1) India Decriminalized Homosexuality
On September 6, 2018, the world’s largest democracy decriminalized homosexual acts in a unanimous vote from India's Supreme Court. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was a remnant of colonization introduced in 1864 during the British rule of India.
“377. Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.”
This law was not out of use either. In 2015, 1,491 people were arrested under Section 377.
“Criminalising carnal intercourse under section 377 Indian Penal Code is irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary,” said Chief Justice Dipak Misra after the repeal.
Within the written ruling were the words of influential artists, including “The love that dare not speak its name” (Lord Alfred Douglas), “From the ashes of the gay/ democracy is coming,” (Leonard Cohen), “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” (William Shakespeare), and “I am what I am, so take me as I am,” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe).
Many of us can probably relate to Ritu Dalmia, one of the five LGBT campaigners who petitioned the courts to change this law, when she said: “I was turning into a cynical human being with very little belief in the system, but honestly this has really shown once again that we are a functional democracy where freedom of choice, speech, and rights still exist.”
It can feel overwhelming or inescapable watching attitudes backslide and living through all of the 365 days of the year; it is hard to remove yourself from the ever-present failures to see the ever-present successes. Still, when you look for them, they are there.
A colonial law that was instituted one hundred and fifty years ago was finally removed in 2018,
2) Guyana Legalizes Cross-Dressing
A colonial law instituted one hundred and twenty-five years ago was also removed in 2018. The 1893 Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act of the offence of being a “man” appearing in “female attire” in public for an “improper purpose,” which was a leftover of British Victorian-era colonial rule, was removed this year.
This judgment was brought forward because of four transgender women arrested under this law and then appealed to the highest court in Guyana.
Though Guyana is the only country in South America still upholding the colonial-era laws criminalizing sex between two men or two women, this year was full of victories. The aforementioned law was repealed, and Guyana held its first Pride parade.
This particular victory comes after an eight-year battle, which ended with the Caribbean Court of Justice deciding that the law was too vague and striking it down as unconstitutional.
In the ruling, Justice Adrian Saunders explained, “Difference is as natural as breathing. No one should have his or her dignity trampled on, or human rights denied, merely on account of a difference, especially one that poses no threat to public safety or public order.”
The ruling also noted the inappropriate behaviour of the judge who initially tried the case. After charging the women, he lectured them and pushed them to attend church. The ruling noted that “Judicial officers may not use the bench to proselytize, whether before, during or after the conclusion of court proceedings.”
Justice Saunders went on to say that “Law and society are dynamic, not static. A Constitution must be read as a whole. Courts should be astute to avoid hindrances that would deter them from interpreting the Constitution in a manner faithful to its essence and its underlying spirit. If one part of the Constitution appears to run up against an individual fundamental right, then, in interpreting the Constitution as a whole, courts should place a premium on affording the citizen his/her enjoyment of the fundamental right, unless there is some overriding public interest.”
Other judges pointed out the law’s vagueness, as there is no concrete way to tell what is and is not an “improper purpose,” and how it attempted to criminalize the state of a person’s mind.
Following this legal win, Gulliver McEwan, one of the women who brought the case forward, said, “the whole trans community in Guyana is very happy today… It was very important for us to be heard and get justice.”
Though there is still so much work to be done for the queer community in Guyana, change is happening, which is a point of pride.
3) Haunting of Hill House is Released
Media was a place of countless queer victories this year; Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer came out, a transgender superhero is now on Supergirl, Hayley Kiyoko’s Expectations was released One Day at a Time was renewed for another season.
These are only a few examples, and 2018 was certainly an amazing year for queer art, which means choosing just one is not an easy task. In the end, this is a history project, and although queer art is always making history, the Haunting of Hill House is a perfect choice.
This series is a loose adaptation of a Shirley Jackson novel by the same name, and it isn’t the first of its kind. There have already been two films and a stage play that set out to tell this story, and most versions have included elements of queerness. Though I haven’t seen every version, after watching the Netflix adaptation, my wife and I decided to check out the 1963 film.
As someone who finds queer coding and films created under the Hays Code interesting, it was fascinating to watch. There was a lot to analyze with all of the subtle moments, vague discussions, and visual cues. More than anything, though, after watching and comparing the film and the television series, the massive change in the treatment of the character Theodora was nothing less than healing.
With the restrictions of the time period in mind, I have no intention to criticize the original film and no desire to compare the series outside of the treatment of Theodora.
In the 1963 film, Theodora is an aggressive woman whose sexuality is often considered a further threatening element to the already horrific house. As such, she was more often than not antagonistic to the people around her. Though they never explicitly discuss her being a lesbian, the issue is skirted around uncomfortably throughout the film. In the television series, she is a complex character who still has a lot of the original film adaptation personality, including her blunt and insightful nature. But instead of using her sexuality to make the environment more uncomfortable or make her seem threatening, this adaption allows it is to be part of her character.
We see her being affectionate with women without any predatory under(or over)tones, we see her come out to her family, and we get to watch her learn and grow both within and outside of her sexuality.
In both versions, she has psychic powers. In the television series, it is initiated by touch that she goes on to avoid for most of her life. We get the chance to watch a touch-starved and isolated queer woman find not only romantic love but the love and support of her family as well. As a person who loved both versions of this character, there was something incredible about seeing her given so much love and care by the show, seeing her removed from the restrictions placed on the first film and given so much space to fulfill the potential of her character.
4) The Rainbow of Flowers Becomes Unbreakable
We have written before about the Rainbow of Flowers, but we will quickly go over the history of this art installation for those of you who need a refresher.
In 2012, an art installation by Julita Wojik was put up in the capital city of Warsaw in Poland at Plac Zbawiciela. It was moved from its original place in front of the European Parliament by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. It was meant to convey peace, hope, and love. Paweł Potoroczyn explained the acquisition of the rainbow by saying:
"We thought that instead of sending this gem to a junkyard, we could give it a proper home and let it stand in Warsaw. Warsaw needs art in public spaces, things that will make people and passersby smile against their will."
Unfortunately, because it was a rainbow, the art was quickly identified by the far-right as a queer symbol and soon became the target of attacks.
Politicians like Bartosz Kownacki called the installation a "gay rainbow," making it clear in his statements that he was not using gay as a positive adjective. Stanisław Pięta said that "The hideous rainbow had hurt the feelings of believers," as the art installation was near a church. Priest Tadeusz Rydzyk described it as a "symbol of deviancy." Another politician, after seeing the vandalism of the rainbow, celebrated by dropping some homophobic slurs.
The sculpture was subjected to six counts of arson, the most famous of which was during Polish Independence Day. It was started by members of a far-right march, who damaged other property during their riots as well.
Those who were vocal against these attacks included Polish singer Edyta Górniak, the Swedish ambassador to Poland, and Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, who announced that the installation "[would] be rebuilt as many times as necessary." Activists held gatherings, including kiss-ins, in support of the installation. Despite the support, the installation was taken down overnight on August 26, 2015.
In June 2018, just before Poland’s Pride celebrations, a new structure was put up by queer activists this time. To replace the one that had been burned down, a rainbow was installed at the site of where the rainbow of flowers had been set on fire the final time. This time around, the rainbow is made of water.
5) Transgender Modelling Agency in India
As well as having a major legal victory in India, there have also been more personal ones. Rudrani Chettri Chauhan, a transgender model and activist, found herself so tired of the treatment she and her trans peers received and the stigma existing around trans people in India that she started an all-transgender modelling agency. The project's focus is to show cisgender people of India the depth of transgender people’s existence.
Traditionally, Hindu texts proclaim transgender women to be sacred, capable of bringing both good and bad luck. Considered to be holy, hijras, a term which can apply to intersex and transgender people, can cast curses or bring fertility to other people and couples. Hijra is recognized as a third gender, though many modern transgender people in India don’t identify with the term.
Still, prejudice exists. Even after 2014, when Indian courts passed a vote making hijras a legally recognized and protected third gender, the violence and harsh treatment transgender people deal with daily can be overwhelming. Existing somewhere between sacred and scorn, their lives aren’t always easy, and Rudrani Chettri wishes to change this.
But Chettri’s activism didn't start with this plan. She also runs the Mitr Trust, an LGBT charity working out of Delhi, and the modelling agency Bold is just another branch they have created. The focus is on providing transgender women with the tools and knowledge they need to survive in the modelling and acting business while also offering the women a job with a stable income. The results will be more representation for trans people in movies, magazines, and so on, showing how any one stereotype does not define them.
So far, three models have been chosen and photographed by Bold, and hopefully, many more will follow.
6) Chile Protects Transgender Rights
In November, a new law passed in Chile allows transgender people ages 14 and older to change their legal names and gender markers easily. Activists have been battling for this for over five years and were victorious when the lowest level of Congress voted 95-46 in favour. The celebrations were massive, though bittersweet. Transgender people between 14 and 18 need parental or guardian approval for the legal change to be allowed, and children under 14 were removed from the law as a part of a compromise.
Previously, the process of changing names and gender markers have been strenuous and exhausting, taking years of humiliation. The application required opinions from psychologists and psychiatrists and often demanded naked photographs of the applicant. Thankfully, the process will be easier and kinder to transgender people, and Chilean activists vow to keep fighting for the law to include children below 14.
Juan Enrique Pi Arriagada, the executive president of the Chilean non-profit Fundación Iguales, spoke about the passing of the law and what lies ahead, saying:
“The rights that were excluded from transgender people in Chile are being acknowledged at last. After years of fighting to ensure their legal recognition, we celebrate this historic triumph that will change the lives of many of those who, for far too long, lacked protections and lived in the shadows. While we celebrate this historic landmark, we must keep working to continue the fight towards full equality.”
7) Midnight Marriages in Australia
Every year the list of countries allowing same-sex marriage gains more countries and jurisdictions. With each one added, there is celebration and joy. People gather, families and loved ones meet, and more than a few proposals are given, some for couples who have spent their lives together. Finally, given the freedom to do so, people rush to their nearest practitioner, sign documents, and have their relationship recognized under the law. Couples finally gain the ability to stay with their loved ones in the hospital, have their relationship recognized when a partner dies, and adopt children together, if they so desire.
It was last year that Australia was added to the growing number, and this year, it became official. However, Australia is among the countries that require a one-month waiting period before the marriage can become official, so it was a month after the verdict that people were finally able to get married. One minute after the stroke of midnight of January 9, dozens of couples married.
Roz Kitschke, married just after dawn, explained doing it right away, saying: “New day; new era — and we don’ like the heat that much.”
Diana Ribeiro also described her own reasoning for getting married to Deanne Ribeiro, saying: “For me, Deanne’s always been my wife, always been the love of my life and today’s not going to change that, it’s just about equality really, and being able to be legal in Australia finally.”
8) Romania Boycotts Vote to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
As policies, politicians, and politics ebb and flow, the ebb can feel much deeper than the flow. Decisions made without the support of the majority of the population or directly against the wishes of the people the government is supposed to represent are more common than they should be.
But early this October, when Romania posed the question to its people, they responded. Romania proposed a law that would ban even the possibility of same-sex marriage. In a turn of events that had far-right groups seething, only 20% of the population turned up to vote, not even a large enough group for the vote to go through.
"We have shown that we cannot be fooled by a political agenda that urges us to hate and polarize society," a queer activist group said after the results came out.
The victory is not a permanent one, and religious groups are already discussing putting forward another referendum. Mihai Gheorghiu said, "Next time, we'll succeed. Let's be happy for this day. The Christian vote exists."
Other groups blamed the devastating turnout on discrimination against Christians; no group has yet provided evidence to support this claim.
While many campaigns pushed voters to turn up, many citizens believed it was a test to divide and push the country further right. The boycott grew and, in the end, succeeded.
9) Scotland Adds Queer History to Curriculum
In particularly relevant news, Scotland has become the first country to add queer history and issues into public schools' curriculum. This will come into effect on May 9, 2020, giving all children the chance to learn about the vast and interesting history of the queer community.
After years of queer organizations working to institute this new curriculum, Jordan Daly described the victory saying: "The implementation of LGBTI inclusive education across all state schools is a world first, and in a time of global uncertainty, this sends a strong and clear message to LGBTI young people that they are valued here in Scotland."
He also pointed out how this could affect non-queer students saying: “Education is one of the most vital tools we have to tackle bullying, prejudice and discrimination, and it shapes the fabric of our society,"
There will be no exceptions from this policy. It will be instituted within every public school in Scotland, teaching the next generation not only tolerance but also the rich history of our community. With a significant portion of the Scottish government being queer themselves, as shown in 2016 when Kezia Dugdale described the country as having “the gayest parliament in the world,” it is made clear that having queer people in a position of power can create real and impactful change in the fabric of any nation, something we will learn about more in our next item.
10) Transgender Candidates in Pakistan
“Until you can influence the laws, you are their slaves — you are following rules and laws set by someone else,” said Nayyab Ali, one of the thirteen transgender candidates running for office in Pakistan in 2018. This is the first year in the nation's history that transgender people have been able to be on the ballot, and many have taken advantage of this fact.
Pakistan has a complicated relationship with the queer community. Though prejudice is still alive and well, there is also legal protection for the transgender community. People attracted to the same gender are still criminalized, though all queer people still face some level of persecution. This year alone, fifty-eight transgender people were murdered.
But as Nayyab Ali said, transgender candidates don’t only indicate a change for transgender rights. “We are not just the voice of the transgender community, we are also the voice of women and minorities. If you want a real change, vote transgender.”
With an ever-changing and precarious spot in society, this is a huge step for many transgender people. Kashish, who was banished from her family home in a town only seven hours from where she ran for election, said: “This is everyone’s story. My voice has travelled far, it’s reaching the whole world.” And though she didn’t win, she said: “This is my victory; if you go in front of people and show your character, they will accept you.”
11) Cuba Ejects Castro and Elects Candidate Who is Pro-Queer Marriage
This project is no stranger to Castro and his awful policies, and like many queer people, felt it was good news when he died. The shadow around that good news was that his brother Raúl Castro would go on to lead the country. This year though, the light shines through when Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected as president of Cuba, becoming the first person outside of the Castro family to be president of Cuba in over six decades.
Fidel Castro’s attacks on the queer community in Cuba are not often discussed, as most people instead focus on his communist policies, whether for the positive or the negative. For queer people, and queer Cubans especially, this part of his rule is not easily forgotten. With camps for gay people modelled after the concentration camps of Nazi Germany and violent discrimination, the Castro government's brutal legacy is something that can never be forgotten or, for many queer people, forgiven.
One such queer person was Reinaldo Arenas, a Cuban gay man who died in 1987. He said:
“After I was diagnosed with PCP [AIDS pneumonia], I asked Saint Virgilio Piñera, to give me three years to live so that I could complete my body of work. Saint Virgilio granted me my request. I'm happy. I do wish, though, that I had lived to see Fidel kicked out of Cuba, but I guess it won't happen during my lifetime. Soon, I hope his tyranny will end. I feel certain of that.”
And he was right. Years after his death, and the publishing of his work that he considered to be his revenge against Fidel Castro, not only is Castro dead, but his brother is out of power.
Díaz-Canel is far from a perfect leader, but he is one who has been vocal about his support of same-sex marriage being legalized in Cuba. This change marks a shift from a leader with a deep history of discrimination and hate to one who is working for change and, hopefully, a brighter future for queer people in Cuba.
12) Costa Rica to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
This year Costa Rica ruled to become the first country within Central America to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. With an election this year between the evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado, who had promised he would defy the Human Rights Courts in their order to legalize same-sex marriage, and Carlos Alvarado, who vowed the opposite, it is clear that it is not only the laws within the country that are changing.
The ruling stated: “Acts of open discrimination, whether they are expressed or implied, cannot be justified in any way in a democratic society that respects fundamental rights.”
While there is still violence perpetrated against the queer community in Costa Rica, this ruling is hopefully just the beginning of a larger shift in how the community is treated in Costa Rica. As of January 2018, only 30% of Costa Ricans polled supported same-sex marriage, so this legal change comes in the hope that people's attitudes will shift after the law is implemented in 2020.
13) Kenya Lifts Ban on Rafiki
The Kenyan movie Rafiki tells the story of two women falling in love. Made in a country where homosexuality is illegal, this is dangerous territory. It was banned by Kenya’s Film and Classification Board (KFCB) in April due to the possibility that it would promote a lesbian lifestyle to the Kenyan people. Rafiki was the first of any Kenyan movie shown at the film festival in Cannes, where it premiered.
Wanuri Kahiu, the director of the movie, sued the KFCB for revenue and restriction of her artistic freedom and infringed upon her constitutional right to free speech. She said: “I truly believe that banning has happened; it has happened many times in our history, in Kenyan history. Its happened in Africans history. But that doesn’t mean that art doesn’t come back from exile. And I truly believe that this is one of the pieces that will come back from exile at one point.”
She then discussed the homophobia that was inherent in the decision, saying: “We have had queer communities since the beginning of time and that's why we have language; that's why we have words for it in different African languages; that's why we have cultures and traditions that are about same-sex relations. It's not unknown; what is unknown is the very current colonial laws that have stopped carnal knowledge against the order of nature. However, they wanna define that, and what we know is absurd is the denial of existence. It's homophobia, I think, is what is un-African, not the opposite."
As foreign-language films are only eligible for Oscar nominations if screened for seven consecutive days in their home country, Kahiu and her lawyers fought hard to combat the ban. Thankfully, Justice Wilfrida Okwany suspended the ban for a week, allowing it to be admitted to Kenya’s Oscars selection committee.
After receiving the news that the ban was lifted, Wanuri Kahiu tweeted:
"I am crying. In a French airport. In SUCH Joy! Our constitution is STRONG! Give thanks to freedom of expression!!!! WE DID IT! We will be posting about Nairobi screening soon.”
As the seven days of screenings took place, the theatre was full, even in the middle of the week, even in the middle of the day. All the screenings were sold out. Hundreds of people flooded the cinema, buzzing with excitement. As the two main characters shared their first kiss on-screen, the audience burst into applause.
Unfortunately, it was not chosen as Kenya’s Foreign Language Film submission to the Oscars. Still, the fact that it was allowed into the competition hopefully carries some promise for the future.
14) Antarctica Celebrates its First Pride Celebration
Showing that queer people exist in every corner of the globe, Antarctica celebrated its’ first Pride event in 2018. The McMurdo Station in the Antarctic is the largest community in the area and has 133 inhabitants, around fifteen of whom are queer.
This is not the first time a rainbow flag has flown in the Antarctic; in 2016, a queer activist group flew the flag.
Aaron Jackson, the President of Planting Peace, the organization the first flew the flag, said: “It’s amazing to see pride in all corners of the world. We have a long way to go before all LGBTQ people worldwide feel they can love who they want to love and live the most authentic life they can. However, it’s little things, like throwing a parade at the south pole, that let us know that we are headed in the right direction.”
Though the photo with their rainbow had to be taken in April, due to the complete lack of sunlight during the actual festivities, the celebration on June 8 was full of games, movies, and joy.
One of the organizers, Evan Townsend, discussed the decision saying: “It’s important to celebrate pride in the extreme places and the mundane. Every person who celebrates is another example of who queer people are and what we can do. It’s a chance to remind the world, and ourselves, that our potential is limitless and is in no way inhibited by our sexuality or gender identity.”
In fact, because of the harsh climate that many feel open about their sexuality in Antarctica because they are forced to rely on each other in dangerous situations, many say that authenticity and openness are necessary. In this remote part of the world, it becomes the perfect place to do something like this. Evan Townsend pointed out, “There’s enormous potential for us to shape the perception of the continent with something as simple as a pride event. Antarctica is already known as a place of discovery and exploration. We hope it will become known for inclusivity as well.”
In the end, it is as Evan Townsend said: “There’s queer representation—even at the end of the earth.”
15) First Openly Gay K-Pop Idol Debuted with a Gay Love Song
In an industry that is ruled by agencies and high budget productions, the fact an independent artist managed to make it into the Top 5 entry on the World Digital Song Sales chart is a feat on its own; the fact that the artist is a gay man in South Korea moves that from impressive to near historic.
Holland released his debut song about finding space as a queer person, and the song’s music video shows affection and even a kiss between two men in bed. For all this, there’s been mixed reception. Though the video was incredibly tame, it was quickly shoved into the 19+ filters by South Korea, something many queer people can relate to. Despite this, when YouTube released their top 10 list of Korean channels created within 2018 that had the highest increase in subscribers, Holland’s ranked at number two.
Much of his success has been credited to his relationship with his fans on social media, and Holland discusses this, saying: “I know how lonely being gay can be -- I've felt that. I also know how much comfort and encouragement you can give someone going through a hard time when a special message comes from one of their favourite celebrities or an artist or someone that you look up to. It's knowing how much of a support that can be that I wanted to share that with fans. But also I don't want my fans to think I'm someone that I'm in an "icon" or "bigger" than them -- I just want to be their friend and have them know that they can share stories with me to be closer with me.”
As an independent artist, a thriving fan base is necessary for him to succeed. With no support from agencies, most of that work falls onto him. This year he was also able to start production on a mini-album, which he crowdfunded and reached 217% of the funding needed.
This publicity doesn’t come without strings attached, though. “Since LGBT figures are very unpopular in the Korean entertainment industry, I am a representative. People will subject the whole community to hate speech if I make a tiny mistake. So I have to be very passive, more cautious in my words and behaviour.”
As difficult as the first steps may be, Holland discusses the importance of representation in media, saying: “I think the biggest thing is that the general public needs to get more familiar [with LGBTQ people] through movies, music, general content and media representation.”
Just like many of us, he is still learning. He became more familiar with the queer community when a recent English translation error resulted in miscommunication with the transgender community. He has since apologized, saying: “Since making my debut, I've met people with all different identities. I was surprised to finally have a chance to hear the stories of people who are transgender. I was also surprised by my own ignorance. It was a big shock to learn about the lack of acceptance for people who are trans and the great efforts they've gone through to change that.
I know I certainly have fans who are trans, and what I can do is listen to their stories and communicate with them constantly. Some of my fans are straight, but I want to learn more about [the queer community at large] because I have friends and fans who are gay, asexual and trans.”
And with a promising start, Holland is set to become a major force in the queer community in South Korea, but it is still just a start. When asked whether he thought his presence had made way for other queer artists to come forward, he said: “Not yet. I think I have to be more famous and do a lot of work as an artist. I'll work harder so that I can answer 'yes' to this question, so please support me.”
16) Trinidad and Tobago Decriminalizes Gay Sex
In September, after months of contemplation, Trinidad and Tobago decriminalized consensual gay sex. In April, the “buggery” law, referring to anal sex, was deemed unconstitutional by High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad, and the court expressed a wish to strike it down. The law, affecting both gay and heterosexual couples, punished anal sex or “buggery” with up to 25 years in prison. The law has been amended, effectively decriminalizing consensual sex between adults regardless of gender, as long as participants are over 16 years old.
Another section of the same act was also amended, one that punished sexual intimacy with a person of the same sex, with up to five years in prison. The court ruled both sections unconstitutional, allowing the LGB people of Trinidad and Tobago to be freed from British rule's legal restrictions.
“The court’s reasoning that people must be able to make decisions about whom they love and with whom they wish to form a family, without having to live under the constant threat that any moment they may be prosecuted, is very strong,” says Boris Dittrich, LGBT rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “This is a major step forward in a region where the rights of LGBT people are restricted.”
Jason Jones, an LGBT activist and openly gay man, left Trinidad and Tobago years ago due to fear of persecution. However, he does return to the country often, and it was his lawsuit that led to the decriminalization taking place. He aims to challenge the laws inherited from British colonialism, and while this victory was important, Jones admits there are many more miles to go.
“It’s a very bittersweet victory for me,” he said, commenting on the fact that the law was only amended instead of removed completely, but quickly added that it is “a victory anyway.”
17) Uruguay Expands Trans Rights
A new law passed in Uruguay has granted transgender people groundbreaking rights, after being approved by the Congress on October 19th. The law allows transgender people to change their legal name and gender marker without needing approval from a judge and defines gender-affirmation surgeries and hormone therapy as a legal right. Any steps of medical transitioning will be covered by the government and public health system.
In addition, the law reserves 1% of government jobs over the next 15 years for transgender people. It sets up funds to pay reparations to the trans people who lived through the military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985. During these years, the state and police detained and tortured transgender people, and these tendencies were carried into Uruguay's democracy.
And while LGBTQ people in Uruguay still find themselves subject to discrimination and violence, the new law will allow trans people “free development of personality according to their chosen gender identity, irrespective of their biological, genetic, anatomical, morphological (or) hormonal.”
After the law was approved, trans rights organization Ley Trans Ya posted on Facebook: “It’s law. Uruguay is a fairer and equal country.”
18) Germany Ousts Neo-Nazi from Magnus Hirschfeld Organization
Some may remember our article from January 2018, discussing how a far-right woman was elected onto the Magnus Hirschfeld Organization board.
The Magnus Hirschfeld Organization was built on the legacy of a queer Jewish man whose life work was destroyed by the Nazis. The organization publishes biographies of incredible people from our history on their website, including Lili Elbe, Johanna Elberskirchen, Karl-Heinrich Ulrichs, Rudolf Brazda, Else Ida Pauline Kienle, Hilde Radusch, and Magnus Hirschfeld himself.
When in September 2017, the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) party, a party described not inaccurately as Neo-Nazis, was voted into German parliament. They were given chairs in various federal organizations and foundations. One of these is the Magnus Hirschfeld Foundation.
The specific person elected onto the Board was Nicole Höchst, a teacher and politician. She has been described as follows: “[Nicole Höchst] is as active on Facebook as hardly any other candidate of the AfD. However, a consistent political profile cannot be recognized." Despite that, she has made it clear that she is firmly and vocally against the teaching of diversity in schools. Additionally, she is against adoption rights for queer couples.
She has said, “Studies show that homosexual men are more likely to be pedophiles.” Though the source she cited for this statement was reprimanded by the Press Council of Germany for being factually incorrect, she has yet to correct herself.
She calls education about queerness in schools “an attack on the children's souls"” She has also said, “if there are more than two genders then I’m a rainbow-farting unicorn.”
After this announcement, there was an outcry from many of the members of the organization. Axel Hochrein, Member of the Board of Trustees, said, "We'll make her understand clearly that she's in the wrong place and she lacks the expertise. With her pseudoscientific theses, she is unqualified for this office. We will see that we continue to support the purpose of the foundation and concentrate less on provocation."
Bundestag, the German federal parliament, voted against her appointment to the committee in November of this year. It is a small victory, as two other homophobic people have instead been voted in, but it is a victory nonetheless, and it warrants celebration.