Tag: LGBTQ

Vatican says transgender Catholics can be baptised, serve as godparents

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In the United States, the National Conference of Catholic bishops rejects the concept of gender transition, leaving many transgender Catholics feeling excluded. On Wednesday, the Vatican made public a sharply contrasting statement, saying it’s permissible, under certain circumstances, for trans-Catholics to be baptised and serve as godparents.

“It is a major step for trans inclusion … it is big and good news,” said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which advocates for greater LGBTQ acceptance in the church.

The document was signed on October 21 by Pope Francis and Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. It was posted on Wednesday on that office’s website.

If it did not cause scandal or “disorientation” among other Catholics, a transgender person “may receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful,” the document said.

Similarly, the document said trans adults — even if they had undergone gender-transition surgery — could serve as godfathers or godmothers under certain conditions.

DeBernardo said this seemed to be a reversal of a 2015 Vatican decision to bar a trans man in Spain from becoming a godparent.

During his papacy, Pope Francis has frequently expressed an interest in making the Catholic Church more welcoming to LGBTQ people, even though doctrines rejecting same-sex marriage and sexual activity remain firmly in place.

A small but growing number of U.S. parishes have formed LGBTQ support groups and welcomed transgender people on their own terms. Yet several Catholic dioceses have issued guidelines targeting trans people with restrictions and refusing to recognise their gender identity.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest who has advocated for years for greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church, welcomed the new document.

“In many dioceses and parishes, including in the US, transgender Catholics have been severely restricted from participating in the life of the church, not because of any canon law, but stemming from the decisions of bishops, priests and pastoral associates,” he said via email.

“So the Vatican’s statement is a clear recognition not only of their personhood but of their place in their own church,” he said. “I hope that it helps the Catholic church treat them less as problems and more as people.”

According to the Vatican, the document was a response to a letter submitted in July by a Brazilian bishop asking about LGBTQ people’s possible participation in baptisms and weddings.

DeBernardo said the document “proves that the Catholic Church can — and does — change its mind about certain practices and policies,” and he suggested that some diocesan anti-trans policies might now have to be rescinded. But he expressed disappointment that the document maintained a ban on same-sex couples serving as godparents.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

First Gay Games in Asia to kick off in Hong Kong amidst opposition and pushback

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Hong Kong is set to host the Gay Games, becoming the first Asian city to do so, alongside a Mexican city. Starting Friday, November 3, this event marks a significant milestone for the city and its LGBTQ+ community, despite calls from rights activists and lawmakers who oppose LGBTQ+ efforts.

The Gay Games – a global sporting event for LGBTQ+ athletes – have been held in San Francisco, Paris, Sydney and several other cities in North America and Europe.

After a year’s delay because of the pandemic, the nine-day event will host about 2,400 participants from some 40 territories. They will compete in a diverse set of sports, including tennis, swimming and culturally rich activities such as dragon boat racing and mahjong.

While Hong Kong lacks specific anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation and does not recognise same-sex marriage, there have been legal advancements for the LGBTQ+ community. One notable development was a September ruling by the top court, giving the government a two-year deadline to establish a legal framework for recognising same-sex unions.

Over 2,300 athletes from 45 countries, including the UK, China, South Korea, and the US, are expected to participate in the Gay Games, organised by Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK).

The government in Hong Kong has approved the event, advising organisers to adhere to laws and regulations while promoting inclusivity and diversity. The event is not intended to advocate for political or legislative changes.

The Gay Games will feature sports and cultural events, some with Chinese origins, such as dragon boat racing and mahjong. Additionally, a new trail running event will be held on Lantau Island’s mountainous terrain.

Worries about the national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong have led to Taiwan’s delegation opting to participate in the games in Guadalajara, Mexico, concurrently with the Hong Kong event. The Taiwan Gay Sports and Movement Association announced that it would not send a national delegation to the games due to “personal safety of the athletes”.

Taiwan, which China does not recognise as a sovereign state, was the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage.

Despite opposition from some Hong Kong lawmakers who express concerns about national security and traditional family values, the event is proceeding as planned. Some human rights activists have also called for its cancellation, alleging alignment with pro-authoritarian figures, but the organisers stress their commitment to respecting local laws and culture.

Further, unlike its co-host, Gay Games Hong Kong has not received sponsorship from the government. This is perhaps a diplomatic strategy by the government given China’s conservative views on homosexuality and in repressing LGBTQ+ rights. The games have faced opposition from some conservative groups and politicians in Hong Kong, with some protesters calling the games “obscene”.

Pro-Beijing legislator Junius Ho started a petition against the games, saying they are a threat to national security. He argued that supporting the games would effectively mean supporting same-sex marriage legislation, which “stands against Chinese traditions and moral values”.

The Gay Games will take place at various private venues, universities, and schools, with opening and closing ceremonies scheduled in Wan Chai, a busy commercial district.

The national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 aimed to restore stability following anti-government protests in 2019. It criminalizes acts like subversion, collusion with foreign forces, and terrorism with penalties of up to life imprisonment.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Same-Sex Marriage in India: Supreme Court to deliver judgment in a few hours

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In what will be a landmark verdict on individual rights, the Supreme Court (SC) will deliver its judgment on the legality of recognising same-sex marriage in India, on Tuesday, October 17. The judgment will be pronounced by a constitutional five-judge bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India  D.Y. Chandrachud. The bench also comprises Justice S.K. Kaul, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, Justice P.S. Narasimha, and Justice Hima Kohli. Notably, Justice Bhat is due to retire on October 20.

This ground-breaking verdict follows a little over five years since the Supreme Court’s historic decision to decriminalise consensual sex between homosexuals by declaring Section 377 of the IPC unconstitutional on September 6, 2018.

In the case of same-sex marriage, the bench had reserved its judgment on May 11 after 10 days of hearings, which included a thorough exploration of the legal and social issues related to recognising same-sex marriage. The court had subsequently postponed its decision on the petitions.

During these proceedings, 17 lawyers argued in favour of the petitions, while 22 lawyers representing the government told the court that it is the role of the legislature to pass such a law after holding consultations.

The petitioners had argued for legal recognition of the right to marry for LGBTQ+ couples, asserting that same-sex marriages could be recognised under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act (SMA) to grant dignity to their unions.

In November 2022, two same-sex couples moved to the apex court seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages in India. One of the petitions challenged the constitutional validity of the Special Marriage Act of 1954 and asked the court to alternatively reinterpret the Act in a gender-neutral manner, thus preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Importantly, the Centre has maintained that the right to marry needs to be regulated and can be allowed only for unions between biological males and biological females. The Centre has held that while there may be no right to marry, there is nothing that restrains the right to love or cohabit.

The government contended that legalising same-sex marriages was not within the court’s jurisdiction, and it is for the Parliament to legislate on it after consulting with the states. The Centre also informed the top court that if this were recognised, a multitude of laws would need to be amended as a consequence.

The Centre also told the court that it had received responses from seven states on the issue of same-sex marriage, where Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam had opposed the move to grant recognition for same-sex marriage.

However, it also informed the top court that it was willing to form a committee headed by the Cabinet secretary to consider administrative measures for issues faced by same-sex couples in their daily lives in areas such as banking, insurance, etc, without going into their plea for legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

In the course of the hearing, the SC has observed that it was open to the idea of securing rights that flow from cohabitation. The court further observed that there is a wider acceptance of the right to cohabit and the rights that flow from such arrangements.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Why has Canada warned LGBTQ+ residents against travelling to US?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Canada recently updated its travel advisory for its citizens planning to visit the United States, prominently members of the LGBTQ+ community. While the Canadian Global Affairs department did not specify the states in question, it advised travellers to check the local laws of their destination before embarking on their journey. This advisory comes in response to laws enacted in some US states in 2023, which have banned drag shows and imposed restrictions on transgender individuals’ access to gender-affirming care and participation in sports.

Global Affairs spokesman Jérémie Bérubé highlighted the disparities in laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics between Canada and the United States, potentially subjecting Canadians to various barriers and risks abroad.

Despite the advisory, there have been no reported complaints from Canadians regarding mistreatment or restrictions related to LGBTQ+ issues while in the US.

Also read: Top LGBTQ+ travel destinations where everyone is welcomed with open arms

The Human Rights Campaign, the US-based organisation advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ individuals in the US in June.

Earlier in May, a similar travel advisory was issued by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), warning potential tourists about recent laws and policies enacted by Governor Ron DeSantis. These laws include ban on gender-affirming care for minors, restrictions on drag shows, limitations on discussing personal pronouns in schools, and requirements for specific restroom usage.

Also read: 10 popular sex tourism destinations in the world frequented by women and men

In response to the travel advisory update, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasised that Global Affairs Canada issues such advisories based on professional assessments within the department, focusing on monitoring potential dangers. She reiterated the Canadian government’s commitment to prioritising the safety and interests of all Canadians. While the advisory has drawn criticism, LGBTQ+ rights advocates have commended the Canadian government’s action.

Nonetheless, the US Department of State has expressed commitment to promoting tolerance, inclusion, justice, and dignity, and advancing the equality and human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Transgender persons who have undergone sex reassignment surgery suffering due to lack of passport: Delhi HC

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Transgender people, who choose to undergo sex reassignment surgery, face difficulties in acquiring a fresh passport due to change in appearance, an issue which needs to be streamlined, the Delhi High Court said on Wednesday.

Justice Subramonium Prasad said this while hearing a plea by a transgender woman, who has approached the high court seeking direction to the authorities to re-issue her passport with her revised particulars, including a new name and gender since her appearance changed after undergoing sex reassignment surgery.

“Similar problems are arising in several matters and these people are suffering because of lack of passport after they changed their gender. Because then their appearance changes. It needs some streamlining,” the judge said, asking the authorities to look into it.

The petitioner, who was a male at birth, said she moved to the US in 2018 after securing employment there and transitioned from man to woman between 2016 and 2022, after which she was able to legally secure a change of name and gender by way of a court order in that country.

She applied to the Indian authorities on January 18, 2023, for a re-issue of her passport with revised particulars changing her name and gender but it was pending for over six months.

Senior panel counsel Farman Ali Magray, representing the Ministry of External Affairs and Consulate General of India in Chicago in the US, submitted that the application of the petitioner has been processed and is pending police verification.

He urged the court to grant him some time to get better instructions on the matter.

The court granted time to the Centre’s counsel to get instructions from the authorities and listed the matter for further hearing on August 28.

The petitioner, represented by advocate Arundhati Katju, said grave prejudice has been caused to her due to the non-issuance of the revised passport as she is currently in Chicago and is unable to travel back to her home country or go anywhere outside the US.

“Once the petitioner transitioned, she was able to legally secure a change of name and gender by way of a court order in the United States. Consequently, she was able to legally rectify her name/ gender/ appearance as it appeared on official documentation, for instance, her Illinois driver’s licence.

“However, the petitioner’s passport which was issued in 2013 reflected her name as … and gender as ‘male’. Therefore, the petitioner applied for re-issuance of passport with revised particulars such as name, gender and appearance to the 2nd respondent (Consulate General of India) through their agency VFS Global. The petitioner also deposited her existing passport along with her application,” the petition said.

It said the petitioner has also submitted the requisite medical certificate to demonstrate that she has undergone a sex reassignment surgery (male to female) along with her application.

It said the petitioner’s right to get her passport re-issued with revised particulars is a facet of her right to self-identification protected under the Constitution of India.

“The petitioner’s right to self-identify is curtailed as her name, gender and appearance do not match with what is currently on her passport. While travelling this creates tangible difficulties to the petitioner in accessing sex-segregated security lines, in the form of questioning from immigration officials etc,” it said.

The plea said the revised passport ensures that the petitioner’s dignity and identity are not put on trial by strangers at an airport when she boards an aeroplane back home to see her family and added that the act of the authorities of not issuing her revised passport is a direct assault on her dignity and personhood.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Conservative Group sues Target for alleged risk Monitoring misrepresentation amid LGBTQ backlash

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

A conservative legal organisation sued Target (TGT.N) on Tuesday on behalf of an investor, saying the retailer misrepresented the adequacy of its risk monitoring when customer backlash over LGBTQ-themed merchandise caught it by surprise.

America First Legal filed the lawsuit in Florida federal court on behalf of investor Brian Craig against Target, chief executive Brian Cornell and the company’s board of directors. America First is a nonprofit group headed by Stephen Miller, a former adviser to ex-President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit is the latest in a legal battle in which conservative legal groups and Republican legislators are challenging corporations that have enacted policies on social issues such as race and gender.

A spokesperson for Target did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Craig claimed Target’s board misstated its oversight of “social and political risks” to the company, focusing on the wishes of progressive activist investors and failing to account for potential backlash from customers.

In May, Target pulled some LGBTQ-themed merchandise linked to Pride Month, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor.

Craig, who owns 216 Target shares, said the board falsely said it monitored social and political risk while focusing only on the risks associated with not achieving its ESG and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals.

The board “misrepresented its oversight because the board monitored only one side,” Craig said in the lawsuit.

Craig seeks damages for the decline in Target’s share price caused by the consumer reaction and for a judge to rule the company violated U.S. securities laws.

The case is Craig v. Target Corp. et al., No. 23-00599, U.S. District Court, Middle District Of Florida.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Third Eye | Finding the courage to write a lesbian memoir — K Vaishali writes about her book that helped deconstructing her emotions

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

When I pondered writing a book in 2017, it was mainly to have a distraction. I was lonely, isolated, and homeless—and I didn’t want to think about that. Writing has also been the place where I deconstructed my emotions since I was 14 years old; I was giving myself the therapy I couldn’t afford.

So I began writing Homeless (Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India) as a distraction from my reality, while using it to deconstruct how I felt about my recent loss of position in the world. I had come out to my mother and lost her support— left to fend for myself when I couldn’t hold down a job or finish a course because of my dyslexia. 

I had only recently been diagnosed with Dyslexia then and I needed time to adjust to it. I couldn’t deconstruct the emotions I felt literally, since in 2017, Section 377 was still a law and if I was caught writing about lesbian feelings, I could face expulsion from the university hostel which was the only temporary home I had. So I was deconstructing my emotions as fiction, something I’ve done successfully before. 

But I couldn’t find fictional motives that explained why my protagonist would find herself in the very specific position I found myself in; I couldn’t imagine an identity similar to mine that I could give to my protagonist which would be similar to the realities of being in the intersection of, among other things, lesbian and dyslexic identities. 

While I was trying to find my protagonist’s motive, Section 377 was struck down, I found a partner, and I moved with her to a rented house, and I was working at a corporate company where I was out to my manager. Suddenly, making my protagonist a lesbian didn’t feel like a risk; it wouldn’t lead me to lose my job or my partner or my house. 

So my protagonist became a lesbian, but I still couldn’t write about why losing her position in the world was such a harsh reality without mentioning my dyslexia, and I also borrowed parts of my childhood to colour some of the details of her character. Before I knew it, I was writing about my own life.

But I’d still call it fiction because I was scared that my landlord would evict me if they found out that I was a lesbian. I would only have the courage to call it a memoir after I bought my own house. Virginia Woolf said, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” Borrowing from that idea, I say, “A queer woman must have money and a home of her own if she is to write a memoir.”     

— The author, K Vaishali, is the author of the memoir Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India (published by Yoda Press and Simon and Schuster in March 2023). Her short fiction made the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize 2021 shortlist and the 2021 Disquiet International Literary prize longlist. She works for a tech company where she writes developer documentation for their products and leads their LGBTQ+ ERG for the JAPAC region. She’s the host of the podcast Queerious Connections available on Spotify and Amazon Music.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pride Month 2023: History, significance of this festival of diversity and inclusion

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Pride month is celebrated in many countries across the globe in June every year. This annual celebration is aimed at creating awareness about the plight of the LGBTQ+ community and to end all kinds of discrimination against them. Pride month is also an opportune time to embrace diversity and create more inclusive societies where the LGBTQ+ community can also enjoy equal rights.

Pride month is a time to honour the progress made in the pursuit of LGBTQ+ rights, spread awareness about the challenges that the community still faces, and promote inclusivity and acceptance. June 28 is marked as Pride Day every year.

History

Pride month is essentially a tribute to those who were involved in the Stonewall riots. The history of pride month can be traced back to these riots. In June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. This raid triggered a week of violent clashes on Christopher Street between the police and the patrons of the Stonewall Inn.

In the United States, the Stonewall riots ignited a long struggle to bring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the mainstream. This incident proved to be a watershed event in the history of gay rights in the US. It can be said that the incident became a catalyst for a global movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

Bill Clinton became the first US president to officially recognise Pride month in the year 1999 and 2000. President Barack Obama designated the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots as a national monument in 2016.

Significance

While Pride month served as a public celebration, it is also an opportunity to demand action on specific issues such as the AIDS epidemic and same-sex marriage.

New York City’s Pride march is one of the highlights of the month. It was first held on June 28, 1970.

This year, the theme for New York City’s official Pride march is ‘Strength in Solidarity.’

LGBTQ+ communities organise parades, marches, rallies, and other events to celebrate diversity and promote acceptance throughout June. These marches and rallies often feature vibrant displays of rainbow flags, which have become a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride month also seeks to educate the public about LGBTQ+ history, rights, and the ongoing struggle for equality.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow