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Author: Rachel Badham

Germany elects first trans MPs

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Tessa Ganserer and Nyke Slawik have made history by becoming the first out trans women to have won seats in Germany’s parliament after the Bundestag election results were released on Sunday. Both MPs are members of the Green party, which won a total 14.8% of the overall vote in what Ganserer described as a “historic victory” for both the party itself and “the entire queer community”. 

Ganserer, known for her role in updating the 1980 Transsexual Act, also celebrated her victory on social media, tweeting: “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the trust shown by the voters. I’m still overwhelmed, but I’m really looking forward to my new job in Berlin! My congratulations to Nyke Slawik.” Slawik also shared the news on Instagram, saying: “Insanity! I still can’t quite believe it.”

Nyke Slawik

She added: “With this historic election result I will definitely be a member of the next Bundestag. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who supported me and who voted Green today.” Although the two MPs are the first lawmakers to be out at the time of their elections, Christian Schenk was the first trans person to have held a seat in parliament and came out in 2006 after leaving his role. He served as an MP for 12 years in Germany. 

Switzerland votes in favour of marriage equality

Posted on by Rachel Badham

An overwhelming majority have voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in Switzerland, with 64.1% supporting the notion. Overall, every one of Switzerland’s 26 cantons voted in favour of same-sex marriage, with Appenzell Inner Rhoden being the only region that nearly tipped into the ‘no’ category. A total of 35.9% voted against marriage equality. 

According to the BBC, Switzerland has allowed same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships since 2007, but couples will now be able to legally marry, as well as being able to adopt children or have children through sperm donation. Jan Muller, a member of the ‘yes’ campaign committee, described the vote as a “historic” moment for LGBTQ+ equality and same-sex couples.  

Switzerland is now the 30th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. LGBTQ+ activists and advocacy groups have been celebrating the news, with Stonewall UK tweeting: “Almost two-thirds of Swiss voters have backed same-sex marriage in a referendum! Campaigners have hailed the vote as a historic moment for LGBTQ+ rights in Switzerland, as one of the last countries in western Europe to legalise same-sex marriage.”

37th trans person killed in the US this year

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Brianna Hamilton, a 25-year-old Black trans woman, was found dead in Chicago last Friday, making her the 37th trans or gender non-conforming person to have been killed in the US in 2021. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, that misgendered Hamilton in its report, she was found with a gunshot wound to her head and was later pronounced dead in hospital, with police giving no further details about the circumstances. 

Shortly after the news of her death, Hamilton’s family set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses, with her mother describing Brianna as the “victim of a ruthless murder…who was loved by many.” She added: “Brianna was an amazing person who touched so many people’s hearts with her presence and her memory will forever live on.” According to the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, 28 of the 37 who have been killed this year were black trans women like Hamilton. 

The Human Rights Campaign paid tribute to Hamilton, with Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, saying: “Hamilton’s death marks the second killing of a Black trans woman in Chicago during the past month and the fourth this year. Black trans lives matter, and we need urgent action to end this epidemic of violence.”

In 2020, 44 trans and gender non-conforming people were violently killed in the US, making it the deadliest year on record for trans Americans. A total of 350 trans people were killed globally, the majority of whom were murdered in Brazil, Mexico and the US.

Report warns of Tory cuts to HIV and AIDS resources

Posted on by Rachel Badham

A new report by STOPAIDS, Frontline AIDS and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights (APPG) has warned that government cuts to HIV/AIDS funding could be “setting the stage for a resurgence of the [HIV] pandemic”. Earlier this year, the government confirmed that funding for UNAIDS would be set at £ 2.5 m, compared to £15 mil in 2020, causing concern that the changes would “affect the provision of life-saving HIV prevention and treatment services around the world.”

The new report explained that the global HIV response has already been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic: “The global HIV response is now teetering – caught in a perfect storm of waning political and public engagement, diminishing funds, and the global shock of Covid-19.” As a result, the funding cuts may carry a “heavy human and financial toll” by negatively impacting global health provisions and reducing access to vital HIV/AIDS-related resources. 

Baroness Barker, vice-chair of the APPG on HIV, added: “There couldn’t be a worse time for the government to cut so much funding. Our report highlights the devastating impact that the cuts are already having and how it’s jeopardising decades of progress. Britain is and can be so much better than this. I urge the government to think again. We must save lives and get the HIV response back on track.”

Polish region votes to overturn anti-LGBTQ+ policies

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Lawmakers in the Polish province of Swietokrzyskie have voted unanimously to repeal 2019 regulations that declared the region an ‘LGBTQ+ free’ zone after the EU threatened to withhold billions worth of funding if policies to accommodate the LGBTQ+ community were not made immediately. According to the Associated Press, the 2019 laws have been replaced with policies that offer “a guarantee of equality and fair treatment for all.”

Activist Bart Staszewski, known for protesting against Poland’s LGBTQ+ free zones, described the moment as a “great day for Poland and great success of activists and civil society”, adding: “I am really moved.” Despite the law changes in Swietokrzyskie, there are still approximately 100 LGBTQ+ free zones in the country. Opposition towards the community has grown rapidly since the 2020 re-election of anti-LGBTQ+ president Andrzej Duda who vowed to crack down on what he refers to as queer ‘ideology’.

Following the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hostility in Poland, the EU launched the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. This action plan aims to oppose right-wing regimes of prejudice against queer people after 43% of LGBTQ+ people reported being discriminated against in the last year. Explaining the strategy, EU commission vice-president Vera Jourova said: “We will defend the rights of LGBTQ+ people against those who now have more and more appetite to attack them from this ideological point of view…This belongs to the authoritarian playbook and it does not have a place in the EU.”

Boy George’s musical Taboo to return for star-studded anniversary show

Posted on by Rachel Badham

To mark the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Boy George’s musical Taboo, a host of famous figures from original West End and Broadway companies will be performing at a one-off concert at the London Palladium on 30 January 2022. The event will be held in aid of the Terrance Higgins Trust – the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity – and housing charity Shelter, which supports those experiencing homelessness. 

Taboo tells the story of music and fashion icon George O’Dowd (Boy George), the cultural icon and performance artist Leigh Bowery – who later died of AIDS – and all those who frequented the legendary Taboo club, such as Steve Strange, Philip Sallon and Marilyn. Boy George described writing the music for Taboo as an “extraordinary experience”, adding: “I’m very happy it’s back for one night only to support two of my favourite charities…[it will be the] most fitting way to celebrate the 20th anniversary.”

Boy George

The original West End production of Taboo helped launch the careers of many iconic performers including Luke Evans, Matt Lucas, Diane Pilkington, Declan Bennett, Euan Morton, Lyn Paul, Stephen Ashfield and John Partridge. Julian Clary and Boy George himself made their West End debuts in the show, and Paul Baker won an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Philip Salon. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online either from Ticketmaster or LW Theatres.

Happy Bi Visibility Day!

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Created to celebrate the bisexual and queer community while also debunking myths surrounding bisexuality, September 23 is international Bi Visibility Day. Although bi+ people are commonly erased both from and within the LGBTQ+ community, it is thought that they make up over 50% of all LGBTQ+ people. Furthermore, bisexual people have some of the highest rates of anxiety and mental health issues in the LGB community, according to figures from Stonewall. 

In an effort to raise awareness about the difficulties the bi+ community faces while also shining a light on bi+ history and the activism work of many prominent bisexual figures, Bi Visibility Day was born in 1999. Many LGBTQ+ activists, advocacy groups and bi+ celebrities have marked the occasion on social media, with Stonewall tweeting: “Happy #BiVisibilityDay! Every day of the year we love & celebrate our bi community and supporters.”

Gendered Intelligence also shared a message of support for the bi+ community: “Today, and every day, we celebrate the diversity of bisexual people and their experiences, and wholeheartedly reject biphobia and bi erasure.” To discover more about bisexuality and how to combat biphobia, Stonewall’s Bi Visibility Hub offers advice on allyship as well as personal stories from the bi+ community. 

Happy Bi Visibility Day from Scene!

Out Gay MP Mike Freer named as new equalities minister

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Conservative MP Mike Freer has been announced as a new UK equalities minister and will working alongside Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch, who will be remaining in her position despite calls for her to resign amid controversy over her anti-LGBTQ+ comments. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights announced the news, describing Freer as “a champion” of LGBTQ+ people. 

Kemi Badenoch

However, some criticised the government for appointing Freer without removing Badenoch, with one social media user saying: “So, the Tories didn’t want to do anything about Kemi Badenoch’s unrestrained homophobia and transphobia so decided that throwing in a token junior minister would do as much.” Badenoch has been the subject of criticism since a recording of her leaked where she could be heard saying: “Well we’ve got gay marriage, and civil partnerships, so what are transsexuals looking for?”

Liz Truss

Women and equalities minister Liz Truss has also been accused of not understanding the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and failing to reform the Gender Recognition Act so as to make it more trans-inclusive. The government’s LGBTQ+ advisory panel also disbanded earlier this year, causing further concern among LGBTQ+ activists and advisory groups that national leaders are neglecting LGBTQ+ issues.

Yorkshire man creates support group after homophobic attack

Posted on by Rachel Badham

South Yorkshire psychic medium, Andrew James, has launched an LGBTQ+ support group online after he was physically assaulted on a night out with his boyfriend on September 11. Speaking to The Star, James explained that he was punched in the face and told by the attacker: “You deserve it because you’re gay.” James added that it was “really disappointing” to be experiencing homophobia “in this day and age”.

Following the incident, James set up an LGBTQ+ support group on Facebook to create a “safe place for members of the LGBTQ+ or supporters of the LGBTQ+ to talk and share stories and make friends.” He told The Star his motive for setting up the group, which already has over 500 members: “I just wanted to create a space to offer more support. Only when I was a victim myself did I see there’s not enough support out there for the LGBTQ+ community.”

The UK has seen a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime over the past few months, with some victims even being targeted in LGBTQ+ venues or villages. Birmingham’s Gay Village has seen two homophobic assaults since June, with one man being stabbed in the leg by attackers. Young LGBTQ+ people have also been the victims of the rise in hate crime, with two teens being beaten and robbed in Hitchin, Hertfordshire in what police described as an “unprovoked homophobic attack.”

US reviewing housing policies for trans inmates

Posted on by Rachel Badham

The US Department of Justice is currently reviewing Trump-era policies regarding trans prison inmates, with the aim to provide more inmates with gender-affirming housing and facilities. According to the Associated Press, protections for trans inmates were rolled back during Trump’s presidency, meaning that the majority are housed in prisons that do not align with their gender identity. 

Under Obama-era regulations, authorities were urged to “recommend housing by gender identity when appropriate.” However, the Trump administration altered these policies, asking housing committees to “use biological sex as the initial determination.” Justice Department officials have confirmed that the current system is under review to address the needs of the estimated 1,200 trans inmates in the US.

Emily Claire Hari

The policy review came about after Emily Claire Hari – who was convicted under her deadname – was sentenced Monday for the bombing of Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota in 2017. After recently being sentenced to 53 years in prison, the Bureau of Prisons’ Transgender Executive Council will now be deciding where to house Hari, with the decision prompting wider discussions of the current regulations for trans inmates. 

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