Thailand passes the marriage equality bill, Elliot Page criticizes the rollback of LGBTQ rights in Canada, and a mother and son launch an app to keep LGBTQ people safe in England.
Thai Parliament Passes Marriage Equality Bill
Thailand is about to be the first Southeast Asian nation to recognize marriage equality.
According to Al Jazeera, the lower house of the Thai parliament voted in favor of the bill, with 400 supporting its passage and 10 against it. If the bill is turned into law, Thailand will be the third Asian country to legalize marriage for the LGBTQ community.
“I want to invite you all to make history,” said Danuphorn Punnakanta, the chairman of the parliamentary committee, according to Al Jazeera. “We did this for all Thai people to reduce disparity in society and start creating equality.”
The bill now goes to the Senate. If approved, it will need endorsement from the king before it becomes law.
Elliot Page Criticizes Rollback Of LGBTQ Rights
Elliot Page. Photo by Frypie, via Wikimedia Commons.
Elliot Page spoke against Canada’s rollback of LGBTQ rights during the Juno Awards.
“We are at a time in history where the rights of LGBTQ2+ people are being revoked, restricted and eliminated throughout the world, and the effects are devastating,” said Page, according to Variety.
Page, a Canadian native, is transgender and uses his platform as an actor and producer to advocate for LGBTQ rights.
According to Variety, following Page, artist Sara Quin continued in the same vein, calling out the Canadian province of Alberta for their proposal to restrict healthcare for transgender youth.
“Advocating for our community’s rights is a great privilege, and we are dedicated to confronting any form of discrimination that threatens the well-being of our community,” said Quin.
Mother And Son Launch App To Keep LGBTQ People Safe
Luciana and Nicholas Cousin. Courtesy photo.
A mother and son from England, Luciana and Nicholas Cousin, launched an app that keeps members of the LGBTQ community safe on nights out.
They are members of the LGBTQ community.
"We started the app because of friends who were attacked and too afraid to ask for help,” said Luciana Cousin.
The app, Back Off. Back Up. (BOBU), aims to provide safe spaces, such as bars and restaurants, where users can go if they feel in danger of being attacked.
According to the BBC, the app shows users restaurants and bars where staff have been trained to support people who feel in danger.
The app was created in response to the increase in hate crimes based on sexual orientation which, according to Stonewall, has increased by 112% in the past five years.
"I was an easier target for people when I was younger. I was excluded from things, such as going to parties,” said Nicholas Cousin. “When I got older, the bullying got worse. It became more aggressive, more physical.”
The app is currently operating in Brighton, with plans to expand its coverage to London and Kendal with the end goal of reaching the rest of the U.K.
