Equality Watch – In The News
April 11, 2018 – Maryland has become the 12th state to ban gay conversion therapy by health professionals. It joins Washington State, California, Massachusetts, Illinois and several others in banning the practice, which often leads to depression and suicidal behavior in minors. Florida still allows it, but several South Florida cities have outlawed it. They include Miami Beach, West Palm Beach and Key West.
Oct 28, 2017 – The Disney Channel has aired its first ever teen coming-out scene. Last month, its Andi Mack comedy series showed a 13-ish boy, Cyrus, on the edge of tears, telling his girlfriend he has a crush on a classmate, Jonah. To see the video clip, click here.
May 26, 2017 – A total of 122 nations now legally allow gay relations between consenting adults, while 72 others still outlaw it, according to a progress report issued by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. Belize and Seychelles are the latest nations to repeal anti-gay laws.
In addition, 23 nations now recognize gay marriage and 28 more allow civil partnerships. Slovenia and Finland are the latest to jump on the marriage bandwagon.
Eight nations still have the death penalty for gay sex. They are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Sudan, some provinces of Somalia and Nigeria, plus sections of Iraq and Syria controlled by ISIS.
Five other countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, Mauritania and the United Arab Emirates – have this punishment on their books but don’t appear to impose it, according to the report.
In 14 other countries, people engaging in such activity could face a jail sentence of 14 years to life.
In a recent setback, sharia judges in Indonesia used canes to whip two young men dozens of times for having gay sex. This occurred after vigilantes in their village broke into their room and reported them to the Muslim enforcers. It was believed to be Indonesia’s first reported whipping for gay sex.
The main part of this content came from the Miami Herald which runs a weekly gay news column by Steve Rothaus. The paragraph re the Indonesian punishment came from the queerty.com web site.
Thanks to Tom Brown from New Church Family Newsletter where I first saw this information.