QUEER QUOTE: United Nations Adopts Resolution On the Rights of LGBT Persons

The United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution on the rights of LGBT Persons yesterday. The measure was sponsored by Brazil, Chile Columbia and Uruguay

National Security Advisor (and former Ambassador to the United Nations) Susan Rice issued a statement in response:

Statement by National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice on the Adoption of a UN Resolution on the Rights of LGBT Persons The United States applauds today's adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of a resolution in support of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. The second such resolution to be passed by the UN Human Rights Council, today's resolution reiterates that LGBT persons are entitled to the human rights and fundamental freedoms that are the birthright of all humankind, expresses grave concern regarding acts of violence and discrimination against LGBT persons, and requests the preparation of an important new report on preventing such abuses. We thank sponsors Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay for their leadership, and commend the Council for taking another historic step to reinforce the unassailable principle that LGBT rights are human rights.

The vote was 25 yes, 14 No and 7 Abstentions. Joe Jervis has the list of countries who voted on the resolution.

Voting For:  Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Macedonia, Montenegro, Peru, Philippines, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam.
Voting Against: Algeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Gabon, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.  
Abstaining: Burkina Faso, China, Congo, India, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Sierra Leone.

Good news overall!

Marriage Equality In Brazil Crosses 100 Million Threshold

Progress for marriage equality in Brazil is increasing rapidly, as word comes that the tally is now 13 of 26 states (and the federal district) allow same-sex couples to marry legally, instead of going through an annoying two-step process of getting a civil union and then having a local judge rule that the civil union must be recognized as a marriage, which is the state of the law thanks to a 2011 ruling by the Brazil high court.

Freedom to Marry summarized the current marriage equality state of play in Brazil:

Since 2011, federal marriage laws in Brazil have been somewhat confusing; on May 5, 2011, the Supreme Federal Court voted to allow same-sex couples nationwide many of the legal rights as married couples (through a mechanism called "stable union"), and since June 2011, same-sex couples joined together in "stable union" may petition judges to convert their union into a marriage. The two-step process to being married can be performed across Brazil, but now many jurisdictions have ordered a final end to the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. 

In these states (and the federal district), couples can marry in Brazil without the two-step process: Alagoas (December 2011), Sergipe (July 2012), Espíritu Santo (August 2012), Bahía (November 2012), the Brazilian Federal District (December 2012), Piauí (December 2012), São Paulo (December 2012), Ceará (March 2013), Paraná (March 2013), Mato Grosso do Sul (April 2013), Rio de Janeiro (April 2013), Rondônia (April 2013), and now Paraíba and Santa Catarina (April 2013). 

Now, nearly 60% of the population of Brazil live in states where same-sex couples can marry without the two-step process.

As I mentioned when I blogged about Rio de Janeiro enacting marriage equality last week,  population of Brazil is nearly 200 million people, so 60% means that there are way more than 100 million people who have access to marriage equality in Brazil, which is probably the most anywhere in the world!

Hat/tip to Box Turtle Bulletin

New Zealand: 13th Country To Enact Marriage Equality

As expected, New Zealand beat out France to become the 13th country in the world to enact marriage equality into law with the 77-44 Parliamentary passage of a law  that says "marriage means the union of 2 people, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity."

The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

New Zealand parliament has voted to make same-sex marriage legal.  

MPs and those in the public gallery broke into applause and cheered as it was announced the vote passed with 77 votes to 44. They then broke into song. 

After a two-hour debate, MPs were able to have their say on the Marriage Equality Bill.  

MPs from both sides of the House lined up to hug the bill's sponsor, Louisa Wall. 

She, National MP Tau Henare and Green MP Kevin Hague were presented with flowers.  

Those opposed to the bill quietly left the public gallery. 

The French parliament will finish work on its marriage equality bill next Tuesday, and the British House of Lords has a pending marriage equality bill it should pass by the end of the year.

Hat/tip to Rex Wockner

Final Vote on French Marriage Equality Law April 23

The French legislature will complete its work on the pending marriage equality legislation on April 23rd when the French national assembly completes its work on the bill following its 179 to 157  passage in the French Senate last week. There's no doubt the measure it will pass, since the National Assembly had already passed the most important part of the bill back on February 12 by a vote of 3299 to 229.

The tweet from Bruno Le Roux can be translated to say:

We will begin the examination of the text of "Marriage For All" Wednesday, continue it on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a vote on Tuesday April 23rd.

France will likely become the 13th country in the world to have enacted marriage equality nationwide when the bill becomes law. Uruguay became the 12th country to so just last week! There's a strong possibility that New Zealand may beat out France for the 13th slot by passing their marriage equality bill this week.

The times they are a changin'-fast!

Hat/tip to Joe.My.God

GRAPHIC: Countries With Marriage Equality

With the passage of marriage equality in Uruguay, the above graphic is floating around the Interwebs. It is very soon to be out of date, because in addition to the imminent case of France, Great Britain will almost certainly enact marriage equality by the end of the year.

REPORT: Uruguay Legislature Enacts Marriage Equality

Gay marriage passes in Uruguay and goes to president for promised signature. 71 of 92 representatives voted yes. subrayado.com.uy/Site/noticia/2…
— Rex Wockner (@RexWockner) April 10, 2013

According to a tweet from Rex Wockner, the Uruguay House of Representatives has completed work on passing a marriage equality bill, sending the measure to President Jose Mujica for his promised signature by a vote of 71 to 21. When signed into law, Uruguay will become the 12th country in the world where marriage equality is legal nationwide (and the second in South America after neighboring Argentina, but there are 3 other countries which allow marriage equality in some states (United States, Mexico and Brazil). In Mexico and Brazil those marriages are recognized throughout the rest of the country, and in the United States we are waiting for DOMA to be struck down by the Supreme Court for that to be the same in our country.

Uruguay Likely To Enact Marriage Equality Soon

Uruguay is the country next door to Argentina (which became the first country in South America to legalize marriage equality back in July 2010). It is in the news this week because it is likely to become the next country in South America to enact marriage equality, since its lower House of Deputies overwhelmingly voted 81-18 in favor of a bill to do so, and the upper House is expected to be more supportive of the pending legislation, as is the president of the country.

The AP reports:

Uruguay became the first Latin American country to legalize abortion this year, and its Congress is debating a plan to put the government in charge of marijuana sales as a way to attack illegal marijuana traffickers.

The new proposal would make Uruguay the second nation in Latin America and the 12th in the world to legalize gay marriage, after The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina and Denmark.

 The bill also would clarify rules for adoption and in-vitro fertilization, and eliminate the words "marido y mujer" (husband and woman) in marriage contracts, refering instead to the gender neutral "contrayentes" (contracting parties).

 The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to the proposal, but the church has little political influence in secular Uruguay.

Love that last part about Uruguay being a secular country! I have visited the country once before (the capital Montevideo, in 2006 when I visited Argentina) and it seemed very lovely then. I may have to make a return trip there when we eventually get to neighboring Brazil!

Hat/tip to Joe.My.God.

Landmark Ruling on LGBT Rights From IACHR

Word comes from Rex Wockner of a landmark ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (El Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos) or IACHR that declares that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected categories under the American Convention on Human Rights.

The New York Times has a useful, short summary of the details of the case involved:

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that must pay damages to a judge who was denied custody of her three daughters by the Supreme Court in 2004 because of her sexual orientation. The ruling by the human rights court, a judicial entity of the Organization of American States, requires Chile’s government to pay the judge, Karen Atala, left, $50,000, in addition to $12,000 in court costs. The February ruling, which was made public on Wednesday in Chile, is the latest development in a multiyear legal battle waged by Judge Atala, a lesbian who had lost custody of her daughters to her ex-husband, also a judge. Judge Atala’s lawyer called the decision “historic” for Chile’s legal system. Justice Minister Teodoro Ribera said Wednesday that Chilean authorities had acted to protect the “superior interests of the children involved,” but he also said Chile would respect the ruling. 

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission was also involved with the case, and submitted a legal brief on behalf of Atala. Their website has an excellent summary of the significance of the ruling.

The Court’s landmark ruling found that Chile not only violated Atala’s right to equality and non-discrimination but affirms for the first time in its history that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected categories and such discrimination violates international law. It represents a historic victory for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Chile and around the world.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), MADRE and the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law co-authored a brief (English, Español) for the Court, arguing that sexual orientation and gender identity should be found to be a protected class under the American Convention on Human Rights as held under international law. Attorneys from Morrison and Foerster focused on the custody issue at hand, arguing that sexual orientation and gender identity not be a factor in custody determinations. The brief was joined by 13 other organizations. This week’s ruling upholds both arguments.

“Though Karen Atala and her daughters can never regain the time they have lost together because of the destructive impact of homophobia, today the Inter-American Court has vindicated the legitimacy of their family,” said Jessica Stern, Director of Programs at IGLHRC. “The Court has set a transformative precedent to which every signatory to the Inter-American Convention – 24 countries throughout the Americas – is bound. Based on both American regional standards and international jurisprudence, the Court has ruled that LGBT people must live free from discrimination, whether as parents or in any other aspect of their lives.”

Lisa Davis, Human Rights Advocacy Director at MADRE and Clinical Professor for Law for the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic at CUNY Law School said today, “The Court’s ruling is a milestone victory for human rights advocates the world over. It sets a precedent in international law that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a human rights violation—one that we hope will help defend the rights of LGBT persons wherever these rights are under attack.”

This is great news!

World Cup Final Today: Spain v. The Netherlands

Today is the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Spain will be playing the Netherlands. Holland is undefeated in this year's tournament, while Spain has been one of the top 2 ranked teams in the world for the last three years (the other, Brazil was vanquished by the Dutch team in the quarterfinals).

One week after I watched him win his 2nd Wimbledon title, Spaniard Rafael Nadal will be in the audience to watch his team, La Furia Roja battle for their first World Cup title. Only seven countries have won the World Cup since the quadrennial competition began in 1930 (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina, and France) so today history will be made.

Yesterday, 2-time defending champion Spain was eliminated from the Davis Cup by France in the semifinals. Is this a harbinger of Spain's defeat in the World Cup? The world's most famous cephalopod, Paul the Octopus has chosen Spain as the winner over the Netherlands today. He has not been wrong in all of his predictions at this year's tournament. He also correctly picked Germany to defeat Uruguay in the third place (runner's up) match. Germany won with a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory to seal an all-European sweep.

MadProfessah's prediction: Netherlands (2-1)

World Cup Semifinal Spain v. GermanyToday

The second semifinal of the World Cup ishappening today. Spain is playing Germany. The winner will play the Netherlands, who defeated Uruguay 3-2 in the other semifinal while I was over Greenland yesterday.

With Rafa Nadal winning Wimbledon on Sunday, many are expecting Spain to win, as does Paul the prognosticating octopus, who has not been wrong yet!

Uruguay Now Most Pro-LGBT Country in South America

Uruguay is rapidly gaining a reputation as the most pro-gay country in South America despite neighboring Argentina and Brazil.

The small country enacted nationwide civil union legislation in 2007, ended it's ban on gays openly serving in the military earlier this year and last week opened up adoption to same-sex couples.

MadProfessah visited the country in 2006 (Montevideo) and quite enjoyed it!

Uruguay and Hungary Enact Civil Unions Laws

Flag of Uruguay	Flag ofHungary

Blabbeando alerts us to the fact that Uruguay is poised to become the first country in Latin America to enact civil unions for unmarried couples (both same-sex and opposite-sex).

On the same day came the news that Hungary has enacted the Registered Partnership Act, which would allow same-sex couples to have access to many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage in the eastern European country.

Uruguay To Legalize Same-Sex Civil Unions Soon

Blabbeando reports that Uruguay will become the first South American country to legalize same-sex unions nationwide next month, when the upper legislative house reconciles its previously passed bill with a bill that passed the lower house recently. The law would allow gay and straight couples who have lived together for 5 years to register their union with the state and receive social security, parenting, pension and inheritance rights and protections.

Mad Professah visited the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, in October 2006 and is very happy to see the country make strides in recognizing gay rights. In Latin America, the cities of Buenos Aires and Mexico City and one State in Brazil also recognize same-sex couples and provide state-mandated benefits to registered partners.