by Elise
Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni and her right-wing government are reversing progress made for Queer rights. Since she became Italy’s leader, the biological parent of the child of a same-sex couple is the only recognized parent. This puts in peril timely medical care for their children, schoolchildren’s ability to go on class outings when signatory authorization is needed, and what happens to their child if the “recognized parent” dies, among other things. A Senate commission ruled not to recognize birth certificates of children of same-sex couples from other EU states, and Meloni stated that every child should have a mother and father. The Gay Party, former Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, LGBTQ+ rights groups All Out and Rainbow Families all decried Meloni’s queerphobia and her government’s actions. They are fighting the policies and calling on all mayors to recognize legally both parents of same-sex families.
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Supporters of LGBTQ+ people and fans of the Queer Trans K-pop group QI.X countered queerphobic conservative Christian protests when QI.X performed at the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, held in the Euljiro district of Korea. (The Q stands for Queer, the I for idol and X for limitless possibility.) The Queer Culture Festival had previously been held in front of the Seoul City Hall, but this year had been displaced by an anti-LGBTQ+ Christian group. Counter-protesters displayed Pride flags, and one fan held the sign, “We only see QI.X”. There are still no human rights laws protecting LGBTQ+ people in South Korea, but band members’ genderqueer Prin, gender fluid jiGOOK, Sen and the band’s founder Park Ji-yeon believe society is becoming more accepting of Queer people, and that their band is contributing to that change. Approval of Gay rights in South Korea is up, with four in ten now approving.
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Mount Dora, Florida, voted in August to be a Safe Place Initiative city, but Republican bigots plan to take legal action to prevent it. The bigots say Safe Places are in opposition to biblical principles. The Safe Place Initiative began in Seattle, Wash., by working with social organizations, schools and police to protect LGBTQ+ people. It has expanded to protect individuals and communities from all forms of hate and violence. When folks walk into a store with the Safe Place sticker, they know they are safe. Mayor Crissy Stiles and many in Mount Dora city vowed to adopt the Safe Place Initiative despite the opposition.