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Slovenia became the first country in Eastern Europe to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption

Welcome to Worldcrunch’s LGBTQ+ International. We bring you up-to-speed each week on a topic you may follow closely at home, but can now see from different places and perspectives around the world. Discover the latest news on everything LGBTQ+ — from all corners of the planet. All in one smooth scroll!

✉️ You can receive our LGBTQ+ International roundup every week directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

TW: This content may address topics and include references to violence that some may find distressing.

🇸🇮 Slovenia Becomes First Eastern European Country To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption The Slovenian parliament passed an amendment on Tuesday allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt, making it the first country from behind the former Iron Curtain to do so. The change comes after a July ruling that Slovenia’s existing law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman discriminated against gay and lesbian couples. Although the country’s main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, criticized the court's decision and organized several rallies against the new law, Slovenia is now the first former communist country in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage. "With these changes, we are recognizing the rights of same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time," said State Secretary Simon Maljevac.🇮🇸 Iceland To Introduce Key Measures To Improve Trans Lives Iceland has introduced a new LGBTQ+ action plan, which will set landmark changes to the country’s LGBTQ+ policy. The country’s Parliament will initiate the changes from 2022 to 2025, including an end to the discriminatory blood donation policy, training in LGBTQ+ issues for the police, as well as improvements in Trans healthcare. Iceland already has LGBTQ+ protections in place for its citizens, and in 2017 was ranked as the world’s least homophobic country. Now, the new plan hopes to further focus on wellbeing, ensuring the health and protection of LGBTQ+ youth, elderly people, and disabled people, as well as protections against LGBTQ+ domestic violence.​🇸🇻 El Salvador Bans Gay-Friendly Sex Ed Show From State TV The President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele announced via Twitter his decision to suspend the contract between the Teacher Training Institute and the state television station to prevent the broadcast of sexual identity content. He made the move after pressure came from people who said their kids were being taught "gender ideology". The program contained an animated video that went viral explaining to eighth grade students that, from puberty, adolescents could have attraction towards other people, even of the same gender. As Presentes explains, prior to his election, Bukele spoke in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, but on the first day of his term, he closed the government’s Inclusion office and adopted a conservative stance. In the Central American country, the Catholic and Evangelical churches of different denominations have a great influence on executive and legislative decisions.​🌐 Coca-Cola, Disney And Pfizer Accused Of Funding Anti-LGBTQ+ And Anti-Abortion Politicians Accountable for Equality Action screenshot After a new database was released that allows users to look into the politicians supported by major companies. Coca-Cola, Disney and Pfizer were named among companies funding anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion politicians. Accountable for Equality Action (AFEA), the organization responsible for the investigation, says the initiative was launched to “measure allyship based on corporate contributions.” The database tracks donations, from 2016 on, made by corporations to the U.S. politicians behind legislation blocking LGBTQ+, voting and reproductive rights, as reported by Pink News. Coca-Cola is reported to have given $93,078 to 125 state legislators who were listed as co-sponsors of “insurrectionist, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-voting rights, and anti-choice legislation.” Walmart donated $496,497, Walt Disney gave $32,000, energy company Chevron gave $353,900, and pharmaceutical company Pfizer handed over $364,250 in anti-LGBTQ+ donations. Other major companies listed on the database include Target, Rite Aid, Expedia, Facebook, Airbnb, T-Mobile, Paypal, Ebay, McDonald’s, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Home Depot.🇬🇧 Virgin Atlantic Launches New Gender-Neutral Uniform Policy Virgin Atlantic announced it was changing its uniform policy to make it more inclusive. The British airline’s crew, pilots and ground teams will no longer have to wear gendered uniforms and may instead choose the outfit they feel most comfortable in, “no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.” Optional pronoun badges have also been introduced both for crew and passengers and gender neutral “U” or “X” codes are now available in the company's booking system for people holding gender neutral passports. Virgin Atlantic had scrapped its mandatory makeup requirement for female staff in 2019 and earlier this year, it had also become the first airline in the UK to allow visible tattoos.🇧🇷 Brazil Elects Three Trans Federal Deputies For First Time For the first time ever, Brazil has elected three transsexual federal deputies: Robeyoncé Lima, Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton. Sunday’s election for the Congress included 11 political parties that presented candidates for election within the category. Although many were disappointed with Brazil’s presidential election result, hoping to see a first-round win for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both transgender candidates won their elections easily, promising to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Lula faces off against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro on Oct. 30.🇦🇷 Argentine Trans Activist Alba Rueda Included In TIME’s “100 Leaders Of The Future” Alba Rueda's official Facebook page Trans activist Alba Rueda was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the 100 leaders of the future. She holds the position of Special Representative of Argentina on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the Foreign Ministry and was one of the activists for the Gender Identity Law as well as for equal marriage. She also founded and presided over Mujeres Trans Argentina, a trailblazing organization. 🇯🇵 🇺🇸 U.S. Husband Of Japanese National Sues Government Over Long-Term Visa Rules A partial win for the American-Japanese gay couple now living in Japan who had sued the Tokyo District Court, claiming the government has repeatedly denied a long-term resident visa to the U.S. national. On Sept. 30, presiding judge Yoshitaka Ichihara ruled American Andrew High was eligible for a “designated activities” status which has to be renewed every 5 years, but denied both a long-term visa and sought damages of 1.1 million yen ($7,620). High and his Japanese partner, Kohei, married in the U.S. in 2015 following the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, such unions are not legally recognized in Japan, where they moved a few years later. While overseas partners of Japanese citizens in heterosexual marriages may apply for extended residence status via a spouse visa or a long-term residency visa, the rule does not apply to same-sex couple. The American citizen has been residing in the country on a temporary visa and has been applying for a long-term resident visa five times since 2018. The “designated activities” visa grants up to a five-year stay in Japan and is renewable. It is a “positive step forward”, High told the Japan Times adding he was still disappointed with the court’s decision.​🇺🇸 12,000 Virginia Students Walk Out In Protest Of Anti-Trans Policies To protest Republican governor Glenn Youngkin's proposed rollback of transgender rights, Pride Liberation Project, a student-led organization, coordinated walkouts with students at nearly 100 schools across the U.S. state of Virginia on Tuesday. Laws published in 2021 under the previous Democratic governor, Gov. Ralph Northam, attempted to create a safe and healthy atmosphere for all students, stating that schools should “minimize social stigmatization for such students and maximize opportunities for social integration.” The new policies seem to undo all of the affirming and inclusive measures previously implemented, stating that students should use the name and gender assigned to them at birth, especially when it comes to using bathrooms, playing on sports teams and other extracurricular activities.🇿🇦 Soweto Pride, Raising Awareness In Violent Townships franceinsouthafrica via Instagram Hundreds of people took part in the 18th edition of the Soweto Pride on Sept. 24, marching through the streets of the South African township to raise public awareness on prejudice, harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ people. “We live in these townships which are very violent towards queer bodies. So marching is a form of saying we are here, we exist. It’s a political programme,” said Azania Sengwayo, executive director of the organization Vaal LGBTI. 🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Council Of Islamic Ideology Says 2018 Transgender Law “Not In Line With Shariah” Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology said in a statement on Tuesday that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act is “not in line with the Shariah”, as “several provisions of the act are inconsistent with Islamic principles.” The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, passed in 2018 by the National Assembly, allows transgender persons equal rights to education and voting, access basic health facilities, the ability to choose their name and gender on their ID cards and passports. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami has officially challenged the act in the Federal Shariat Court.🇮🇷 UN Officials Demand Iran Halts Planned Execution Of LGBTQ+ Activists UN officials have joined human rights organizations on the call to halt the planned execution of two women, Zahra Seddiqi-Hamedani, 31, and Elham Choubdar, 24. On Sept. 4, the two LGBTQ+ activists were sentenced to death by a court in Urmia, northwest Iran, for “spreading corruption on earth” by "promoting homosexuality", "promoting Christianity", and "communicating with the media opposing the Islamic Republic." Iran’s legal system criminalizes homosexuality, which under the country’s Penal Code 2013 is punishable by death. “We strongly condemn the sentencing of Ms. Sedighi-Hamadani and Ms. Choubdar to death, and call on authorities to stay their executions and annul their sentences as soon as possible,” says the UN statement. “Authorities must ensure the health and well-being of both women, and promptly release them from detention.” It came to light that Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani, arrested in October 2021, had been subjected to torture, deprived of the right to access a lawyer during her detention, under arrest arbitrarily against international standards. She attempted suicide on September 7.​🇳🇬 Nollywood Actor Godwin Maduagu Comes Out After Sex Tape Blackmail Official Instagram account In a video he posted on his Instagram account, celebrated Nigerian actor Godwin Maduagu tells of his struggles and eventually coming to terms with his sexuality, since a gay sex tape of him was leaked online last year. He had previously denied appearing in the video, which he revealed was leaked by a friend in an effort to blackmail him after Maduagu shot to fame. The Nollywood star has now shared how, after having contemplated suicide, he ended up finding solace in coming out thanks to the support of his friends and family. “Look at me now living my truth because I’ve now gotten a strong thick skin,” Maduagu says.OTHERWISE • Tune in to this new Irish-made podcast that highlights what it means to be an LGBTQ+ refugee. • In the U.S, October is LGBTQ+ History Month. Here’s a look back at how it started, how it spread internationally, and why it’s important. • Cat & dog lovers will appreciate this Gaysi article: Queer People On Finding Themselves Through Their Pets.• NPR speaks with Dr. Nasser Mohammed, an activist who is using the soccer World Cup in Qatar to highlight the country's poor record on LGBTQ+ rights.

The Slovenian parliament passed an amendment on Tuesday allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt, making it the first country from behind the former Iron Curtain to do so. The change comes after a July ruling that Slovenia’s existing law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman discriminated against gay and lesbian couples.

Although the country’s main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, criticized the court's decision and organized several rallies against the new law, Slovenia is now the first former communist country in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage.

"With these changes, we are recognizing the rights of same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time," said State Secretary Simon Maljevac.

Iceland has introduced a new LGBTQ+ action plan, which will set landmark changes to the country’s LGBTQ+ policy. The country’s Parliament will initiate the changes from 2022 to 2025, including an end to the discriminatory blood donation policy, training in LGBTQ+ issues for the police, as well as improvements in Trans healthcare.

Iceland already has LGBTQ+ protections in place for its citizens, and in 2017 was ranked as the world’s least homophobic country. Now, the new plan hopes to further focus on wellbeing, ensuring the health and protection of LGBTQ+ youth, elderly people, and disabled people, as well as protections against LGBTQ+ domestic violence.

The President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele announced via Twitter his decision to suspend the contract between the Teacher Training Institute and the state television station to prevent the broadcast of sexual identity content. He made the move after pressure came from people who said their kids were being taught "gender ideology". The program contained an animated video that went viral explaining to eighth grade students that, from puberty, adolescents could have attraction towards other people, even of the same gender.

As Presentes explains, prior to his election, Bukele spoke in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, but on the first day of his term, he closed the government’s Inclusion office and adopted a conservative stance. In the Central American country, the Catholic and Evangelical churches of different denominations have a great influence on executive and legislative decisions.

Accountable for Equality Action screenshot

After a new database was released that allows users to look into the politicians supported by major companies. Coca-Cola, Disney and Pfizer were named among companies funding anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion politicians.

Accountable for Equality Action (AFEA), the organization responsible for the investigation, says the initiative was launched to “measure allyship based on corporate contributions.” The database tracks donations, from 2016 on, made by corporations to the U.S. politicians behind legislation blocking LGBTQ+, voting and reproductive rights, as reported by Pink News.

Coca-Cola is reported to have given $93,078 to 125 state legislators who were listed as co-sponsors of “insurrectionist, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-voting rights, and anti-choice legislation.” Walmart donated $496,497, Walt Disney gave $32,000, energy company Chevron gave $353,900, and pharmaceutical company Pfizer handed over $364,250 in anti-LGBTQ+ donations. Other major companies listed on the database include Target, Rite Aid, Expedia, Facebook, Airbnb, T-Mobile, Paypal, Ebay, McDonald’s, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Home Depot.

Virgin Atlantic announced it was changing its uniform policy to make it more inclusive. The British airline’s crew, pilots and ground teams will no longer have to wear gendered uniforms and may instead choose the outfit they feel most comfortable in, “no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.”

Optional pronoun badges have also been introduced both for crew and passengers and gender neutral “U” or “X” codes are now available in the company's booking system for people holding gender neutral passports. Virgin Atlantic had scrapped its mandatory makeup requirement for female staff in 2019 and earlier this year, it had also become the first airline in the UK to allow visible tattoos.

For the first time ever, Brazil has elected three transsexual federal deputies: Robeyoncé Lima, Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton. Sunday’s election for the Congress included 11 political parties that presented candidates for election within the category.

Although many were disappointed with Brazil’s presidential election result, hoping to see a first-round win for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both transgender candidates won their elections easily, promising to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Lula faces off against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro on Oct. 30.

Alba Rueda's official Facebook page

Trans activist Alba Rueda was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the 100 leaders of the future. She holds the position of Special Representative of Argentina on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the Foreign Ministry and was one of the activists for the Gender Identity Law as well as for equal marriage. She also founded and presided over Mujeres Trans Argentina, a trailblazing organization.

A partial win for the American-Japanese gay couple now living in Japan who had sued the Tokyo District Court, claiming the government has repeatedly denied a long-term resident visa to the U.S. national. On Sept. 30, presiding judge Yoshitaka Ichihara ruled American Andrew High was eligible for a “designated activities” status which has to be renewed every 5 years, but denied both a long-term visa and sought damages of 1.1 million yen ($7,620).

High and his Japanese partner, Kohei, married in the U.S. in 2015 following the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, such unions are not legally recognized in Japan, where they moved a few years later. While overseas partners of Japanese citizens in heterosexual marriages may apply for extended residence status via a spouse visa or a long-term residency visa, the rule does not apply to same-sex couple. The American citizen has been residing in the country on a temporary visa and has been applying for a long-term resident visa five times since 2018.

The “designated activities” visa grants up to a five-year stay in Japan and is renewable. It is a “positive step forward”, High told the Japan Times adding he was still disappointed with the court’s decision.

To protest Republican governor Glenn Youngkin's proposed rollback of transgender rights, Pride Liberation Project, a student-led organization, coordinated walkouts with students at nearly 100 schools across the U.S. state of Virginia on Tuesday.

Laws published in 2021 under the previous Democratic governor, Gov. Ralph Northam, attempted to create a safe and healthy atmosphere for all students, stating that schools should “minimize social stigmatization for such students and maximize opportunities for social integration.”

The new policies seem to undo all of the affirming and inclusive measures previously implemented, stating that students should use the name and gender assigned to them at birth, especially when it comes to using bathrooms, playing on sports teams and other extracurricular activities.

Hundreds of people took part in the 18th edition of the Soweto Pride on Sept. 24, marching through the streets of the South African township to raise public awareness on prejudice, harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ people. “We live in these townships which are very violent towards queer bodies. So marching is a form of saying we are here, we exist. It’s a political programme,” said Azania Sengwayo, executive director of the organization Vaal LGBTI.

Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology said in a statement on Tuesday that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act is “not in line with the Shariah”, as “several provisions of the act are inconsistent with Islamic principles.”

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, passed in 2018 by the National Assembly, allows transgender persons equal rights to education and voting, access basic health facilities, the ability to choose their name and gender on their ID cards and passports.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami has officially challenged the act in the Federal Shariat Court.

UN officials have joined human rights organizations on the call to halt the planned execution of two women, Zahra Seddiqi-Hamedani, 31, and Elham Choubdar, 24.

On Sept. 4, the two LGBTQ+ activists were sentenced to death by a court in Urmia, northwest Iran, for “spreading corruption on earth” by "promoting homosexuality", "promoting Christianity", and "communicating with the media opposing the Islamic Republic."

Iran’s legal system criminalizes homosexuality, which under the country’s Penal Code 2013 is punishable by death.

“We strongly condemn the sentencing of Ms. Sedighi-Hamadani and Ms. Choubdar to death, and call on authorities to stay their executions and annul their sentences as soon as possible,” says the UN statement. “Authorities must ensure the health and well-being of both women, and promptly release them from detention.” It came to light that Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani, arrested in October 2021, had been subjected to torture, deprived of the right to access a lawyer during her detention, under arrest arbitrarily against international standards. She attempted suicide on September 7.

In a video he posted on his Instagram account, celebrated Nigerian actor Godwin Maduagu tells of his struggles and eventually coming to terms with his sexuality, since a gay sex tape of him was leaked online last year.

He had previously denied appearing in the video, which he revealed was leaked by a friend in an effort to blackmail him after Maduagu shot to fame. The Nollywood star has now shared how, after having contemplated suicide, he ended up finding solace in coming out thanks to the support of his friends and family.

“Look at me now living my truth because I’ve now gotten a strong thick skin,” Maduagu says.

• Tune in to this new Irish-made podcast that highlights what it means to be an LGBTQ+ refugee.

• In the U.S, October is LGBTQ+ History Month. Here’s a look back at how it started, how it spread internationally, and why it’s important.

• Cat & dog lovers will appreciate this Gaysi article: Queer People On Finding Themselves Through Their Pets.

Slovenia became the first country in Eastern Europe to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption

Welcome to Worldcrunch’s LGBTQ+ International. We bring you up-to-speed each week on a topic you may follow closely at home, but can now see from different places and perspectives around the world. Discover the latest news on everything LGBTQ+ — from all corners of the planet. All in one smooth scroll!

✉️ You can receive our LGBTQ+ International roundup every week directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

TW: This content may address topics and include references to violence that some may find distressing.

🇸🇮 Slovenia Becomes First Eastern European Country To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption The Slovenian parliament passed an amendment on Tuesday allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt, making it the first country from behind the former Iron Curtain to do so. The change comes after a July ruling that Slovenia’s existing law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman discriminated against gay and lesbian couples. Although the country’s main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, criticized the court's decision and organized several rallies against the new law, Slovenia is now the first former communist country in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage. "With these changes, we are recognizing the rights of same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time," said State Secretary Simon Maljevac.🇮🇸 Iceland To Introduce Key Measures To Improve Trans Lives Iceland has introduced a new LGBTQ+ action plan, which will set landmark changes to the country’s LGBTQ+ policy. The country’s Parliament will initiate the changes from 2022 to 2025, including an end to the discriminatory blood donation policy, training in LGBTQ+ issues for the police, as well as improvements in Trans healthcare. Iceland already has LGBTQ+ protections in place for its citizens, and in 2017 was ranked as the world’s least homophobic country. Now, the new plan hopes to further focus on wellbeing, ensuring the health and protection of LGBTQ+ youth, elderly people, and disabled people, as well as protections against LGBTQ+ domestic violence.​🇸🇻 El Salvador Bans Gay-Friendly Sex Ed Show From State TV The President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele announced via Twitter his decision to suspend the contract between the Teacher Training Institute and the state television station to prevent the broadcast of sexual identity content. He made the move after pressure came from people who said their kids were being taught "gender ideology". The program contained an animated video that went viral explaining to eighth grade students that, from puberty, adolescents could have attraction towards other people, even of the same gender. As Presentes explains, prior to his election, Bukele spoke in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, but on the first day of his term, he closed the government’s Inclusion office and adopted a conservative stance. In the Central American country, the Catholic and Evangelical churches of different denominations have a great influence on executive and legislative decisions.​🌐 Coca-Cola, Disney And Pfizer Accused Of Funding Anti-LGBTQ+ And Anti-Abortion Politicians Accountable for Equality Action screenshot After a new database was released that allows users to look into the politicians supported by major companies. Coca-Cola, Disney and Pfizer were named among companies funding anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion politicians. Accountable for Equality Action (AFEA), the organization responsible for the investigation, says the initiative was launched to “measure allyship based on corporate contributions.” The database tracks donations, from 2016 on, made by corporations to the U.S. politicians behind legislation blocking LGBTQ+, voting and reproductive rights, as reported by Pink News. Coca-Cola is reported to have given $93,078 to 125 state legislators who were listed as co-sponsors of “insurrectionist, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-voting rights, and anti-choice legislation.” Walmart donated $496,497, Walt Disney gave $32,000, energy company Chevron gave $353,900, and pharmaceutical company Pfizer handed over $364,250 in anti-LGBTQ+ donations. Other major companies listed on the database include Target, Rite Aid, Expedia, Facebook, Airbnb, T-Mobile, Paypal, Ebay, McDonald’s, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Home Depot.🇬🇧 Virgin Atlantic Launches New Gender-Neutral Uniform Policy Virgin Atlantic announced it was changing its uniform policy to make it more inclusive. The British airline’s crew, pilots and ground teams will no longer have to wear gendered uniforms and may instead choose the outfit they feel most comfortable in, “no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.” Optional pronoun badges have also been introduced both for crew and passengers and gender neutral “U” or “X” codes are now available in the company's booking system for people holding gender neutral passports. Virgin Atlantic had scrapped its mandatory makeup requirement for female staff in 2019 and earlier this year, it had also become the first airline in the UK to allow visible tattoos.🇧🇷 Brazil Elects Three Trans Federal Deputies For First Time For the first time ever, Brazil has elected three transsexual federal deputies: Robeyoncé Lima, Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton. Sunday’s election for the Congress included 11 political parties that presented candidates for election within the category. Although many were disappointed with Brazil’s presidential election result, hoping to see a first-round win for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both transgender candidates won their elections easily, promising to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Lula faces off against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro on Oct. 30.🇦🇷 Argentine Trans Activist Alba Rueda Included In TIME’s “100 Leaders Of The Future” Alba Rueda's official Facebook page Trans activist Alba Rueda was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the 100 leaders of the future. She holds the position of Special Representative of Argentina on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the Foreign Ministry and was one of the activists for the Gender Identity Law as well as for equal marriage. She also founded and presided over Mujeres Trans Argentina, a trailblazing organization. 🇯🇵 🇺🇸 U.S. Husband Of Japanese National Sues Government Over Long-Term Visa Rules A partial win for the American-Japanese gay couple now living in Japan who had sued the Tokyo District Court, claiming the government has repeatedly denied a long-term resident visa to the U.S. national. On Sept. 30, presiding judge Yoshitaka Ichihara ruled American Andrew High was eligible for a “designated activities” status which has to be renewed every 5 years, but denied both a long-term visa and sought damages of 1.1 million yen ($7,620). High and his Japanese partner, Kohei, married in the U.S. in 2015 following the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, such unions are not legally recognized in Japan, where they moved a few years later. While overseas partners of Japanese citizens in heterosexual marriages may apply for extended residence status via a spouse visa or a long-term residency visa, the rule does not apply to same-sex couple. The American citizen has been residing in the country on a temporary visa and has been applying for a long-term resident visa five times since 2018. The “designated activities” visa grants up to a five-year stay in Japan and is renewable. It is a “positive step forward”, High told the Japan Times adding he was still disappointed with the court’s decision.​🇺🇸 12,000 Virginia Students Walk Out In Protest Of Anti-Trans Policies To protest Republican governor Glenn Youngkin's proposed rollback of transgender rights, Pride Liberation Project, a student-led organization, coordinated walkouts with students at nearly 100 schools across the U.S. state of Virginia on Tuesday. Laws published in 2021 under the previous Democratic governor, Gov. Ralph Northam, attempted to create a safe and healthy atmosphere for all students, stating that schools should “minimize social stigmatization for such students and maximize opportunities for social integration.” The new policies seem to undo all of the affirming and inclusive measures previously implemented, stating that students should use the name and gender assigned to them at birth, especially when it comes to using bathrooms, playing on sports teams and other extracurricular activities.🇿🇦 Soweto Pride, Raising Awareness In Violent Townships franceinsouthafrica via Instagram Hundreds of people took part in the 18th edition of the Soweto Pride on Sept. 24, marching through the streets of the South African township to raise public awareness on prejudice, harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ people. “We live in these townships which are very violent towards queer bodies. So marching is a form of saying we are here, we exist. It’s a political programme,” said Azania Sengwayo, executive director of the organization Vaal LGBTI. 🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Council Of Islamic Ideology Says 2018 Transgender Law “Not In Line With Shariah” Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology said in a statement on Tuesday that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act is “not in line with the Shariah”, as “several provisions of the act are inconsistent with Islamic principles.” The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, passed in 2018 by the National Assembly, allows transgender persons equal rights to education and voting, access basic health facilities, the ability to choose their name and gender on their ID cards and passports. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami has officially challenged the act in the Federal Shariat Court.🇮🇷 UN Officials Demand Iran Halts Planned Execution Of LGBTQ+ Activists UN officials have joined human rights organizations on the call to halt the planned execution of two women, Zahra Seddiqi-Hamedani, 31, and Elham Choubdar, 24. On Sept. 4, the two LGBTQ+ activists were sentenced to death by a court in Urmia, northwest Iran, for “spreading corruption on earth” by "promoting homosexuality", "promoting Christianity", and "communicating with the media opposing the Islamic Republic." Iran’s legal system criminalizes homosexuality, which under the country’s Penal Code 2013 is punishable by death. “We strongly condemn the sentencing of Ms. Sedighi-Hamadani and Ms. Choubdar to death, and call on authorities to stay their executions and annul their sentences as soon as possible,” says the UN statement. “Authorities must ensure the health and well-being of both women, and promptly release them from detention.” It came to light that Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani, arrested in October 2021, had been subjected to torture, deprived of the right to access a lawyer during her detention, under arrest arbitrarily against international standards. She attempted suicide on September 7.​🇳🇬 Nollywood Actor Godwin Maduagu Comes Out After Sex Tape Blackmail Official Instagram account In a video he posted on his Instagram account, celebrated Nigerian actor Godwin Maduagu tells of his struggles and eventually coming to terms with his sexuality, since a gay sex tape of him was leaked online last year. He had previously denied appearing in the video, which he revealed was leaked by a friend in an effort to blackmail him after Maduagu shot to fame. The Nollywood star has now shared how, after having contemplated suicide, he ended up finding solace in coming out thanks to the support of his friends and family. “Look at me now living my truth because I’ve now gotten a strong thick skin,” Maduagu says.OTHERWISE • Tune in to this new Irish-made podcast that highlights what it means to be an LGBTQ+ refugee. • In the U.S, October is LGBTQ+ History Month. Here’s a look back at how it started, how it spread internationally, and why it’s important. • Cat & dog lovers will appreciate this Gaysi article: Queer People On Finding Themselves Through Their Pets.• NPR speaks with Dr. Nasser Mohammed, an activist who is using the soccer World Cup in Qatar to highlight the country's poor record on LGBTQ+ rights.

The Slovenian parliament passed an amendment on Tuesday allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt, making it the first country from behind the former Iron Curtain to do so. The change comes after a July ruling that Slovenia’s existing law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman discriminated against gay and lesbian couples.

Although the country’s main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, criticized the court's decision and organized several rallies against the new law, Slovenia is now the first former communist country in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage.

"With these changes, we are recognizing the rights of same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time," said State Secretary Simon Maljevac.

Iceland has introduced a new LGBTQ+ action plan, which will set landmark changes to the country’s LGBTQ+ policy. The country’s Parliament will initiate the changes from 2022 to 2025, including an end to the discriminatory blood donation policy, training in LGBTQ+ issues for the police, as well as improvements in Trans healthcare.

Iceland already has LGBTQ+ protections in place for its citizens, and in 2017 was ranked as the world’s least homophobic country. Now, the new plan hopes to further focus on wellbeing, ensuring the health and protection of LGBTQ+ youth, elderly people, and disabled people, as well as protections against LGBTQ+ domestic violence.

The President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele announced via Twitter his decision to suspend the contract between the Teacher Training Institute and the state television station to prevent the broadcast of sexual identity content. He made the move after pressure came from people who said their kids were being taught "gender ideology". The program contained an animated video that went viral explaining to eighth grade students that, from puberty, adolescents could have attraction towards other people, even of the same gender.

As Presentes explains, prior to his election, Bukele spoke in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, but on the first day of his term, he closed the government’s Inclusion office and adopted a conservative stance. In the Central American country, the Catholic and Evangelical churches of different denominations have a great influence on executive and legislative decisions.

Accountable for Equality Action screenshot

After a new database was released that allows users to look into the politicians supported by major companies. Coca-Cola, Disney and Pfizer were named among companies funding anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion politicians.

Accountable for Equality Action (AFEA), the organization responsible for the investigation, says the initiative was launched to “measure allyship based on corporate contributions.” The database tracks donations, from 2016 on, made by corporations to the U.S. politicians behind legislation blocking LGBTQ+, voting and reproductive rights, as reported by Pink News.

Coca-Cola is reported to have given $93,078 to 125 state legislators who were listed as co-sponsors of “insurrectionist, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-voting rights, and anti-choice legislation.” Walmart donated $496,497, Walt Disney gave $32,000, energy company Chevron gave $353,900, and pharmaceutical company Pfizer handed over $364,250 in anti-LGBTQ+ donations. Other major companies listed on the database include Target, Rite Aid, Expedia, Facebook, Airbnb, T-Mobile, Paypal, Ebay, McDonald’s, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Home Depot.

Virgin Atlantic announced it was changing its uniform policy to make it more inclusive. The British airline’s crew, pilots and ground teams will no longer have to wear gendered uniforms and may instead choose the outfit they feel most comfortable in, “no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.”

Optional pronoun badges have also been introduced both for crew and passengers and gender neutral “U” or “X” codes are now available in the company's booking system for people holding gender neutral passports. Virgin Atlantic had scrapped its mandatory makeup requirement for female staff in 2019 and earlier this year, it had also become the first airline in the UK to allow visible tattoos.

For the first time ever, Brazil has elected three transsexual federal deputies: Robeyoncé Lima, Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton. Sunday’s election for the Congress included 11 political parties that presented candidates for election within the category.

Although many were disappointed with Brazil’s presidential election result, hoping to see a first-round win for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both transgender candidates won their elections easily, promising to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Lula faces off against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro on Oct. 30.

Alba Rueda's official Facebook page

Trans activist Alba Rueda was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the 100 leaders of the future. She holds the position of Special Representative of Argentina on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the Foreign Ministry and was one of the activists for the Gender Identity Law as well as for equal marriage. She also founded and presided over Mujeres Trans Argentina, a trailblazing organization.

A partial win for the American-Japanese gay couple now living in Japan who had sued the Tokyo District Court, claiming the government has repeatedly denied a long-term resident visa to the U.S. national. On Sept. 30, presiding judge Yoshitaka Ichihara ruled American Andrew High was eligible for a “designated activities” status which has to be renewed every 5 years, but denied both a long-term visa and sought damages of 1.1 million yen ($7,620).

High and his Japanese partner, Kohei, married in the U.S. in 2015 following the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, such unions are not legally recognized in Japan, where they moved a few years later. While overseas partners of Japanese citizens in heterosexual marriages may apply for extended residence status via a spouse visa or a long-term residency visa, the rule does not apply to same-sex couple. The American citizen has been residing in the country on a temporary visa and has been applying for a long-term resident visa five times since 2018.

The “designated activities” visa grants up to a five-year stay in Japan and is renewable. It is a “positive step forward”, High told the Japan Times adding he was still disappointed with the court’s decision.

To protest Republican governor Glenn Youngkin's proposed rollback of transgender rights, Pride Liberation Project, a student-led organization, coordinated walkouts with students at nearly 100 schools across the U.S. state of Virginia on Tuesday.

Laws published in 2021 under the previous Democratic governor, Gov. Ralph Northam, attempted to create a safe and healthy atmosphere for all students, stating that schools should “minimize social stigmatization for such students and maximize opportunities for social integration.”

The new policies seem to undo all of the affirming and inclusive measures previously implemented, stating that students should use the name and gender assigned to them at birth, especially when it comes to using bathrooms, playing on sports teams and other extracurricular activities.

Hundreds of people took part in the 18th edition of the Soweto Pride on Sept. 24, marching through the streets of the South African township to raise public awareness on prejudice, harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ people. “We live in these townships which are very violent towards queer bodies. So marching is a form of saying we are here, we exist. It’s a political programme,” said Azania Sengwayo, executive director of the organization Vaal LGBTI.

Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology said in a statement on Tuesday that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act is “not in line with the Shariah”, as “several provisions of the act are inconsistent with Islamic principles.”

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, passed in 2018 by the National Assembly, allows transgender persons equal rights to education and voting, access basic health facilities, the ability to choose their name and gender on their ID cards and passports.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami has officially challenged the act in the Federal Shariat Court.

UN officials have joined human rights organizations on the call to halt the planned execution of two women, Zahra Seddiqi-Hamedani, 31, and Elham Choubdar, 24.

On Sept. 4, the two LGBTQ+ activists were sentenced to death by a court in Urmia, northwest Iran, for “spreading corruption on earth” by "promoting homosexuality", "promoting Christianity", and "communicating with the media opposing the Islamic Republic."

Iran’s legal system criminalizes homosexuality, which under the country’s Penal Code 2013 is punishable by death.

“We strongly condemn the sentencing of Ms. Sedighi-Hamadani and Ms. Choubdar to death, and call on authorities to stay their executions and annul their sentences as soon as possible,” says the UN statement. “Authorities must ensure the health and well-being of both women, and promptly release them from detention.” It came to light that Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani, arrested in October 2021, had been subjected to torture, deprived of the right to access a lawyer during her detention, under arrest arbitrarily against international standards. She attempted suicide on September 7.

In a video he posted on his Instagram account, celebrated Nigerian actor Godwin Maduagu tells of his struggles and eventually coming to terms with his sexuality, since a gay sex tape of him was leaked online last year.

He had previously denied appearing in the video, which he revealed was leaked by a friend in an effort to blackmail him after Maduagu shot to fame. The Nollywood star has now shared how, after having contemplated suicide, he ended up finding solace in coming out thanks to the support of his friends and family.

“Look at me now living my truth because I’ve now gotten a strong thick skin,” Maduagu says.

• Tune in to this new Irish-made podcast that highlights what it means to be an LGBTQ+ refugee.

• In the U.S, October is LGBTQ+ History Month. Here’s a look back at how it started, how it spread internationally, and why it’s important.

• Cat & dog lovers will appreciate this Gaysi article: Queer People On Finding Themselves Through Their Pets.

The toppling of statues and other political symbols creates new spaces that are themselves a reckoning for society.

The Monument to the Liberators of Riga is taken down in Riga, Latvia.

In the Latvian capital of Riga, an 80-meter concrete obelisk came crashing down in late August to the loud cheers of a nearby crowd. It was created to commemorate the Soviet Army’s capture of Latvia in 1944.

Days earlier in Estonia, another Soviet monument, this time of a tank adorned with the communist red star, was removed and taken to reside in a museum.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

Such scenes are happening all over central and eastern Europe – in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. The removal or destruction of Soviet-era monuments is a powerful reminder of the complex relationship that exists between history, memory and politics.

Monuments are powerful instruments of propaganda, making the events of the past visible in the present. Public art of this type defines the heroes of history and writes the story of a nation’s identity. But these objects being removed reflect (and create) conflicting histories and interpretations of the aftermath of war. Public memory is not uniform or static.

Statues and memorials erected in the years after World War II are prime examples. Intended to commemorate liberation from Nazism, they were also symbols of Soviet power and presence in eastern Europe and political and military occupation.

As a result, memorials, statues and monuments that appear to propagate communism or commemorate the Soviet past have also been subject either to government-sanctioned removal or, more commonly, defacement, marginalisation or repurposing. Their removal is not a destruction or an erasure of history, but a creation of a new way of remembering.

In Ukraine, the “Decommunization” law passed in April 2015 prohibited the use of communist symbols and propaganda in monuments, places and street names. More than 2,000 monuments to Ukraine’s communist past were removed between 2015 and 2020, following the Russian annexation of Crimea.

An updated law on decommunization in Poland in 2017 enforced the removal of monuments and memorials to individuals and events that symbolised communism or other forms of totalitarianism. Driven by the Russian war in Ukraine, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance intensified its efforts to decommunize public spaces. In March 2022 its head, Karol Nawrocki, called for swift action to remove symbols that might promote communism from public spaces.

Soviet-era monuments have also been removed from public places in Estonia, to ensure – in the words of the prime minister, Kaja Kallas – that Russia would be denied any opportunity to “use the past to disturb the peace”.

In Latvia’s capital, Riga, as the Soviet war memorial was demolished, The city’s mayor, Mārtiņš Staķis, argued that the monument had glorified Russian war crimes, and should be demolished physically and “in the hearts as well”.

But the removal of visible memorials to the Soviet era has been divisive. Such monuments and imagery were a prominent part of the landscape, and their removal has fuelled arguments about national identity and history. For some observers, de-communisation was necessary to prevent the rise of oppressive regimes.

For others, the disappearance of statues and military monuments was a visible, forceful and unjustified attempt to erase a nation’s past, however troubled it was. Among them was a spokesman for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who condemned the removal of Soviet-era monuments as a “war against history”.

When statues are toppled and monuments are torn down, we witness a physical assault on both the object and the people and events that it symbolizes. Destruction is intended to break our link with the past, defacement shows the object – and what or who it symbolizes – to be powerless, unable to defend itself.

The destruction of public monuments has a long history. “Damnatio memoriae” (the condemnation of memory) summarizes the practice of the Roman world, in which the emperor, Senate or wider populace could act to condemn the actions and memory of previous rulers.

Statues were pulled down, coins melted, and written records destroyed. In the Panegyrici Latini, the writer and philosopher Pliny the Elder describes participants’ delight when vengeance was enacted upon the hated dead.

But were the condemned dead forgotten, their memory and history “wiped out” by such actions? Or do we remember them, just in a different interpretation of the past?

We can observe such competing narratives in the interpretation of the ruins of medieval monasteries that remain visible on the English landscape. For many Protestant reformers of the 16th and 17th centuries, these “bare ruined choirs” were a monument to the successful suppression of “false religion” (Catholicism) in England. But opponents of religious change viewed those same ruins with nostalgia, and mourned the lost monastic life.

Likewise, the statue of King George III, installed by the British in Bowling Green park in New York, was toppled and melted in 1776 after the reading of the Declaration of Independence. But the empty plinth and surrounding fence remain as a monument to a different historical narrative, that commemorates the revolutionaries’ successful defeat of an oppressive British state.

“Decommunization” in Ukraine created new physical and mental spaces, with some monuments destroyed and others replaced with religious figures, flowers, or left empty. Dust and rubble remind us of what once stood on that same spot.

Statues and monuments commemorate the past for a present and future audience. They build a landscape and environment that is made up of layers of human culture and memory, which can be both created and destroyed. But empty spaces left by statues communicate a message that is as powerful as the propaganda of the statue itself.

The destruction of material objects and the destruction of human memory are not the same. History, memory and politics are, and always have been, closely intertwined and the link between remembering and forgetting is stronger than we might think.

The toppling of statues and other political symbols creates new spaces that are themselves a reckoning for society.

In one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, thousands of Italian minors lost a parent or caregiver to COVID. However, unlike other places, Italy has yet to set out a clear plan to support them, leaving them more vulnerable to mental health issues, and even abuse.

Russia has begun evacuating pro-Moscow residents in the Kherson region after a Russian official in the partially occupied area said residents should leave for their own safety.

Central to the tragic absurdity of this war is the question of language. Vladimir Putin has repeated that protecting ethnic Russians and the Russian-speaking populations of Ukraine was a driving motivation for his invasion.

Yet one month on, a quick look at the map shows that many of the worst-hit cities are those where Russian is the predominant language: Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson.

Then there is Mariupol, under siege and symbol of Putin’s cruelty. In the largest city on the Azov Sea, with a population of half a million people, Ukrainians make up slightly less than half of the city's population, and Mariupol's second-largest national ethnicity is Russians. As of 2001, when the last census was conducted, 89.5% of the city's population identified Russian as their mother tongue.

Between 2018 and 2019, I spent several months in Mariupol. It is a rugged but beautiful city dotted with Soviet-era architecture, featuring wide avenues and hillside parks, and an extensive industrial zone stretching along the shoreline. There was a vibrant youth culture and art scene, with students developing projects to turn their city into a regional cultural center with an international photography festival.

There were also many offices of international NGOs and human rights organizations, a consequence of the fact that Mariupol was the last major city before entering the occupied zone of Donbas. Many natives of the contested regions of Luhansk and Donetsk had moved there, taking jobs in restaurants and hospitals. I had fond memories of the welcoming from locals who were quicker to smile than in some other parts of Ukraine. All of this is gone.

According to the latest data from the local authorities, 80% of the port city has been destroyed by Russian bombs, artillery fire and missile attacks, with particularly egregious targeting of civilians, including a maternity hospital, a theater where more than 1,000 people had taken shelter and a school where some 400 others were hiding.

The official civilian death toll of Mariupol is estimated at more than 3,000. There are no language or ethnic-based statistics of the victims, but it’s likely the majority were Russian speakers.

So let’s be clear, Putin is bombing the very people he has claimed to want to rescue.

Putin’s Public Enemy No. 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is a mother-tongue Russian speaker who’d made a successful acting and comedy career in Russian-language broadcasting, having extensively toured Russian cities for years.

Rescuers carry a person injured during a shelling by Russian troops of Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine.

Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

Yes, the official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, and a 2019 law aimed to ensure that it is used in public discourse, but no one has ever sought to abolish the Russian language in everyday life. In none of the cities that are now being bombed by the Russian army to supposedly liberate them has the Russian language been suppressed or have the Russian-speaking population been discriminated against.

Sociologist Mikhail Mishchenko explains that studies have found that the vast majority of Ukrainians don’t consider language a political issue. For reasons of history, culture and the similarities of the two languages, Ukraine is effectively a bilingual nation.

"The overwhelming majority of the population speaks both languages, Russian and Ukrainian,” Mishchenko explains. “Those who say they understand Russian poorly and have difficulty communicating in it are just over 4% percent. Approximately the same number of people say the same about Ukrainian.”

In general, there is no problem of communication and understanding. Often there will be conversations where one person speaks Ukrainian, and the other responds in Russian. Geographically, the Russian language is more dominant in the eastern and central parts of Ukraine, and Ukrainian in the west.

Like most central Ukrainians I am perfectly bilingual: for me, Ukrainian and Russian are both native languages that I have used since childhood in Kyiv. My generation grew up on Russian rock, post-Soviet cinema, and translations of foreign literature into Russian. I communicate in Russian with my sister, and with my mother and daughter in Ukrainian. I write professionally in three languages: Ukrainian, Russian and English, and can also speak Polish, French, and a bit Japanese. My mother taught me that the more languages I know the more human I am.

At the same time, I am not Russian — nor British or Polish. I am Ukrainian. Ours is a nation with a long history and culture of its own, which has always included a multi-ethnic population: Russians, Belarusians, Moldovans, Crimean Tatars, Bulgarians, Romanians, Hungarians, Poles, Jews, Greeks. We all, they all, have found our place on Ukrainian soil. We speak different languages, pray in different churches, we have different traditions, clothes, and cuisine.

Like in other countries, these differences have been the source of conflict in our past. But it is who we are and will always be, and real progress has been made over the past three decades to embrace our multitudes. Our Jewish, Russian-speaking president is the most visible proof of that — and is in fact part of what our soldiers are fighting for.

Many in Moscow were convinced that Russian troops would be welcomed in Ukraine as liberating heroes by Russian speakers. Instead, young soldiers are forced to shoot at people who scream in their native language.

Starving people ina street of Kharkiv in 1933, during the famine

Diocesan Archive of Vienna (Diözesanarchiv Wien)/BA Innitzer

Putin has tried to rally the troops by warning that in Ukraine a “genocide” of ethnic Russians is being carried out by a government that must be “de-nazified.”

These are, of course, words with specific definitions that carry the full weight of history. The Ukrainian people know what genocide is not from books. In my hometown of Kyiv, German soldiers massacred Jews en masse. My grandfather survived the Buchenwald concentration camp, liberated by the U.S. army. My great-grandmother, who died at the age of 95, survived the 1932-33 famine when the Red Army carried out the genocide of the Ukrainian middle class, and her sister disappeared in the camps of Siberia, convicted for defying rationing to try to feed her children during the famine.

On Tuesday, came a notable report of one of the latest civilian deaths in the besieged Russian-speaking city of Kharkiv: a 96-year-old had been killed when shelling hit his apartment building. The victim’s name was Boris Romanchenko; he had survived Buchenwald and two other Nazi concentration camps during World War II. As President Zelensky noted: Hitler didn’t manage to kill him, but Putin did.

Genocide has returned to Ukraine, from Kharkiv to Kherson to Mariupol, as Vladimir Putin had warned. But it is his own genocide against the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine.