THE WEEK IN LGBTI NEWS (5 – 11 NOVEMBER 2021)

Spain opens free IVF to single women, lesbian and bisexual women, trans people with gestational capacity

Lesbian and bisexual women, single women, and trans people with gestational capacity in Spain will now have access to free in vitro fertilization (IVF) services through the country’s national health system, the government has announced.

Rainbow communities celebrated the news after the country’s Health Minister signed an executive order, reversing a 2014 policy that restricted access to the service to cis straight women in a relationship and to individuals with infertility. Activists have ever since fought to see assisted reproduction benefits return, and had considered this as “a ’red line’ in the negotiations for the LGBTI and Trans Law currently being discussed”.

“We have always understood that achieving rights such as assisted reproduction would benefit lesbian, bisexual women and trans people with gestational capacity, without harming anyone,” said FELGTBI+ president Uge Sangil during the signing ceremony. “It is an example of how recognising LGTBI rights means recognising human rights for society as a whole”.

Other groups echoed their appreciation. “Finally, assisted reproduction is included for single women, lesbians, bisexual women, and trans people with gestational capacity,” Arcópoli wrote in a tweet. “This is the way to continue expanding rights and not leaving anyone out.”

Rights groups call on South Korea to approve anti-discrimination law, as bills stall

Civil society groups are calling on South Korea to adopt an anti-discrimination law, as four separate bills on the matter are stalling.

Filed since June 2020 at the National Assembly of South Korea, the draft laws are pending for discussion at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Earlier this year, an online parliamentary petition garnered over 100,000 signatures, echoing rights groups’ request to move the discussions forward.

However, any immediate progress on a law seems now to be unlikely, as the Committee announced it would extend the review period until the end of the current parliamentary term in May 2024.

In a joint statement released this week, ILGA Asia and ILGA World have joined other organisations in calling on the government to take the necessary steps to fight any kind of discrimination.

“This is the 11^th time draft legislation on anti-discrimination has been submitted to the National Assembly since 2007,” groups said. “Any further delay or failed attempt to pass a strong anti-discrimination law consistent with international human rights standards will only perpetuate the institutionalised suffering, stigmatisation and even violence against victims of discrimination in the country.”

NEW: The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a reversal of the Trump administration rule that gave federal contractors expanded religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws.https://t.co/71SigTOWV9

— Lambda Legal (@LambdaLegal) November 9, 2021

United States to revoke expansion of religious exemptions

The United States plans to rescind a rule that expanded religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws, the U.S. Department of Labour announced.

Approved by the previous administration, the rule broadened the exemptions for federal contractors from a narrowly defined set of religious groups to employers who “hold themselves out to the public as carrying out a religious purpose”.

LGBTI groups had then criticised the change, warning it could open the door to discrimination. According to Jenny Yang, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the rule is “unnecessary and problematic”.

“The proposed rescission would also promote economy and efficiency in federal procurement by preventing the exclusion of qualified and talented employees on the basis of protected characteristics,” Yang said in an interview. “This ensures that taxpayer funds are not used to discriminate.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a judicial inquiry into historic gay & trans hate crimes in the state.https://t.co/KKVTfBQ6y9

— OUTinPerth (@OUTinPerth) November 4, 2021

Australia: New South Wales launches an inquiry into historic hate crimes

The New South Wales government will launch a judicial inquiry into hate crimes that occurred between 1970 and 2010.

In May this year, the Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues had recommended the investigation, marking the end of a three-year research. Between 1970 and 2010, around 88 gay men and trans women died in Sydney in suspected hate crimes, 23 of which remain unsolved.

“For decades, sexuality and gender diverse people in New South Wales were subjected to horrific hate crimes,” said Nicholas Parkhill, CEO of ACON. “This epidemic of violence, along with the slow and inadequate responses to many of these crimes, has left a painful legacy for the loved ones of victims, survivors, their families, and the broader community.”

“Those responsible for these crimes are now middle aged and many remain unpunished,” commented Shayne Mallard, chair of the Legislative Council Inquiry. “This inquiry is the right way to address the concerns of the community and hopefully bring some of the offenders to justice.”

Namibia: authorities appeal against landmark ruling on rainbow families

Namibian authorities will appeal against a recent landmark ruling that recognised the son of a same-sex couple his right to citizenship by descent.

The child was born in South Africa via surrogacy to a Namibian man, Phillip Lühl, and his Mexican husband, Guillermo Delgado. Authorities in Namibia had rejected Lühl’s request to grant his son citizenship, even though he was named as a parent on the birth certificate of the child.

Earlier this month, a High Court ruled that the decision violated the country’s Constitution, as it guarantees equality for all citizens. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, however, announced it would not accept the ruling, reasserting their “belief that the High Court erred in law and in fact.”

“The Ministry of Home Affairs has admitted that their approach to an application for citizenship by descent for the two-year-old son of a Namibian citizen was influenced by the parent’s same-sex marriage status,” tweeted the Namibia Equal Rights Movement. “Ministry is abusing the public office and tax-payer funds to target LGBTQ+ persons, their family and children. That’s not a Born-Free Republic.”

In a separate case this year, the couple had to go to Court to take their two youngest twin daughters home to Namibia, after the ministry had refused to issue travel documents for them following their birth in South Africa.

Argentina: thousands in Buenos Aires celebrate the city’s 30th Pride March

Thousands of people took to the streets of Buenos Aires for its 30^th annual Pride March, deemed by organisers as the biggest in the capital’s history.

The rainbow community celebrated its history of struggles and achievements, while still calling for the government to address unsolved issues. Many in the march called for redress and reparation for historic case of discrimination against trans people, as well for as a comprehensive trans law.

“We ask for the law as historical reparation. We have elderly women who have been persecuted. They have not been able to study or access health care,” Mary Robles, an activist of ATTTA (Asociación de Travestis, Transexuales y Transgéneros de Argentina), told AFP.

Many participants were also chanting and holding signs calling on authorities to cast a light on the case of Tehuel de la Torre, a 22-year-old trans man who went missing in March after he had left home for a job interview.