Once a month I share a roundup of newsy stories that impact LGBTQ lives, with a loose connection to travel. In this monthโs LGTBQ travel update: Russians charged under anti-LGBTQ+ law, Moms for Liberty vs. NYC, and Thailand same-sex marriage moves forward!
Russian bar employees charged under anti-LGBTQ Law
Two employees of a Russian bar are in prison awaiting trial on โpromoting non-traditional sexual relations.โ The men could receive ten years of imprisonment if convicted.
Russia is the least LGBTQ-friendly place in Europe, but things have been getting worse in the country since its invasion of Ukraine.
In December 2022, Putin made it a crime to say nice things about LGBTQ+ people or same-sec relationships. In 2023, Russia banned medial and social gender transitions. And the country’s Supreme Court banned “the LGBT movement.”
These two employees could receive ten years of imprisonment if convicted. I am sure they won’t be the last people to be charged under these bogus laws.
American readers, what’s happening there can happen here too and we all know how the Republican right is chomping at the bit to erase more of our rights.
Thailand Same-Sex Marriage Bill Advances
We’ve been following Thailand’s push to legalize same-sex marriage for a while. It’s exciting to have good news to report!
The legislation made it out of committee and passed its first Senate reading. A Senate committee is currently vetting the bill. If all goes well, it will be on track to get the king’s approval sometime this summer.
Channel News Asia’s Thailand correspondent Saksith Saiyasombut is reporting updates for those who want to follow closely.
“Parents Choice” Meltdown in NYC Schools
New York City is considered a top queer travel destination.
Itโs also the latest battleground for parents’ choice after some UES Karens are freaking out about โprotecting girls sportsโ and claiming that supporting gender affirming care for gender expansive students โimpinges on the right of female students.โ
Over on Staten Island, educators are dumping BIPOC and queer books in the trash with โnot approvedโ sticky notes, so letโs talk about whose identities are fragile and also, recycle, itโs Earth Month.
Sign of the times: even the places we think are โsafeโ are filled with increasingly vocal bigots.
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