Organizations in South Africa speak out after a lesbian couple was murdered, a Georgian court ruled in favor of an anti-LGBTQ propaganda law, and sexual orientation questions were scrapped from Australia's census.

Orgs Speak Out After Lesbian Couple Murdered

South African LGBTQ organizations are speaking out following the murder of a lesbian couple in Dambuza near Pietermaritzburg.

According to The Washington Blade, Nombulelo Thandathina Bixa and Minenhle Ngcobo were shot and killed by Ngcobo’s ex-boyfriend, who was reportedly not happy with her recent relationship with Bixa.

“We stand in solidarity with all those who are mourning and call for justice for our fallen siblings,” said ILORA, an LGBTQ rights organization. “Together, we must continue to fight against the violence and hatred that threaten our lives and communities.”

News outlets are reporting that the couple’s death could have been averted, given that Ngcobo’s ex-boyfriend had been harassing them and ignored a protection order.

Georgian Court Rules In Favor Of Anti-LGBTQ Propaganda Law

Illustration by Craig Tuggle.

The Georgia government is now one step closer to passing their anti-LGBTQ “propaganda” law after the bill secured passage at second reading in parliament.

According to The Washington Blade, the bill is inspired by legislation passed in Russia. It would ban any gathering, product, or educational program that “popularizes” LGBTQ people or identities, bans gender-related care for trans people and legal recognition of their gender, and more.

“This package undermines the fundamental rights of Georgian people and risks further stigmatization and discrimination of part of the population,” said the European Union in a statement. “The EU calls on the Georgian authorities to entirely reconsider this legislative package.”

A final vote is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Sexual Orientation Questions Scrapped From Census

Finance Minister Jim Chalmersvia. Photo by myPolice Logan, via Wikimedia Commons.

Finance Minister Jim Chalmers announced that the 2026 census would include, for the first time ever, sexual orientation and gender questions.

"We say to Australians from the LGBTIQ+ community: you matter, you've been heard, you will be counted,” said Chalmers on Sept. 8.

Then, days later, they walked back their decision — they will no longer ask these questions.

Now, activists are upset as they believed this change would provide a more accurate account of Australians and who they are.

According to Le Monde, the country claims that the decision was made to avoid ugly and potentially divisive public debate.

"We've seen the way that these issues can be weaponized against members of our community, and we don't want to see that happen," Chalmers told public broadcaster ABC. "The census isn't the only opportunity to gather that sort of data.”

Alex Greenwich, a lawmaker for Independent Sydney, said that if the government holds true to the reversal then, “the government could expect LGBTQ people and our families not to participate in the next census.”