The Dutch Supreme Court ruled Aruba and Curacao must allow marriage equality, per The Los Angeles Blade. In 2022, the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba ruled in favor of marriage equality in two cases that Fundacion Orguyo Aruba and Human Rights Caribbean in Curacao filed; the governments of the two islands appealed the ruling. Now, Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten must recognize same-sex marriages from the Netherlands, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. Aruba’s registered partnership law took effect in 2021.
In a groundbreaking ruling, South Korea’s highest court ruled it was “discrimination” for state health insurers to treat same-sex couples differently from their heterosexual counterparts, according to AFP. The verdict, which cannot be appealed, means common-law spouses of the same sex can now register as dependents on their partners’ state health insurance. The case was brought by gay couple So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min; they held a wedding ceremony in 2019—even though the country still doesn’t recognize marriage equality. Attorney/activist Ryu Min-hee said the ruling “ultimately paves the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage in South Korea, following the lead of other Asian countries like Taiwan and Thailand.”
In Canada, one of New Brunswick’s largest Pride festivals was cancelled just hours before events were scheduled to start—but there is still a chance the Fredericton Pride festival could proceed with a different host organization, CBC News reported. Fredericton Pride announced its decision to cancel the two-week festival through social media posts, citing “harassment board members have received.” (Board chair Jenna Lyn Albert confirmed the cancellation to CBC News.) The announcement came after organizers abruptly cancelled the drag fundraiser “Silver Linings” at the Monarch Night Club, citing “unexpected safety concerns.”
Poland’s government agreed to a draft civil-union bill—long after Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s initial promise to pass the bill within 100 days of taking office, The Washington Blade noted. The government plans to debate the bill during the fall session of parliament, beginning in September, and have it passed by the end of the year—although that is far from guaranteed. A coalition of left and center-right parties who united to oppose the right wing cannot agree on several issues, including LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights; a compromise on a landmark abortion bill failed in parliament recently, leaving Poland as one of only two European Union countries in which abortion is illegal. (The other is Malta.)
The military junta ruling the West African country of Burkina Faso announced that same-sex acts are now considered illegal, per LGBTQ Nation. “Henceforth, homosexuality and associated practices will be punished by the law,” Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said, according to the international media outlet Agence France-Presse. Burkina Faso (whose population is mostly Muslim) had been among 22 out of 54 African states where same-sex relations were not criminalized; the one-time French colony didn’t inherit the anti-homosexuality laws found in many former British colonies.
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) recently held a Global Partner Summit at Florida’s Biltmore Miami-Coral Gables—and a strategic forum resulted in the report “Corporate Commitment to LGBTQ+ Inclusive Travel: A Five-Point Action Plan,” per a press release. The session identified five major focus areas of the industry—enhancing LGBTQ+ receptivity; values and messaging; training as a priority; amplifying diverse voices; and DEI as a journey and not a destination. “The recent IGLTA Global Partner Summit in Miami was a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility our network shares in shaping a more inclusive future where LGBTQ+ travel is not just accepted, but celebrated,” said IGLTA CEO John Tanzella The full report can be downloaded at this link.
Students in India’s Kerala state will now follow a gender-neutral curriculum, per The Washington Blade. Also, In an unprecedented move, some schools in Kerala have committed to gender neutrality beyond textbooks, having introduced gender-neutral uniforms. More than 12 schools in Kerala have shifted to gender-neutral dresses so far. While there are more than 4,500 government-run schools in Kerala, the Kerala Child Rights Commission last year decided to remove the use of words like “sir” and “madam” for teachers, instead urging the use of universal terms like “teacher” on school premises. However, the Department of General Education, a state government body that overseas education in schools, has not instituted any changes.
The UK’s new Labour government is defending the previous Conservative government’s ban on the use of puberty blockers for trans+ children and is moving to make the ban permanent, per The Washington Blade. Openly gay Health Secretary Wes Streeting posted on X, “We don’t yet know the risks of stopping pubertal hormones at this critical life stage. That is the basis upon which I am making decisions. I am treading cautiously in this area because the safety of children must come first.” While Streeting has previously supported trans rights, more recently he’s taken a different stance, saying he no longer stands by the belief that “trans women are women.”
Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher, who was married to Cora during 2001-15, has come out as gay—becoming the most high-profile driver in the sport’s history to do so, The Guardian reported. Schumacher, brother of the seven‑time world champion Michael, made the announcement on social media. Schumacher did not make any explicit statement but confirmation came from comments made by his friend, the German actor Carmen Geiss, who stated, “Today he confessed his homosexuality. This step was an act of liberation and self-acceptance for him. It was a courageous decision that has matured in him for a long time and one he is now full of pride and confidence.” Since the championship began in 1950, only three other F1 drivers have come out as LGBTQ+: Mike Beuttler, Lella Lombardi and Mario de Araujo Cabral, who came out at age 75.
Legislators in the West African nation of Gambia rejected a bill that would have overturned a ban on female genital cutting, Yahoo! News noted, citing the AP. Activists had closely watched the attempt to become the first country in the world to reverse such a ban. Activists and human-rights groups were worried that a reversal of the ban would overturn years of work against the centuries-old practice that’s rooted in the concepts of sexual purity and control.
Outsports announced the launch of “Outsports’ Team LGBTQ”—promoted as “the most extensive database and in-depth coverage of out LGBTQ athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Summer Games,” per a press release. This year, at least 24 countries, including the Refugee Team, are represented by at least one publicly out athlete in 32 sports. Once again, the United States has the most out athletes at the Olympics, with 28, followed by Brazil (22), Australia (17), Great Britain (10) and Germany (nine). Women on the list outnumber men by about a seven-to-one margin, with women’s soccer having the most out athletes of any sports, with more than 30 out players. Some of the higher-profile athletes include U.S. track and field athletes Sha’Carri Richardson, Raven Saunders, Nikkie Hiltz and Nico Young; U.S. basketball players Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner; U.S. BMX Freestyle riders Hannah Roberts and Perris Benegas; British diver Tom Daley; legendary Brazilian soccer player Marta; and Canadian soccer player Quinn.
Video of a man berating a young couple with homophobic slurs in downtown Vancouver has prompted a police investigation, CTV News noted. At the Burrard SkyTrain Station, the same belligerent man allegedly chased Jamie Pine and boyfriend Regg Acervo from the platform onto the street. The incident appeared to have started when Pine and Acervo—dressed up for a night of clubbing and wearing light makeup—were sitting in adjacent seats on the SkyTrain. Pine was grateful that a handful of strangers intervened and helped ensure he and his boyfriend were safe, and he also thanked those who responded to his video with supportive messages.
Queer Australian actress/comedian Rebel Wilson dropped a video post—mentioning by name some of the backers of her directorial debut, The Deb, who she claims prevented the film from making its world premiere as the closing night film at the Toronto International Film Festival—and now her backers plan to sue her, Deadline reported. The defamation suit comes from producers Amanda Ghost and Gregory Cameron and exec producer Vince Holden, whom Wilson accused of “vile and disgusting behavior” and blocking the film. The suit claims, in part, “Defendant Rebel Wilson has a history of fabricating false and malicious lies to hide her own lack of professionalism and advance her own self-interest.” Now it’s being reported that The Deb will close the festival.
Cinephobia Releasing announced the North American release of the coming-of-age LGBTQ+ comedy Single, Out: Season 2 from Australian director Lee Galea (Monster Pies) will arrive on DVD on Aug. 6, per a press release. Per the release, the second season “follows the tumultuous romantic life of Adam (Will Hutchins) and his group of friends, lovers and elusive love interests.” Consisting of seven episodes, Single, Out: Season 2 brings back the original cast from the first season, including Jack Brophy, Jake Hyde, Jesper Stenberg, Steven Christou and Will Hutchins.
Actor/musician Jack Black (School of Rock; The D Train) cancelled his latest Tenacious D tour and said that “all future creative plans” for the duo are on hold following partner Kyle Gass’ controversial on-stage “joke” about the recent assassination attempt against Donald Trump, per Deadline. During a performance in Sydney, Gass was asked to make a wish by his co-frontman, replying “Don’t miss Trump next time.” The remark attracted plenty of criticism, with an Australian senator demanding the comedy-rock band be deported.