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Colombia marriage deadline approaches

Some notaries and judges will refuse to allow gays to register relationships

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Colombia, Senate, gay news, Washington Blade
Colombia, Senate, gay news, Washington Blade

The Colombian Senate (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Even though same-sex couples in Colombia will be able to legally register their relationships on Friday, it remains unclear whether some notaries and even judges will allow them to do so.

The country’s Constitutional Court in 2011 ruled gays and lesbians can legally register their relationships after June 20 if lawmakers failed to extend to them the same benefits heterosexuals receive through marriage. The Colombian Senate in April overwhelmingly rejected a measure that would have allowed same-sex couples to tie the knot in the South American country.

Marcela SĆ”nchez Buitrago, executive director of Colombia Diversa, an LGBT advocacy group, told the Washington Blade on Monday that some notaries have already said they will not marry same-sex couples after the court’s deadline passes. They would instead allow them to enter into a “solemn contract” that is similar to an agreement between two people who buy a house together.

“This in the view of Colombia Diversa does not comply with the Constitutional Court’s order,” SĆ”nchez said.

Colombia Diversa and other LGBT advocacy groups are advising couples who encounter a notary or a judge who refuses to allow them to register their relationships–or enter into a civil marriage as SĆ”nchez and other activists have described it–to petition a court to reverse the decision. Lina CuĆ©llar, director of Sentiido, an LGBT website she co-publishes in BogotĆ”, the country’s capital, told the Blade she expects some notaries and judges will accommodate gays and lesbians in the same way they treat heterosexual couples.

She said they will follow the court’s order, but it remains unclear how exactly they will interpret it.

“It is difficult to state concretely what is going to happen after June 20,” CuĆ©llar told the Blade.

Argentina is among the 12 countries in which same-sex couples can legally marry.

Gays and lesbians will be able to tie the knot in Uruguay and New Zealand in August.

Brazilian lawmakers have yet to consider a nationwide same-sex marriage bill in spite of a ruling from the country’s National Council of Justice last month that said registrars in the South American nation cannot deny marriage licenses to gay couples.

The U.S. Supreme Court later this month will issue rulings on the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Advocates remain critical of government’s response to marriage debate

Dr. Zayuri Tibaduiza, an advisor to Vice President Angelino Garzón, told the Blade during an interview last month at her BogotĆ” office the Colombian government respects both the Constitutional Court’s ruling and the Senate’s vote against the same-sex marriage bill. Advocates remain critical of President Juan Manuel Santos’ administration for what they maintain is its continued silence on the issue.

“There is a general discontent on how the government managed the situation, since they could have legislated on this topic,” CuĆ©llar said. “They instead waited until the Constitutional Court’s deadline when nothing could have been done.”

Even though she said one can describe the tribunal’s ruling as “ambiguous,” SĆ”nchez told the Blade it did not explicitly deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

“As of June 20, we are going to put this interpretation to the test,” she said. “We hope it will hold up because it is the one that recognizes equality for couples.”

Centro de Cuidadanƭa LGBTI SebastiƔn Romero, The SebastiƔn Romero LGBT Community Center, Teusaquillo section, BogotƔ, Colombia, gay news, Washington Blade, Bogota

Centro de Cuidadanƭa LGBTI SebastiƔn Romero (The SebastiƔn Romero LGBT Community Center) in the Teusaquillo section of BogotƔ. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Laura, a transgender woman who works at the SebastiĆ”n Romero LGBT Community Center in the Teusaquillo area of BogotĆ” that is named in honor of the first openly gay person elected to political office in Colombia told the Blade last month many people have what she described as a “limited understanding” of the same-sex marriage debate.

She noted during the same interview that anti-trans discrimination, homelessness and general mistreatment of LGBT people on the streets are among the problems that she and her colleagues continue to confront.

A report that Colombia Diversa released last month indicates 58 of the reported 280 LGBT Colombians who were murdered between 2011-2012 were killed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. The Latin American and Caribbean Network of Transgender Women (REDLACTRANS) noted in a separate report that 61 Colombian trans women have been reported murdered between 2005-2011.

“There are those who are definitely not interested in the (same-sex marriage campaign,) but simply want to gain their rights,” Laura said.

Opposition to same-sex marriage remains strong in Colombia, but CuĆ©llar said the “equality for all” message that came from the campaign in support of the issue has had a positive effect.

“A lot of allies have joined the cause,” CuĆ©llar said. “This has helped to widen the scope of what equality means in a country like Colombia.”

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Kenya

Kenya Red Cross-owned hotel to host anti-LGBTQ conference

Speakers from US, European countries to participate in May 12-17 gathering

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Plans to host a family values meeting next month in a 5-star hotel in Nairobi that the Kenya Red Cross Society co-owns have sparked an uproar among local queer rights groups.

The groups accuse the Kenya Red Cross of violating its Global Fund commitment of protecting key populations by allowing its Boma Hotel to host an ā€œanti-gender and anti-LGBTQā€ conference. 

Influential guest speakers from the U.S., the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland will preside over the Pan-African Conference on Family Values that will take place from May 12-17. The Kenyan advocacy groups say these speakers’ organizations are globally recognized for undermining LGBTQ rights.

ā€œAs the principal recipient of Global Fund in Kenya, hosting this event contradicts (the) Red Cross’s humanitarian mission and threatens the safety and dignity of people living with HIV, women and LGBTQ+ individuals, the communities that Kenya Red Cross Society has long committed to supporting,ā€ the queer rights groups state. 

The LGBTQ groups that have criticized the Kenya Red Cross include Upinde Advocates for Inclusion, the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination, and Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya. They have also launched an online signature collection drive to compel the Kenya Red Cross to withdraw the hotel from hosting the ā€œPromoting and Protecting Family Values in Challenging Timesā€-themed conference.

ā€œThe event’s so-called ‘family values’ narrative is a smokescreen for policies that push hateful legislation and promote death, discrimination, femicide, gender-based violence, and restrict fundamental freedoms across Africa,ā€ the groups said.  

The pro-life Western organizations that are scheduled to participate in the conference include Family Watch International from the U.S., CitizenGo from Spain, the Ordo Luris Institute from Poland, Christian Council International from the Netherlands, the New York-based Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM), and the Foundation for American Cultural Heritage. Their local counterparts include the National Council of Churches of Kenya, the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum, the Africa Christian Professionals Forum, and the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya.

C-FAM President Austin Ruse; Family Research Council Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs Travis Wever; Global Life Campaign Executive Director Thomas W. Jacobson; and the Rev. Ricky Chelette, executive director of Living Hope Ministries, Inc., and president of the Institute of Biblical Sexuality are among the U.S. guest speakers. Other participants include Henk Jan van Schthorst, president of Christian Council International’s board of directors, Ordo Luris Institute President Jerzy Kwasniewskie and his colleague, Rafal Dorosinski, director of the group’s Legal Analysis Center.Ā 

The Kenyan groups through their online petition — ā€œTell Red Cross Kenya Not to Give Hate a Platformā€ — has so far raised more than 1,000 of the 10,000 signatures they hope to collect. The petition is addressed to Red Cross Kenya Secretary-General Ahmed Idris and his predecessor, Abbas Gullet, who is the hotel’s director.

ā€œWe call on you to immediately cancel this booking and publicly reaffirm Red Cross’ commitment to human rights, health and inclusivity,ā€ the petition reads. ā€œFailure to act will raise concerns about whether (the) Red Cross can still be trusted by the community to lead with empathy and fight for their rights.ā€ 

The Kenya Red Cross, however, maintains the Boma Hotel is a separate entity, even though public records indicate it is one of the facility’s shareholders.

The LGBTQ groups note the hotel should be a safe space that promotes inclusion, not platforms that enable ā€œharmful gatheringā€ for hate and exclusion by ā€œdangerous groups.ā€   

ā€œBy providing a venue for this event, Red Cross directly enables a platform for hate and discrimination — a stark contradiction to the values of inclusivity, humanity, and nondiscrimination that the organization claims to uphold,ā€ they said. Ā 

The organizations further warn that proceeding to host the conference threatens the relationship between the Red Cross and the marginalized communities who have long depended on the humanitarian organization for support and protection. CitizenGo has nonetheless criticized the LGBTQ groups, which it describes as ā€œradical activist groupsā€ for ā€œtrying to silence a pro-family eventā€ and asked the Kenya Red Cross and the Boma Hotel not to back down.

ā€œThese groups are calling the event ‘hateful’ because it affirms the natural family — marriage between a man and a woman — and the dignity of every human life, including the unborn,ā€ Ann Kioko, the group’s campaign director for Africa and the U.N., said.

Through an online counter signature collection drive, Kioko holds CitizenGo and other groups won’t be intimidated, silenced or apologize to the queer rights groups for defending ā€œour families, our faith and our futureā€.  

ā€œThe real goal of these foreign-funded activist groups is to impose LGBTQ and gender ideologies on Africa — ideologies that have led elsewhere to the confusion of children, the breakdown of family structures and the rise of sexual libertinism that results in abortion, STIs and lifelong emotional and psychological trauma,ā€ Kioko stated.  

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India

Opposition from religious groups prompts Indian Pride group to cancel annual parade

Event was to have taken place in Amritsar on April 27

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(Washington Blade photo by Ernesto Valle)

Pride Amritsar, a student-led organization in the Indian state of Punjab, earlier this month announced the cancellation of its Pride parade that was scheduled to take place on April 27, citing opposition from certain religious groups.

The event, planned for the Rose Garden in Amritsar, a city revered as a spiritual center of Sikhism, had faced mounting resistance from Sikh religious organizations, including the Nihang Singh faction and the Akal Takht, the faith’s highest temporal authority. These groups labeled the parade as ā€œunnaturalā€ and urged local authorities to deny permission, citing its potential to disrupt the city’s religious sanctity.

In an Instagram post on April 6, Pride Amritsar organizers Ridham Chadha and Ramit Seth elaborated on its mission and the reasons for the cancellation. 

ā€œSince 2019, we have organized peaceful parades and celebrations in Amritsar to connect and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community, with a particular focus on transgender individuals and their rights,ā€ their statement read.

Chadha and Seth highlighted Pride Amritsar efforts in providing guidance, counseling, and job opportunities, which have been met with positive responses. However, due to opposition this year, Pride Amritsar announced the cancellation of the 2025 parade. 

ā€œWe have no intention of harming the sentiments of any religious or political groups,ā€ the statement read. ā€œThe safety of our members is our top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure their protection.ā€

Chadha and Seth spoke with the Washington Blade about their decision to cancel the parade.

They explained that resistance came from both religious and political groups who labeled the parade and its values as anti-Sikh and contrary to Punjabi and Indian cultural norms. Critics specifically objected to the event’s location in Amritsar, a city regarded as a sacred center of Sikhism, arguing that the parade would disrupt its spiritual purity.

Chadha and Seth stressed Pride Amritsar lacks political, financial, or legal support. Composed of students and young professionals, the group organizes the parade biennially, dedicating personal time to advocate for the LGBTQ community.

ā€œWe do it independently, crowdfund the parade and cover the rest with our pockets,ā€ said Seth and Chadha. 

When asked by the Blade why Pride Amritsar did not approach the High Court or local authorities to protect the parade, despite the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling that decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations, Chadha and Seth cited significant barriers.

ā€œPursuing legal action in India requires substantial resources, both financial and temporal,ā€ they explained. 

Chadha and Seth also noted that such action could lead to public shaming and unwanted publicity for participants, potentially harming their careers in Amritsar. They therefore chose not to pursue legal recourse.

Chadha and Seth said Pride Amritsar does not have any plans to hold alternative events.

ā€œWe are still exploring options, but we are likely not holding any events this year,ā€ they said, citing significant harassment that organizers faced and the need for time to plan how to best serve the local LGBTQ community moving forward.

ā€œOur evaluation of what the biggest challenge is has changed after this year,ā€ said Chadha and Seth to the Washington Blade. ā€œThe biggest challenge, by far, seems to be education. We need to educate the community about what the community is, does, and why it exists. Why we do parades. Why we dance. Why calling someone ā€˜chakka’ is harmful. How we actually fit into religion and fall within the guidelines.ā€

Chadha and Seth said organizing the parade in Amritsar since 2019 has been an uplifting experience, despite continued opposition.

ā€œThe moment you join the parade, chant a slogan, or sing a song, it’s transformative,ā€ they said. ā€œFear vanishes, and a sense of freedom takes over.ā€ 

The cancellation of the 2025 Amritsar Pride Parade has sparked concerns among activists in Punjab, as the Indian Express reported. 

The Punjab LGBT Alliance and other groups expressed concern that the decision to cancel the parade may strengthen opposition to future LGBTQ-specific events. 

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Australia

Australian LGBTQ rights group issues US travel advisory

Equality Australia warns transgender, nonbinary people of ‘serious risks’

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Equality Australia has issued a U.S. travel advisory.

An LGBTQ rights group in Australia has issued a travel advisory for transgender and nonbinary people who plan to visit the U.S.

Equality Australia on April 14 posted the advisory to its website that states the U.S. government’s policy on visas and Electronic System for Travel Authorization or ESTA “appears to be” the following:

• To use the term ā€œbiological sexā€

• To only use the gender marker recorded at a person’s birth, even if this differs from their gender

• That valid foreign passports with an ‘X’ gender marker and a valid visa (if needed) may continue to be admitted, however this is contingent upon satisfying inspection of their admissibility by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry

• That any previously issued, valid visa may remain current until its expiration date and the visa holder does not need to apply for a new visa with an amended gender marker until the current visa expires (it is unclear whether this applies to ESTAs)

• That new visas will only be issued under the gender marker recorded for the applicant at birth (it is unclear whether this applies to ESTA applications, although only ‘M’ and ‘F’ gender marker options are available for ESTA applications)

• That if consular officers assessing visa applications become aware an application does not contain the gender marker recorded at the applicant’s birth, they should assess additional evidence (such as previous travel records, although the scope is unclear), and/or conduct interviews and

• That where individuals are not using the gender marker recorded at their birth, consular officers should consider classifying the application as procuring a visa through material misrepresentation or fraud, which results in a lifetime bar from the U.S.

President Donald Trump shortly after he took office on Jan. 20 issued an executive order that bans the State Department from issuing passports with ā€œXā€ gender markers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in response to directive ordered State Department personnel to ā€œsuspend any application requesting an ā€˜X’ sex marker and do not take any further action pending additional guidance from the department.ā€ A federal judge in Boston on April 18 issued a temporary injunction against the Trump-Vance administration’s directive.

Equality Australia says its advisory is “relevant if you are traveling to the U.S.” and fall under the following criteria:

• Hold a passport with a gender ‘X’ marker

• Have identity documents with gender markers different to those assigned to you at birth, or where other relevant details (such as your name) have been changed

• Have gender markers in your identity documents that do not match your gender expression

• Have a track record of LGBTIQ+ activism or other political activity.

“Travel to the U.S. carries serious risks that should be considered before planning any travel, particularly if you fall under one of the above categories,” reads the advisory.

Germany, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands are among the countries that have issued travel advisories for trans and nonbinary people who plan to visit the U.S.

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.

InterPride, the organization that coordinates WorldPride events, on March 12 issued its own travel advisory for trans and nonbinary people who want to travel to the U.S. Egale Canada, one of Canada’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organizations, in February announced its members will not attend WorldPride and any other event in the U.S. because of the Trump-Vance administration’s policies.

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