Georgia's parliament speaker signed an anti-LGBTQ bill into law, same-sex couples apply to register their marriages in South Korea, and a gay couple was beaten in public in Nigeria.
Parliament Speaker Signs Anti-LGBTQ Bill Into Law
Georgia's parliament speaker signed an anti-LGBTQ bill into law after President Salome Zourabichvili refused to do so.
According to Pink News, the bill, known as the "LGBT Propaganda" law, was returned by Zourabichvili but pushed through by the ruling party, Georgian Dream.
The law, similar to Russia's, bans public displays of LGBTQ identities and nullifies same-sex marriages performed in Georgia. Critics, including Tbilisi Pride's director, Tamara Jakeli, have condemned it as “the most terrible thing to happen to the LGBT community in Georgia.”
Activists claim the law is an attempt to boost support for Georgian Dream ahead of upcoming elections. Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili defended the law as reflecting "centuries-old Christian, Georgian, and European values."
Same-Sex Couples Apply To Register Their Marriages in South Korea
Photo via Pexels.
Eleven same-sex couples in South Korea have applied to register their marriages, marking the first step in a legal fight for marriage equality.
According to The Washington Blade, after their applications were rejected by local offices, the couples filed objections in court, arguing that the ban on same-sex marriage violates their constitutional rights to equality and happiness.
Kim Yong-min and So Sung-wook, who previously won a Supreme Court case for health benefits for same-sex partners, are among those challenging the law.
The National Health Insurance Service continues to deny claims, citing a lack of legal standards for same-sex couples. “There are no clear legal standards,” the agency stated, reflecting the absence of a legal framework or protections in South Korea.
Gay Couple Beaten And Paraded In Public
Illustration by Craig Tuggle.
A gay couple in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, was brutally beaten and paraded in public due to their sexual orientation.
According to The Washington Blade, a video shared on social media showed the half-naked couple being insulted and attacked, with one of the men visibly bleeding. Human rights activist Rinu Oduala condemned the incident, stating, "Why is someone’s sexual orientation your problem?”
No Hate Network Nigeria, an LGBTQ rights organization, described the attack as "appalling and unacceptable," emphasizing the widespread homophobia in Nigeria.
"This violence highlights the urgent need for increased advocacy, education, and protection for LGBTQI+ individuals," the organization stated. They also pointed to discriminatory laws, like the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014, which criminalizes LGBTQ people and fuels such attacks.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Nigeria and punishable by death in some states, and there is currently no movement from lawmakers to amend or repeal parts of the Criminal Code that are used to arrest, charge, and prosecute those who identify as LGBTQ.
Despite the criminalization of same-sex relations, many Nigerians found the attack on the couple unjust, noting that even rapists and pedophiles do not face such public humiliation.
