Shashi Tharoor to Move Bill on Section 377
The New Indian Express - New Delhi, India, 11/30/2015
Lending support to Queer rights, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted that he would introduce a private member’s bill in Parliament to decriminalise consensual sex between adults of any gender. ‘Hope it will be admitted4discn,’ he tweeted. He also revealed that he had submitted the bill 10 days ago.
Rise in H.I.V. Among China’s Youth Draws Attention for World AIDS Day
The New York Times, China, 11/30/2015
As China prepares to observe World AIDS Day on 01 December, 2015, health officials and researchers are raising alarms over an increase in new infections among high school and college students. Most are young men who have had unprotected sex with other men, Wu Zunyou, director of the National Center for AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Control and Prevention, told China Daily. As of October 2015, China had about 575,000 people living with HIV and AIDS, according to Chen Zhongdan, a Chinese adviser to UNAIDS, the United Nations AIDS-fighting agency.
Delhi Queer Pride Makes a Statement on ‘Muzzling’ of Individual Rights
Hindustan Time - Delhi, India, 11/29/2015
Every year, the last Sunday of November drapes Delhi in rainbow colours. But this year’s Queer Pride was not only about the LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender - community and the freedom they seek but also a march in solidarity to demand a whole range of freedoms that are under threat. ‘Pride, for me, is about equality in all senses. It is not restricted only to sexualities. It is resistance against patriarchy, casteism, class oppression, Hindutva, language chauvinism and every oppression that attempts to silence us,’ said Deepan Kannan, a Delhi resident who was also part of the march.
Jaitley Calls For Revisiting SC’s Gay Sex Verdict
The Hindustan Times - New Delhi, India, 11/28/2015
The 2013 Supreme Court judgment that criminalised consensual gay sex was not correct and needs to be reconsidered, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. ‘When you have millions of people involved in this (gay sex) you can’t nudge them off,’ the minister said at an event.
Strategic Planning for Gender Equality Approved
The Himalayan Times - Kathmandu, India, 11/27/2015
The national conference of activists for gender equality has approved the Strategic Planning for 2015-2017. According to the statement issued by the MenEngage Alliance Nepal (MEAN), the strategic plan focuses on awareness and advocating programmes in the sectors of media, education and public sphere. In the initial phase, the plan will cover seven districts of the county from the central to the grassroots level. This information was shared at the national conference of activists for gender equality organised here on 26 November, 2015 by MEAN in collaboration with UN Women.
Indonesian District to Ban Condoms in Convenience Stores
Bangkok Post - Belopa, Indonesia, 11/26/2015
A staunchly Islamic district in Indonesia plans to ban the sale of condoms in convenience stores in a bid to halt premarital sex, an official said 24 November 2015, but activists criticised the move as misguided. ‘We are concerned that premarital sex is on the rise among teenagers,’ District Head Andi Mudzakkar told AFP.
Vietnam Recognises Transgender People, Allows Sex Change on Legal Documents
Reuters - Hanoi, Vietnam, 11/25/2015
Vietnam lawmakers on 24 November, 2015 passed changes to a civil code that acknowledges transgender people and gives them rights to change gender in legal documents, reflecting a major advance in the Communist Government's viewpoint on gender issues. Under the new law, which will take effect from January 01, 2017, people who underwent sex change would have ‘rights and obligations to register for changes in civil status’ and personal rights associated with their new gender.
Chinese Textbooks are Wildly Homophobic. One Student is Fighting Back
The Washington Post, China, 11/24/2015
Chinese textbooks call homosexuality a ‘disorder.’ Some suggest shock therapy as a ‘cure.’ One book even dismissed the very possibility of same-sex love. Qiu Bai, a college student has decided to challenge China's Ministry of Education in court. It’s a case she hopes will call attention to anti-gay bias and persuade the Chinese officials to ban this type of language in state-published books.
Wearing Their Pride on Their Sleeves
The Hindu - Bengaluru, India, 11/24/2015
The road in front of Town Hall became a large stage, with people flaunting their rainbow colours and supporters of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. Donning colourful attires and masks, and armed with witty placards, a huge contingent walked the Bengaluru Pride March between Tulasi Park and Town Hall. While it was a huge celebration of different identities and commemorating the Supreme Court judgement recognising rights of transgender people, they also made their demand for affirmation of dignity loud and clear, by seeking repealing of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
AIDS Control Society to Register Pregnant HIV Positive Women
The Indian Express - Mumbai, India, 11/23/2015
With the aim of achieving zero new HIV positive cases by 2030, the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) has started signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with private nursing homes to start registering pregnant women testing positive for HIV for free treatment. This program is to specifically ensure that no newborn is detected with HIV virus.
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