STEPS TOWARDS EQUALITY.
VICTORIES. WE LOVE TO SEE IT.
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
One piece of pro-LGBTQ legislation that is guaranteed to pass this year is the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Costa Rica. At the start of 2018, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights ruled that several American countries needed to legalise same-sex marriage. Although some have actively resisted, Costa Rica was fairly compliant. However, the country fell into a general election, where same-sex marriage became a main issue. Opponents to legalisation were beaten, and in August 2018 the country’s Supreme Court ruled that legislation allowing same-sex marriage had to be legal by May 2020, otherwise it would automatically become legal. Thailand is also on its way to bring in same-sex partnerships, which offers some of the same rights as marriage, this year. Some of the main benefits of the bill revolve around property and inheritance rights, with the term ‘life-partners’ being used. The Thai Cabinet passed a bill to this effect on Christmas Day in 2018, and when the bill heads to the country’s parliament early this year, it is expected to pass there. Public support has been high for the bill, with public hearings held from 12 to 16 November 2018 reportedly having 98% of those in attendance approving the bill.
NORTHERN IRELAND
No ‘petition of concern’ could stop it this time, as last year the UK government legislated to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, the only part of the United Kingdom where it hadn’t been legal. Parts of the law came into effect in October, but same-sex marriage will be fully legal by 13 January 2020. Where couples in Northern Ireland have to indicate their intention to get married at least 28 days prior to the ceremony, it is thought that some of the first same-sex marriages to take place in the country will be happening on the week of Valentine’s Day.
DECRIMINALISATION
Two countries could be on the cusp of legalising homosexuality this year. Last summer, Bhutan’s National Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favour of removing laws which banned ‘unnatural sex’. This will now be debated in the National Council during its current winter session. The African nation of Mauritius could also decriminalise homosexuality, although this depends on a Supreme Court judgement. Four Mauritians made a case to the Supreme Court, saying the law violates their “fundamental rights and freedoms”. The next hearing in the case is in February, but a result might not be known until 2021.
CONVERSION 'THERAPY'
Germany could become the second European country, after Malta, to introduce a nationwide ban on the discredited practice known as gay ‘conversion’ therapy. The draft bill was introduced by Germany’s openly gay Health Minister, Jens Spahn back in November. Although there are no fixed dates for the law to be voted on, a German Health Ministry spokesperson confirmed it would likely be during this year. The bill would punish those found to be coercing people into undertaking the practice with up to a year in jail, as well as a fine of up to €30,000 for those advertising it.