News
Rep. Pocan elected co-chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus
Gay Wisconsin lawmaker seeks to become the ‘voice of resistance’ in Congress
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) was elected co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), one of six openly LGB members of the U.S. House, was elected Tuesday as a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Pocan said in a statement he wants to make the 75-member body “the voice of the resistance” against President Trump, accusing his administration of “attacking both the values we hold dear and the programs which provide vital services to people across the country”
βAll we need to do is take a look at the devastating cuts proposed in the budget President Trump released today to see the clear distinction between progressives and this Administration and Congress,” Pocan said. “I am proud to help lead the charge in Congress for progressive ideas that lay the foundation for our resistance in this era of Trump. The CPC will fight the fights against bad policies and offer positive alternatives which demonstrate progressives have a pulse on the will of the people and a plan forward.β
The largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus was established in 1991 and seeks to champion the “Progress Promise” in Congress. The four core principles of the promise are 1) fighting for economic justice and security for all; 2) protecting and preserving our civil rights and civil liberties; 3) promoting global peace and security; and 4) advancing environmental protection and energy independence.
Michael Darner, a Congressional Progressive Caucus spokesperson, said Pocan was elected unanimously for a term to serve as co-chair for the remainder of the 115th Congress.
Pocan assumes the co-chair position vacated by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn), who’s now the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee. Prior to his election as co-chair, Pocan had served since 2014 the caucus’ first vice-chair.
βAs an outgoing co-chair of the Caucus, I know the dedication and determination it takes to be a leader in the CPC,β Ellison said in a statement. βCongressman Mark Pocan has these qualities in abundance. He has been an active member of the CPC during his two terms in Congress and has been an outstanding first vice-chair of the CPC.β
Continuing to serve as co-chair of the caucus is Rep. RaΓΊl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who said in a statement he welcomes the election of Pocan as his fellow co-chair.
“Congressman Pocanβs commitment and leadership is especially crucial during these times,β Grijalva said. βI look forward to working with him to amplify the message and values of our Caucus and standing up for the millions of hard-working Americans we represent.β
Canada
Montreal Pride organizers cancel parade
A lack of security personnel prompted last-minute decision
Citing a lack of adequate security personnel, the organizers of the FiertΓ© MontrΓ©al Pride Parade abruptly cancelled Sunday’s parade. The event organizers told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation the decision was made in collaboration with MontrΓ©al police.
CBC reported that other Pride events taking place at the Esplanade du Parc olympique from 2 p.m. local time, including the closing show with Pabllo Vittar, will go on as as planned. Tens of thousands of people were expected to attend the parade.
π π’ππ«πΓ© ππ¨π§ππ«Γ©ππ₯ ππ«π’ππ πππ«πππ π’π¬ πππ§πππ₯π₯ππ: A lack of sufficient personnel to ensure security along the route has forced the organizers to cancel the event in agreement with the SPVM. Come join us at the Esplanade of the Olympic Park as of 2 p.m.
β FiertΓ© MTL Pride (@FierteMTLPride) August 7, 2022
En Espanol
Congreso Nacional de Chile deroga la ΓΊltima ley homofΓ³bica vigente del paΓs
Movilh celebrΓ³ el voto histΓ³rico
Nota del editor: El Washington Blade ha publicado una versiΓ³n de esta nota en inglΓ©s.
Durante la jornada del 2 de agosto, el Senado de Chile aprobΓ³ derogar el artΓculo 365 del CΓ³digo Penal que diferenciaba la edad de consentimiento sexual entre parejas homosexuales y heterosexuales, igualandola sin discriminaciΓ³n.
Dicho artΓculo era la ΓΊltima ley homofΓ³bica vigente en ese paΓs, que en los ΓΊltimos aΓ±os ha aumentado en legislaciones y polΓticas pΓΊblicas a favor de la poblaciΓ³n LGBTQ. En marzo de este aΓ±o entrΓ³ en vigencia el matrimonio igualitario con adopciΓ³n incluida.
Si bien el proyecto de ley iniciarΓ‘ un tercer trΓ‘mite en la CΓ‘mara de Diputados, la derogaciΓ³n del artΓculo 365 ya es un hecho, segΓΊn el Movimiento de IntegraciΓ³n y LiberaciΓ³n Homosexual (Movilh), la principal organizaciΓ³n LGBTQ en Chile, ya que este avance habΓa sido previamente aprobado en la CΓ‘mara de Diputados.
El hecho calificado como βhistΓ³ricoβ por el Movilh, que viene trabajando por su derogaciΓ³n desde 1999 porque βse trata de la eliminaciΓ³n de nuestro ordenamiento jurΓdico de la ΓΊltima ley explΓcitamente homofΓ³bica vigente en Chileβ, seΓ±alΓ³ la organizaciΓ³n que asistiΓ³ al Congreso Nacional para gestionar los respaldos a la iniciativa.
La organizaciΓ³n por los derechos LGBTQ chilenos que gestionΓ³ los votos de senadores, sostuvo que con el proyecto βaprobado hoy en el Senado se terminarΓ‘ con el estigma que pesa sobre los jΓ³venes homosexuales, cuya orientaciΓ³n y prΓ‘cticas sexuales son consideradas un delito pese a no existir abusos o atropellos de por medio contra terceras personas y pese a la ausencia de cualquier otro delito ya sancionado por nuestra legislaciΓ³nβ.
El historico dirigente del Movilh, Rolando JimΓ©nez, precisΓ³ que βal eliminarse esta anacrΓ³nica norma, la lucha por la igualdad LGBTIQA+ cierra un ciclo, donde ya nadie nunca mΓ‘s serΓ‘ sancionado por amar o desear alguien de su mismo sexoβ.
βLo cual a su vez se enmarca en otros derechos ya conquistados y que mediante leyes o polΓticas pΓΊblicas prohΓben o previenen la discriminaciΓ³n por orientaciΓ³n sexual o identidad de gΓ©nero. Hoy dimos un paso contundente y decisivo hacia la plena igualdad legal, un derecho ya garantizado en la ConstituciΓ³n, pero que histΓ³ricamente ha sido tan esquivo para las personas LGBTIQA+β, subrayΓ³ JimΓ©nez, quiΓ©n trabajΓ³ por mΓ‘s de 20 aΓ±os para lograr la eliminaciΓ³n de la norma.
En 2016, y en el marco de un Acuerdo de SoluciΓ³n Amistosa que el Estado y el Movilh firmaron ante la ComisiΓ³n Interamericana de DDHH, Chile se comprometiΓ³ a derogar el artΓculo 365 del CΓ³digo Penal.
Africa
Uganda government forces advocacy group to shutdown
Sexual Minorities Uganda says NGO Bureau ‘halted’ operations
An LGBTQ and intersex rights group in Uganda says the country’s government forced it to shutdown on Wednesday.
Sexual Minorities Uganda in a press release said Uganda’s National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees NGOs in the country, on Wednesday “halted” its operations “for non-registration with the NGO Bureau.”
The press release notes current Sexual Minorities Uganda Executive Director Frank Mugisha is among those who submitted an application with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau in 2012 “for the reservation of the name of the proposed company,” which was Sexual Minorities Uganda.
David Kato, who was Sexual Minorities Uganda’s advocacy officer, was murdered in his home outside of Kampala, the Ugandan capital, on Jan. 26, 2011. A Ugandan tabloid a few months earlier published Kato’s name and picture as part of an article that called for the execution of LGBTQ and intersex people.Β
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau on Feb. 16, 2016, rejected Sexual Minorities Uganda’s application based on grounds that it was “undesirable and un-registrable” because it sought “to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons, which persons are engaged in activities labeled criminal acts under Sec. 145 of the Penal Code Act.βΒ
Uganda is among the dozens of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain criminalized.
President Yoweri Museveni in 2014 signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which imposed a life sentence upon anyone found guilty of repeated same-sex sexual acts. The law was known as the βKill the Gaysβ bill because it previously contained a death penalty provision.
The U.S. subsequently cut aid to Uganda and imposed a travel ban against officials who carried out human rights abuses. Ugandaβs Constitutional Court later struck down the Anti-Homosexuality Act on a technicality.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau’s decision to reject Sexual Minorities Uganda’s registration application was upheld. Ugandan lawmakers in 2019 passed the Sexual Offenses Bill 2019, which further criminalizes homosexuality in the country.
“The refusal to legalize SMUGβs operations that seek to protect LGBTQ people who continue to face major discrimination in Uganda, actively encouraged by political and religious leaders was a clear indicator that the government of Uganda and its agencies are adamant and treat Ugandan gender and sexual minorities as second-class citizens,” said Sexual Minorities Uganda in their press release. “These further compromises efforts to demand for better health services and escalates the already volatile environment for the LGBTQ community.”
Mugisha described the decision as “a clear witch-hunt rooted in systematic homophobia that is fueled by anti-gay and anti-gender movements that have infiltrated public offices aiming to influence legislation to erase the LGBTQ community.β
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, which honored Mugisha in 2011, on Friday said it is “outraged by the utterly discriminatory and arbitrary decision of the NGO Bureau in Uganda to shutdown SMUG operations.”
“This endangers the lives and rights of LGBTQ+ (people) in Uganda and shows the extent homophobia has permeated Ugandan authorities,” said Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in a tweet.
β οΈ We are outraged by the utterly discriminatory and arbitrary decision of the NGO Bureau in #Uganda to shutdown @SMUG2004 operations.
This endangers the lives and rights of LGBTQ+ in Uganda and shows the extent #homophobia has permeated Ugandan authorities. https://t.co/TT2ruLUrUI
β Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (@RFKHumanRights) August 5, 2022
TheΒ Council for Global Equality,Β OutRight Action InternationalΒ and Pan Africa ILGA are among the other organizations that sharply criticized the Ugandan government.
“Very disturbing news out of Uganda,” tweeted Pan Africa ILGA. “SMUG, one of the most influential LGBTIQ+ focused networks based in Uganda, has been suspended.”
Very disturbing news out of Uganda. @SMUG2004 one of the most influential LGBTIQ+ focused networks based in #Uganda has been suspended. #StillWeShallRise https://t.co/LeZJ04hIJZ
β Pan Africa ILGA (@PanAfricaILGA) August 5, 2022
Sexual Minorities Uganda, for its part, remained defiant.
“We shall be back,” it tweeted.
We shall be back. #stillweshallrise pic.twitter.com/gpGMbeJyWv
β Sexual Minorities Uganda | SMUG (@SMUG2004) August 5, 2022
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