Kenya: President Kenyatta on gay rights in Kenya

President Kenyatta appeared on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS. When Zakaria pushed him on gay rights, Kenyatta repeated sentiments he told Obama during his state visit saying that Kenyan's are uninterested in gay rights and that "whatever society you come from right, the principal aim is that you must give the people you know their right to choose." 

Kenyatta went on to note, however, that he will not allow individuals to take the law into their own hands and that individuals should not persecute, beat, or torture gay people. Read the full transcript via CNN

David Cameron in Jamaica: Prime Minister must highlight violent homophobia and 'batty bwoy' hatred

To his great credit, David Cameron has previously promised that his government will champion LGBT rights worldwide: declaring that LGBT rights are universal human rights and that Britain will use its influence to defend the rights of sexual and gender minorities worldwide. Bravo!

As he visits Jamaica, the Prime Minister will have a chance to make good that commitment in a country where it really matters and where his words can make a positive impact. Jamaica is a country where a declaration of support for LGBT equality is desperately needed. Most local politicians and the government shy away from the issue. Around 80% of the population oppose LGBT people and LGBT rights. Mob violence against known or suspected LGBT people is not uncommon.

In these hateful circumstances, only a handful of Jamaicans are openly LGBT. There are no well known out public figures. The gay activist Brian Williamson was the first person to come out and be reported in the media as an openly gay man. He was brutally murdered in a frenzied knife attack in 2004. Read More via IBT 

Russia: LGBT youth left isolated, victimised by "gay propaganda" law

Russian activists say the anti-gay propaganda law has fuelled anti-gay abuse, discrimination and violence, spawned a "chilling effect", and victimised young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and deterred them from coming out and seeking support.

Punishable by jail in the Soviet Union, homosexuality was decriminalised in 1993 yet much of the LGBT community remains underground and prejudice runs deep. The law has only been enforced in a handful of cases, and Elena Klimova, the founder of one of Russia's only online communities for LGBT youths, Deti-404, where users share stories of attacks and humiliation, was the latest person to be convicted in July and was fined 50,000 roubles (£540).

Tanya Cooper, Russia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the gay propaganda law was part of a wider crackdown on civil society and anybody who challenged traditional Russian values. Read More via Reuters 

Russia: Transgender community struggles for acceptance

There is no Russian equivalent of Caitlyn Jenner, whose transition from former Olympic athlete Bruce has been documented in both the mainstream and tabloid American press all summer. Transgender Russians often keep a low profile, worried how they will be treated by friends, colleagues and family members. 

Although the LGBT community in Russia faces significant legal and social challenges, there are laws in place that allow Russians to change their gender on official documents and undergo gender reconstructive surgery. There are no official statistics on the number of transgender people in Russia, but experts put the number at around 15,000 across the country — about 0.1 percent of the population.  Read More via Moscow Times 

Ireland: Preferred gender now legally recognised

Transgender people are now able to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate and a new birth certificate, passport and other official documentation showing their preferred gender. They will be able to self-declare and will no longer need a certificate from a medical practitioner.

Ireland is the fourth country in the world to remove medical criteria from legal gender recognition. The Gender Recognition Act was brought about following a successful case taken by Dr Lydia Foy against the State. She argued that, despite undergoing surgery, she was unable to identify herself as a woman in official documentation. Read More via UTV Ireland 

Thailand: Sweeping new LGBT protections take effect

The country’s first law specifically protecting LGBT people came into effect this week. Thai parliament passed the 2015 Gender Equality Act in March. The law is is designed to protect members of the LGBT community and aims to punish discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Those found guilty of discrimination may face up to six months in jail and a 20,000 baht fine. The law defines “unfair discrimination among the sexes” as any action that “segregates, obstructs or limits the rights” of a person because they have “a sexual expression different from that person’s original sex.”

Somchai Charoenamnuaysuk –  Director-General of the Department of Family Affairs and Family Development – noted that the law bars government agencies, private organisations, or Thai individuals from formulating anti-gay policies, rules, regulations, measures, or operating procedures: “Co-operation from all sectors is key in moving forward with the enforcement of this Act, in order to create an equal and just society.” Read More via Pink News 

Italy: Mayor proposes tax on homosexuals

Joe Formaggio, the ultra-conservative Mayor in Albettone, a town in the province of Vicenza, recently made national headlines with his newest proposal: a tax on homosexuals.

His reasoning is simple: “Gay people don’t have sons, so they have to compensate for the future lower tax income.” He added that the new tax should help “normal families” like his. He has three children. Some historians were reminded of a similar law, the celibacy tax, which was in effect during the Fascist era between 1927 and 1943 to encourage more births.

As strange as it may seem, his proposals have actually received some local support. Read More via Lettera43

Burundi: New measures restricting the freedoms of organization

After the formation of his government, the President of the Republic His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza in his speech to the nation announced new reforms. In these reforms, the President particularly noted the establishment of a Commission for national and international NGOs.

"We will examine in depth how to put feet on a commission of national and international NGOs, approve and monitor how they are doing their job: it is shown that a disorder exists in these organizations. The Commission will monitor the achievements of these NGOs to their contribution to the development of the country is more visible and increases in accordance with new regulatory provisions that will be defined soon."

Although these measures will affect all NGOs working in Burundi in general, organizations working on LGBTI theme will be affected in particular. At present, no identity LGBTI organization has been registered despite multiple attempts. The reforms announced by the President of the Republic may destroy the efforts and advocacy work already undertaken since 2009 by LGBTI organizations in Burundi. Read More via Mouvement pour les Libertés Individuelles 

Uganda: Parliament to take up bill that could re-criminalize LGBT rights work

Ugandan lawmakers are due to take up legislation in an emergency session that could achieve one of the key goals of the sweeping anti-LGBT legislation struck down by the country’s Constitutional Court in 2014: the criminalization of groups supporting LGBT rights.

The proposal, known as the NGO bill, is about much broader issues than LGBT rights. It would expand the power of the government’s current NGO Board, allowing it to ban non-governmental organizations for essentially any reason, including when a group’s goals are “in contravention of the law” or if it is “in the public interest to refuse to register the organization.” Any organization that doesn’t register, which is how many LGBT groups currently operate in Uganda, would be considered illegal.

“There is absolutely no doubt that a significant part of the NGO bill seeks to reintroduce in part the things that were in the Anti-Homosexuality Act,” said Nicholas Opiyo, the lawyer who made the winning argument that got the law struck down last August. Cissy Kagaba, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda, said “We are approaching elections and government is concerned about our ability to mobilize and influence the masses against corruption and related other related evils that the government is engaged in.” If the bill passes, she warns, “[w]ithin in 6 months we shall cease to exist”  Read More via Buzzfeed

Europe: Parliament strongly condemns Azerbaijan’s suppression LGBTI people

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, in which it denounces the intimidation and repression of LGBTI people, as well as those defending their rights. The overall human rights situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated continuously over the last few years, with many independent journalists and civil society leaders now imprisoned without appropriate access to healthcare. Those not imprisoned, are often subjected to intimidation and harassment. Independent LGBTI activists had to flee the country for fear of persecution.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup on LGBTIRights, reacted: “Over the last year, at least 3 LGBTI persons were killed with trans-/homophobic motives, which is unfortunately no wonder in a context where inflammatory speech against LGBTI people comes from the highest levels, including politicians.”

Tanja Fajon MEP and Kati Piri MEP, Vice-President and Member of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, continued: “We call on the High Representative, the Commission and the Council to address this at the highest possible level, including through the human rights dialogue and a stop of the negotiations on the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan if things do not improve.”   Read More via European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights