Human Rights in the News: June 2019
/Curated by Shivani Banfal
Welcome to the June 2019 edition of Human Rights in the News, Woven Teaching’s monthly collection of important human rights stories from around the world. This month for #PrideMonth, we curated around the topic of LGBTQIA+ issues in human rights.
Image description: A hand with light brown skin holding a cluster of small rainbow flags (Credit: Stephanie Gonot via Refinery29)
How To Celebrate Pride In A Place Where You Can't
Refinery29 | June 18, 2019
Although the month of June is meant to be a celebration that gives LGBTQ+ people space to express themselves and feel affirmed by their communities; however, some people may not feel like they have the same luxury. Refinery 29 shares resources for LGBTQ+ communities who don’t feel represented. Learn more >
Image description: Black and white photo of a group of young men being pushed by two police officers and a person in a suit. The people pushing are seen from behind (Credit: Getty via the Daily Beast)
NYPD’s Stonewall Apology Welcome in Ugly LGBT Pride Month Which Has Shown Why Pride Is So Necessary
The Daily Beast | June 6, 2019
Nearing the 50 year anniversary of the Stonewall Raid, NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill issued an apology for the events that took place on June 28, 1969. As a result of the admission by Commissioner O’Neill, LGBTQ+ people have been reminded, in the worst possible ways, of the need for a Pride Month. Learn more >
Image description: A flagpole with four flags with the dome of the California Capitol building in the background. The flags, from top to bottom: American flag, California flag, POW MIA flag, rainbow flag (Credit: Gavin Newsom via Twitter)
California Governor Defies Trump, Flies Rainbow Flag Over State Capitol During Pride Month
Newsweek | June 18, 2019
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered that for the remainder of Pride Month, the rainbow flag will fly above the state's capitol building, directly flouting White House policy. The decision in California is a symbolic rejection of President Donald Trump's policy prohibiting U.S. diplomatic missions from flying the rainbow flag during LGBT Pride month. Learn more >
Image description: Two people holding hands, zoomed to show the hands and wrists only. One person has lighter skin, the other darker, and both are wearing colorful bracelets. (Credit: UN News/Elizabeth Scaffidi)
Understanding of LGBT realities ‘non-existent’ in most countries, says UN expert
UN News | June 12, 2019
Policymakers in most parts of the world are making decisions in the dark when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity. In a statement issued ahead of presenting his upcoming report to the Human Rights Council later this month, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, urged States to collect more data to understand the root causes of violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in societies across the world. Learn more >
Image description: Group of young people. Half of the group holds up a rainbow flag, the other half holds a flag of Botswana, which has five horizontal stripes: blue, white, black, white, blue (Credit: Caine Youngman)
Botswana decriminalising homosexuality sends 'huge and loud message': human rights activist
Euronews | June 15, 2019
This month, Botswana’s High Court scrapped a section of the country's penal code that considered homosexuality a criminal offense punishable by up to seven years in prison. The laws in many African countries were introduced by colonial powers but haven't changed since the countries became independent. Learn more >
Image description: Large crowd of people at a Gay Pride parade in Mexico City, 2018. Several rainbow flags wave above the crowd (Credit: Reuters/Edgard Garrido)
Mexico City’s LGBT-Inclusive School Uniforms Policy
Human Rights Watch | June 13, 2019
Mexico City’s Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced on June 3 that children in Mexico City would be allowed to choose the uniform they wear to school — regardless of its association with a particular gender. The policy applies to pre-schools, elementary schools, and secondary schools. Learn more >
Image description: A person with short hair and light skin, wearing a white t-shirt, with arms outstretch. They are holding a stretched scarf with rainbow stripes behind themselves (Credit: Marcos Pin, AFP via France24)
Ecuador’s Top Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
The Organization for World Peace | June 18, 2019
On June 12th, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court announced the approval of same-sex marriage after five of the nine judges voted in favor during a closed-door hearing. This decision was initiated after two gay couples hoping to be married were denied by the country’s civil registry and sued. Ecuador is the 27th country to legalize same-sex marriage, joining other South American nations like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. Learn more >
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