ASIA & OCEANIA
PNG Witchcraft Worries: A report by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition has found that in Papua New Guinea, people are accessing witchcraft in the absence of medical treatment for HIV/AIDS. If PNG’s HIV/AIDS epidemic remains unchecked, it is predicted over 500 000 people will be infected by 2025.
Reforming Nepal: Nepal’s Supreme Court has ordered the Government to overturn its discriminatory laws and pass new ones that protect the rights of gays and lesbians. Previously GLBT Nepalese have suffered harassment, beatings, and sexual abuse at the hands of authorities, and it is unclear how the Government will react to the ruling.
EUROPE
Almost Equal in Hungary: The passing of the Registered Partnership Act will, from 2009, afford same-sex couples identical rights to their married counterparts, except in access to adoption and fertility treatments and the taking of each other’s name.
Lutheran-endorsed in Sweden: As the Swedish government prepares a ‘gender neutral’ marriage law, its largest church – the Lutheran based Church of Sweden – has agreed to perform weddings for same-sex couples, though the church will not use the word marriage in the union.
A Spanish-British Union: Following negotiations between the UK and Spanish consulates, the Spanish Government has agreed to recognize the civil partnerships of all UK lesbian and gay couples.
More Pounds, Less HIV/AIDS: UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to increase the amount spent on the country’s AIDS support grant by £17.6 million over the next three years. The money will be spent largely on prevention, with a focus on gay men and the UK’s African community.
Russia, in Protest: A number of gay rights campaigners were arrested during Russia’s recent, elections for writing ‘No to homophobes, no to Luzhkov’ on their ballot papers – an action deemed to be an illegal protest.
Pope Backlash: In a speech on New Year’s Day, the Pope declared that ‘everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman’ was an obstacle to peace. His comments have widely been interpreted as a condemnation of homosexuality.
AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST
Recognizing Tel Aviv: The city of Tel Aviv will allow same sex couples can exchange vows in front of an attorney, sign a register and then carry a card that proclaims their union. The decision comes after a ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court that the Government must register, if not recognize, the marriages of same-sex couples married abroad and same-sex adoptions that have taken place legally in other countries.
Morocco’s Unfair Arrests: Human Rights Watch has called on Morocco to set aside recent prison sentences handed to six men for engaging in ‘lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex’. The men have been in jail since November 2007.
THE AMERICAS
Legal in Uruguay: Uruguay has become the first country in South America to legalise same-sex civil unions, though gay marriage remains banned. The new legislation will give same-sex couples the same rights and protections as married couples. To qualify, couples need to have been together for at least five years and sign a registry.
Out with Jodie Foster: Jodie Foster publicly thanked ‘my beautiful Cydney’ during her acceptance speech at the recent Sherry Lansing Leadership Awards. Cydney Bernard is widely rumoured to be Foster’s life partner.
Brazil Calls Queer Conference: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a national GLBT conference in May of this year. The conference is designed to propose policies that will promote GLBT human rights.
Canada Bans Gay Organs: Health Canada have banned organ donations from men who have had sex with men in the last five years of their life. The ruling has drawn criticism for its emphasis on sexuality rather than unsafe sexual practices.
