Singapore ‘Too Normal’ – MediaCorp TV has been fined £5000 by Regulatory authorities for ‘promoting a gay lifestyle’ in an episode of a popular renovation series that featured a gay couple and their adoptive son.
Gay Blood OK – The Red Cross in Thailand has reworked its donor screening process to focus on high risk behaviours rather than sexual orientation following an outcry from gay and human rights advocacy groups. It had originally considered adopting a policy that blanket banned men who have sex with men from donating.
Asian Epidemic Looming – The UN Commission on AIDS has warned that the number of HIV cases in Asia could increase by more than 150% (or 8 million cases) by 2020 unless more is done. The Commission has urged heads of Government to become directly involved and called for laws that incite HIV-related discrimination to be abolished and for condom use to be promoted.
NZ Offers Assistance – The New Zealand AIDS Foundation has launched a fund to provide financial assistance to low-income, HIV-positive persons facing health and travel related costs that are not otherwise covered. Special needs grants of up to NZ$3000 are available.
Bahrain Bad Hair Day? – The Government of Bahrain has dedicated itself to ‘ridding the country of homosexuals’ as part of its ongoing focus on moral issues. The government plans to ‘root out’ homosexuals from massage parlours and hairdressing salons, whilst instructing teachers to punish homosexual tendencies in students.
Kyrgyzstan Raids – Human Rights Watch has called for police in Bishkek to immediately cease carrying out warrantless raids on GLBT safe spaces. Police have twice launched raids, intimidating staff and patrons, searching files and threatening arrest.
Israeli Fight for Rights – Whilst Israel currently allows both same-sex parents to be legally recognized, a lesbian couple has launched a landmark case to both be recognized as the biological parents of their baby boy. He was conceived using the donor egg of one mother which was then implanted into the uterus of the other mother.
High Level Recognition – The highest court in the EU, the European Court of Justice has ruled that same-sex partners have the right to access ‘survivor pensions,’ following a case brought by a German man. The ruling only applies to same-sex couples who live in countries where same-sex relationships are formally recognized.
African AIDS response, the good – In partnership with local and international community organizations, Ethiopia has embarked upon a campaign to address HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
African AIDS response, the bad – The Nigerian state of Anambra has recently banned the promotion and distribution of ‘unnatural’ contraceptives, including condoms, opting instead for programs that teach total abstinence. The Commissioner for Health has claimed that condoms simply encourage immorality.
Hate Church in Trouble – The Westboro Baptist Church, led by Rev. Fred Phelps and best known for its ‘God Hates Fags’ campaigns, could lose its church and offices. The Church has been hit by a $5 million fine for picketing the funerals of two American servicemen, and may be ordered to surrender the buildings if it is not otherwise able to pay.
Government-Issue Condoms – The Brazilian Government has opened a condom factory to decrease reliance on imported condoms, help with the fight against HIV/AIDS, provide local employment and conserve the rainforest. The condoms will be manufactured from rubber taken from the Amazon forest and distributed for free.
Colombia Sets Same-Sex Example – Colombia’s Constitutional Court has ruled to extend pension benefits to same-sex partners. In its ruling, the court acknowledged that to exclude same-sex partners would violate the international rights principles of non-discrimination, human dignity and the expression of personal autonomy.
