It’s been approximately one calendar year since the Supreme Court reached its landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the land. In one fell swoop, each and every American earned the right to marry whomever he or she chooses. For many same-sex couples, it was a day they never thought they’d see.
We enter year two of legalized same-sex marriage knowing that a growing collection of powerful advocates support the ongoing push for equality. For every tired homophobe like Kim Davis, there exist dozens of people and entities actively supporting LGBTQ-friendly causes — from the nation’s highest office to the leaders of a multi-billion-dollar professional sports league.
There is still much progress to be made, especially globally, but the following collection of news and notes is a reminder that we have made significant recent headway in the fight for equality and dignity for all.
Ireland’s Historic Popular Vote
In May of 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage with a popular vote. Despite the country’s former domination by the Catholic Church, 62 percent voted in favor of the referendum — about 1.2 million voters and all but one of the republic’s 43 parliamentary constituencies. Irish health minister Leo Varadkar, who came out this year as the country’s first openly gay minister, referred to the overwhelming success of the campaign as “almost like a social revolution.” With the world watching, marriages began Nov. 17. Cormac Gollogly and Richard Dowling were the first same-sex couple married; they had been together for 12 years.
Mexico Overturns Same-Sex Marriage Bans
Last June, a series of decisions by Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. A recent poll found that 64 percent of Mexicans believe homosexuality is an “acceptable way of life,” a huge difference from 27 percent in 2000. The President of Mexico has launched an initiative to revise the entire legal framework of discriminatory laws in the country, paving the way for what he refers to as a “Society of Rights.” Both Cyprus and Chile also passed civil union legislation in 2015, though they have yet to grant full marriage equality.
Thailand, Vietnam and Bolivia Promote Transgender Visibility
In September, Thailand passed legislation called the Gender Equality Act, creating the first national legislation in Southeast Asia to protect transgender rights. The law prohibits discrimination against someone who is “of a different appearance from his/her own sex at birth.” Then, in November, Vietnam followed with a similar law that also legalized gender reassignment surgery. Nearly 90 percent of the assembly voted in support. Meanwhile, Bolivia lawmakers approved a proposal that allows transgender people to change their name and gender on legal documents. Those wishing to do so only have to prove they are adults.
United Nations Releases Landmark Report on State of LGBT-Rights
In releasing a report titled “Discrimination and violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity,” the United Nations continued to ally itself with LGBTQ rights. Previously, the body enforced initiatives to counter homophobia, such as the UN Free & Equal Campaign and the “Being LGBT in Asia” initiative. Under Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s leadership, the report disclosed substantial progress for LGBTQ equality. But it also noted that continuing violence and impunity, criminalization and discrimination in areas such as housing, legal frameworks, healthcare and education leave a lot to be desired. Specifically, violence and discrimination and a hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ people were highlighted in The Gambia, Honduras and Belarus.
U.S. Supreme Court Makes Marriage Equality a Reality
Perhaps the most significant event in LGBTQ history this past year, the landmark Supreme Court marriage equality ruling in June, jumpstarted a year of celebration and same-sex marriages across the country. The 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges struck down bans in 13 states and Puerto Rico and cemented the constitutional right to marry. President Obama chose to rejoice with the masses as he illuminated the White House in rainbow colors the night of the ruling and endorsed the Equality Act.
Berry Becomes First Ever Official LGBTQ Envoy
Randy Berry finished off his first year of being the official LGBTQ Envoy this April. The United States became the first country in the world to appoint such a figure, a dedicated senior officer whose sole position is to advance LGBTQ rights and equality around the world. Berry has an accomplished career as a foreign service officer. He has announced that anti-transgender violence around the world remains a “grave” issue, that his priority is to combat anti-LGBTQ violence abroad and that discriminatory laws in North Carolina and Mississippi will not undermine LGBTQ efforts overseas.
Oregon Swears in Bisexual Governor
In other news concerning political figures, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown became the highest-ranking openly LGBTQ official in the country when she was appointed governor of Oregon this year after the resignation of John Kitzhaber. The openly bisexual politician easily won the state’s Democratic primary in May and will be on the November ballot hoping to take on Kitzhaber’s final two years. Brown joined the ranks of out U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and a scattered number of LGBTQ House Representatives as LGBTQ people in top U.S. government posts. Brown’s signature on the Youth Mental Health Protection Act banned conversion therapy aimed at minors.
Air Force Allows Openly Transgender Service Members
The U.S. Air Force announced that transgender airmen and airwomen will not face release from active duty for openly identifying as LGBTQ. “Neither gender dysphoria nor self-identification as transgender is an automatic circumstance that generates involuntary separation,” an Air Force spokesperson said last June. President Obama shook hands with a uniformed and active-duty out transgender service member, Senior U.S. Airman Logan Ireland, when he and his fiancée attended the White House Pride celebration. In August, it was reported that the Pentagon had laid out a timeline for allowing openly transgender people to serve in all areas of the military, in light of criticism that these measures were not already put in place.
The Jenner Effect
Caitlyn Jenner is a controversial figure, and while many members of the LGBTQ community do not consider her a worthy spokesperson of the transgender community, there is no denying that she dominated the media this past year. From the iconic Vanity Fair cover revealing her transformation to the popularity (and lack thereof) of her reality show I Am Cait, Jenner basked in the airwaves that continuously surround her famous family. But her statements about being Republican, supporting Donald Trump and not understanding the socioeconomic struggles of the greater transgender community left her gender-nonconforming peers alienated and unrepresented.
Leelah Alcorn Changes the World
In news that hits close to home for Cincinnatians, Leelah Alcorn made news globally when the 17-year-old committed suicide and posted a blog detailing her struggles with being a transgender teenager in a conservative Christian household. Her parents refused to allow her to undergo sexual reassignment surgery and instead sent her to Christian conversion therapy that Alcorn said contributed to depression and identity crises. After news of her suicide broke, a petition for “Leelah’s Law” was created by the Transgender Human Rights Institute to ban conversion therapy and raise awareness of the psychological effects that stem from it. The petition was endorsed by President Obama, and within a year conversion therapy was banned in Cincinnati.
Pope Reconnects with Former Student and His Boyfriend
Pope Francis met privately with a gay couple and their friends at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C. during his visit in the fall. Yayo Grassi, now a caterer in the D.C. area, was taught by the future pope in high school in Argentina and brought his longtime partner and some of their friends to the meeting. “Me being gay is no different than me having blue eyes,” Grassi said. “It’s not different than me living in Washington. It is part of my life. And the way he accepted my boyfriend, it is a validation of how happy he is that two people of the same sex can be together and happy.”
Religious Freedom Laws Spark Criticism
In April, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill that allows businesses and religious groups to deny services such as counseling, wedding planning and adoption support to LGBTQ people on the basis of “sincerely held religious beliefs and convictions.” While liberal opponents labeled the bill as discriminatory by nature, supporters cited freedom of speech. Similarly, in Georgia last month, faith-based organizations were given the option to deny their services to LGBTQ people. North Carolina’s state house passed legislation preventing trans men and woman from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity, sparking much pushback, including travel bans to the state and celebrities canceling tours. Even the National Basketball League has expressed opposition to the legislation, suggesting that North Carolina risked losing Charlotte as the location for the league’s All-Star Game if the law isn’t overturned.
Boy Scouts Lift Ban on Gay Leaders
After its 2013 decision to remove the ban on gay youth members, the Boy Scouts of America in July lifted the ban on gay and bisexual adults serving as volunteers, scouts and employees. While the organization as a whole will support its LGBTQ members, local troops and councils can still make their own decisions regarding refusing troop leaders based on sexual orientation.
Kim Davis Goes to Jail
After the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage last summer, a Rowan County, Ky. clerk named Kim Davis made headlines when she refused to grant same-sex marriage licenses to couples wishing to marry. Davis argued that “God’s authority” should overrule the nation’s highest court. She ended up serving five days in jail. Upon her release, Davis returned to work but her office began granting the marriage licenses.
Obama Sets a Tone with Bathroom Edict
The Obama administration has effectively ordered all public schools in the nation to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, following controversy in states over discriminatory bathroom bills. Now a Virginia school board is ready to fight for their right to utilize single-stall bathrooms for transgender students. Such situations will likely be decided in court, but the current administration has been clear in its intention to demand equal opportunity for students of all genders. ©
This article appears in Jun 15-22, 2016.
