Russia is prosecuting an internet company for "LGBT propaganda," the Church of England is debating blessings for same-sex unions, and advocates fight for accurate medical records in Canada.
Yandex Faces Court Case for ‘LGBT Propaganda'
The chief executive of internet company Yandex is facing prosecution in a Russian court for alleged offenses under Russia’s LGBTQ propaganda law.
According to Reuters, the case is against CEO Artem Savinovsky and is in connection to another fine regarding the incorrect labeling of LGBTQ films. The violations are considered administrative because they do not cause significant harm or public danger.
Under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has intensified their restrictions on LGBTQ rights. In 2022, he signed a law that outlaws any public expression of the behavior or lifestyle of lesbians, gay men, bisexual or transgender people in Russia.
Yandex told Reuters they would appeal any court finding against its CEO.
Church of England Debates Blessings for Same-sex Unions
The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Photo by WikiFido, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Church of England will discuss how priests should carry out blessings for same-sex couples. They will also discuss how to protect vicars who choose not to pray over the union of same-sex couples.
The group, called the General Synod, is made up of bishops, clergy and laity.
According to Reuters, the Church of England doesn’t allow same-sex marriage in their 16,000 churches. But in January, they set proposals to let gay couples have a prayer service after a civil marriage. This was accompanied by an apology to the LGBTQ population for the rejection and hostility they have endured over the years.
The discussion will happen in York when the governing body gathers for a five-day meeting.
Advocates Fight for Accurate Medical Records
Michael Kwag, CBRC Executive Director. Photo via cbrc.net.
Advocates in Canada are fighting for accurate medical records for the LGBTQ community.
The Canadian Press reported that the Community-Based Research Centre in Vancouver released a report calling for the addition of more fields on medical forms in all jurisdictions to capture the full diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Michael Kwag, the center’s executive director, said that the current data in medical records is either misrepresented or not properly collected in Canada’s healthcare system and believes that including it would make it easier to plan for services the LGBTQ community needs.
The report says that medical records that properly recognize LGBTQ identities will improve access to appropriate care and lead to better health outcomes.
“It’s taxing on a person’s mental health and their ability to be understood by the world and to have to constantly feel like it’s a piece of the fight of coming out again and again, which can be retraumatizing,” Jeremy Long, an out man, told The Canadian Press.
Advocates also want better training for clerical and administrative workers and health-care professionals regarding sex and gender.
