Gay Tory Numbers Growing
UK Tory cabinet minister Crispin Blunt announced last month that he was gay and has separated from his wife of 20 years. The Justice minister and father-of-two said he was leaving his wife, Victoria, and that there was no third party involved. It is believed the 50-year-old MP for Reigate had told his wife and two children, aged 16 and 18, two weeks before he went to the media on August 28. The announcement was unanticipated by surprised Tory colleagues who received an email as it was being released to the press. Rumours that the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague was gay have been thoroughly dismissed by the minister.
European Trans Rights
European officials engaged with transgender leaders last month to highlight the many issues still unaddressed for this community in Europe. The European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights held the day-long forum on September 1 with experts, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and civil society members to discuss transgender rights. A common response from attending MEPs was a lack of understanding at how to tackle inadequacies legislatively.
Movement in Malaysia
Homosexuality is still punishable by up to 20 years jail in the Muslim-majority nation of Malaysia but undercurrents of LGBT activism have been ushering in a new tide of social inclusion. For the third year running, the gender and sexuality diverse community of Malaysia have congregated for ‘Seksualiti Merdeka’ or the Sexual Independence Festival. While LGBT Malaysians have developed an evident presence in public and online forums – reports of police raids on gay-friendly venues have cornered some affected people into a consistent state of fear. Organiser Pang Khee Teik, an art gallery owner, told AFP he was inspired by the rising activism in the region.
Pressure on Cameroon
Human rights organisations have pushed for the Cameroon government to adopt LGBT-friendly legislation after a United Nations committee recommended the state adhere to world standards. In July, the United Nations Human Rights Committee publicly announced a series of recommendations to bring Cameroon law into line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Human Rights Watch and Alternative-Cameroun have since urged the African state and ICCPR signatory to implement these reforms; both agencies have reported human rights abuses in the country. Men suspected to be homosexual have been arrested and beaten while women suffer violence in their families if they are thought to be lesbians.
Honduras Trans Violence
In Honduras, a transgender woman has won a landmark case for equal rights after an off-duty police officer was sentenced to a maximum 13 years jail for abduction and stabbing. A three-judge panel sentenced Amado Rodriguez Borjas on September 9 for abducting and stabbing Nohelia, a sex worker 17 times after she refused to sleep with him in 2008. The last police officer convicted for a crime against transgender community was in 2003 despite reports alluding to police abuse as a common factor. In March this year, Nohelia was kidnapped again with death threats if she continued the case and was shot in the arm during her escape.
Benn Dorrington
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