News
Croatian voters approve same-sex marriage ban
LGBT activists criticize referendum
The Associated Press reported the referendum passed by a 65-34 percent margin.
“Marriage is the only union enabling procreation,” said Croatian Cardinal Josip Bozanić, according to the news agency. “This is the key difference between a marriage and other unions.”
Other European opponents of marriage rights for same-sex couples also applauded the vote.
“This is very good news,” said Ludovine de la Rochère, president of La Manif Pour Tous, a group that led efforts against France’s same-sex marriage law that took effect in May. “We are very happy for Croatians who are going to set in stone man-woman marriage.”
The National Organization for Marriage praised the referendum’s outcome on its blog.
“Despite the usual cries from the left that this vote evinces an animus against gay and lesbian persons, the reasoning for those supporting the initiative is the same common-sense value system that has led to marriage victories in so many states here in America,” the organization wrote.
The AP reported several hundred LGBT rights supporters marched in the Croatian capital of Zagreb on Nov. 30 against the proposed constitutional amendment.
President Ivo Josipović also voted against the proposal.
“The referendum result must not be the reason for new divisions,” he said as the AP reported. “We have serious economic and social problems. It’s not worth it to focus on such issues.”
ILGA-Europe, which held its annual conference in Zagreb in late October, criticized Croatian parliamentarians who allowed the same-sex marriage referendum to take place.
“We believe human rights and issues concerning minority groups cannot and should not be subjected to the popular vote in the first place,” said Gabi Calleja, co-chair of the ILGA-Europe Executive Board. “In a democracy, elected officials have a clear responsibility to safeguard human rights of everyone and not to allow democratic tools to be abused to restrict the rights of minority groups.”
Portugal, Spain, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark are among the other European countries that have extended marriage rights to gays and lesbians.
Same-sex couples will be able to legally marry in England and Wales next year.
A bill that seeks to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples in Scotland on Nov. 20 cleared its first hurdle. Irish voters in 2015 will consider a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow gay nuptials in the country.
Croatia, which officially joined the European Union in July, bans anti-LGBT discrimination. The country’s hate crimes law also includes sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
The AP quoted Josipović as saying his government will seek to extend legal benefits to same-sex couples who live together. He said in a video message to those who attended the ILGA-Europe conference in Zagreb that human rights “imply the right of every human being to achieve his or her potential in that which he or she is.”
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.
Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.
The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.
Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.
Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.
“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”
“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”
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Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”
McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”
Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”
On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.
Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.
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