Australian Parliament legalizes marriage equality

CANBERRA — The Australian House of Representatives’ has voted overwhelmingly in favor of marriage equality legislation. The measure passed with only four votes against it. The Australian Senate previously passed the measure by a vote of 43 to 12. After the Governor-General gives the legislation official approval in a formality known as “Royal Assent,” marriage…

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HRC Equidad MX report recognizes 32 LGBT-inclusive workplaces in Mexico

MEXICO CITY — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation in partnership with PEMEX, Mexico’s largest state-owned petroleum company, has launched the 2018 HRC Equidad MX Report, a first-of-its-kind assessment designed to increase LGBT-inclusion in workplaces across Mexico. Thirty-two major major employers earned top ratings in the inaugural report, reflecting their commitment to LGBT equality and adoption…

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Austrian Court rules to legalize marriage equality starting in 2019

Austria’s highest court ruled Tuesday to fully legalize marriage equality by 2019 after declaring the law restricting LGBTQ partnership to civil unions discriminatory. With this historic decision, the current restrictions on LGBTQ Austrians will be overturned on December 31, 2018 and marriage equality will be in full effect starting Jan. 1, 2019. “Today, the differentiation…

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Victor Madrigal-Borloz appointed as new UN independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity

Today, Victor Madrigal-Borloz was appointed the new United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI). The Human Rights Council formally confirmed his position as the IE SOGI in a plenary. Victor Madrigal-Borloz follows Thai human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn in the position, as Professor…

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On World AIDS Day, UNAIDS warns that men are less likely to access HIV treatment and more likely to die of AIDS-related illnesses

OTTAWA/GENEVA—Today, World AIDS Day, UNAIDS has released a new report showing that men are less likely to take an HIV test, less likely to access antiretroviral therapy and more likely to die of AIDS-related illnesses than women. The Blind spot shows that globally less than half of men living with HIV are on treatment, compared…

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Canada’s human rights watchdog reacts to government’s apology to persecuted LGBTQ2 citizens

OTTAWA – In response to the Canadian government’s apology Tuesday that addresses the historic persecution of members of the LGBTQ2 community, Marie-Claude Landry, chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement: “The Canadian Human Rights Commission commends today’s apology to members of the LGBTQ2 communities. This is long overdue for so…

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Two San Diegans arrested in Thailand for allegedly exposing their buttocks at a temple

Two San Diegans have been arrested in Thailand for allegedly posing for pictures showing their naked buttocks at the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun). The Bangkok Post reported that the pair, later identified as Travis and Joseph DaSilva, were arrested at Don Mueang airport Tuesday night as they tried to leave the country. Pol Col…

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Canadian Government LGBT Purge Class Action Settlement reached

TORONTO – Koskie Minsky LLP in Toronto has announced that survivors of the Canadian government’s LGBT purge have entered into a pan-Canadian settlement with the Government of Canada. The term “LGBT Purge” refers to a prolonged and widespread campaign by the Government of Canada to identify and expel thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender…

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Out & Equal Brazil Forum convenes to discuss strategies for advancing LGBT inclusion in the Brazilian workplace

SÃO PAULO – Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workplace equality, held its second annual Out & Equal LGBT Brazil Forum on Tuesday in São Paulo. The event convened 300 attendees from more than 125 Brazilian and multinational companies at the Renaissance Hotel…

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