations, specifically the adoption by the U.N. Human Rights Council of a resolution specific to sexual orientation and gender identity, shows the “very strong and very real” partnerships between local activists and international organizations that lead to progress. These formidable gains, however, are not without drawbacks as Aken’ova noted, “the backlash is immense….

Authoritarian Populism Vs Human Rights, The Campaign Against ‘Gender Ideology’ and More in Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…In an interview with the Washington Blade, outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said the struggle for LGBT human rights “has to be waged internationally and a very efficient way to touch a lot of countries in a concerted way and in an aggressive way is the United Nations.” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a formal apology for discrimination against LGBT employees during the “Lavender Scare,” which included decades…

Greek Orthodox Bishop Says Spit on Inhuman Gay Scum: This Week’s LGBT Global Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…igious freedom and expanding the freedom to marry.” …“Given the increasing number of children being brought up by same sex couples, it is desirable that the state take away any social stigma against same sex parents. “Given the ageing population, the state has an interest in recognising and protecting long term relationships of same sex couples who care for each other. “Given the harmful effects of homophobia, the state has an interest in encourag…

Perry To Accuse Obama of Appeasement

By Sarah Posner

…” playbook, and in particular, that of Perry’s fellow Texan and Christians United for Israel founder John Hagee. At Perry’s prayer rally, The Response, in Houston last month, Hagee spoke and brought a sizable contingent of congregants from his San Antonio church. Perry has prayed at Hagee’s church, and agreed with him that non-Christians are doomed to hell. The appeasement accusation is as old as Neville Chamberlain, and deployed with frequency by…

Mexican Marriage Marches Show Struggle Between Church and Secular State; Pro-LGBT Mormon Group Grows After ‘Apostate’ Declaration; Botswana Gives Anti-Gay US Pastor the Boot; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…received a report that Anderson assaulted someone who attended his church service on Monday. The advocacy group wrote on its blogthat Anderson called the person “a fag, a homosexual and with a mouth full of AIDS” before he was forcibly removed. Malawi: Coalition of Christians groups plans march A pro-equality group, the Centre for the Development of People, “has condemned planes by the Ethics, Peace and Justice Commission, a social governance arm…

The Kids Are All Wrong: Texas Tosses The Enlightenment

By Burke Gerstenschlager

…rative. It’s a revisionist narrative about the founding and purpose of the United States as a whole, whether the majority of the citizens of Texas (or the United States) believe this narrative or not. On the day of the final vote, board member Cynthia Dunbar, opening the meeting in prayer, said as much when she prayed: “I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, n…