Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy
Psychologists or other health professionals now will need a person’s explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.
LGBTQ+ rights & well-being
Canada removes ban on blood donations from gay men
Prospective donors will not be asked about their sexual orientation during the screening process but instead about whether they engage in any higher-risk sexual behavior.
Spanish government to launch free LGBTQ+ helpline for advice and support
The service is set to be free, accessible in multiple languages and will be available 24/7, all year round.
South Korea’s supreme court overturns military convictions of two gay soldiers in landmark ruling
The supreme court’s new ruling sets the precedent that consensual same-sex sexual activity can no longer be punishable for military service members.
Paolo Rondelli of San Marino becomes world’s first openly gay head of state
The move has been welcomed as a “historic event” not only for San Marino but for the LGBTQ community around the world and all of humanity.
U.S. FDA approves first condom designed to prevent HIV during anal sex
The organization has just authorized the sale of the ONE Male Condom, designed specifically to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STIs during anal sex.
India’s National Medical Commission forbids conversion therapy throughout the country
Any doctor in India found engaged in LGBTQ conversion therapy is now liable to be prosecuted for professional misconduct.
Kuwait overturns law used to prosecute transgender people
The law had criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, giving Kuwaiti authorities free rein to arrest and prosecute people whose appearance did not match the gender on their official identification card.
Israel formally bans LGBTQ+ conversion therapy
While the Health Ministry has advised against conversion therapy for years, no formal prohibition had been issued against the practice until now.
Norway to add gender-neutral pronoun to official Norwegian language
The gender-neutral third-person singular counterpart to the feminine “hun” and the masculine “han” will be “hen.”