by Elise

Colombian paramilitary groups are carrying out “social cleansing” of Transgender women, Gay men and Lesbians in cities, towns and villages in Caquetá Department. Over 40 Queer people were murdered in 2023, and eight more between February and April this year. All this violence in the face of the 2016 Peace agreement between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia People’s Army (FARC) and the Colombian government which, supposedly, recognized LGBTQ+ people as victims of the conflict that raged. The Trans women who are allowed to live must live as either sex workers or hairdressers. One anonymous Trans woman dresses and presents as male for her personal safety.

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The Borough of State College, Penn., declared itself a refuge for Transgender and nonbinary youth and their parents. Trans and nonbinary youth from anywhere in the USA, including from states where there are no or little protections for Trans and nonbinary youth, are welcome to reside and seek healthcare. The city council unanimously passed the resolution in this community which was known for being conservative. Centre LGBT+, a Queer rights advocacy and education group, encourages other municipalities to become sanctuary locations.

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An Australian Federal Court ruled that Giggle for Girls, a female-only social networking platform, illegally discriminated against Trans woman Roxanne Tickle by removing her from their platform. Giggle for Girls determined that Roxanne must be insufficiently female because she supposedly looked “too masculine.” Giggle must pay Tickle $10,000 but do not have to issue an apology, which Tickle requested, because the court feared the apology would be through clenched teeth. It was already legal precedent in Australia that sex is changeable.

Denitsa and Veneta from Deystvie; Film Director Anna and Producer David from Tanuki Films; Martin Kothee and Boryana from FNF, at the Premiere of the short documentary ‘Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action’ at the Sofia Pride Film Festival in June 2022.

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LGBTQ+ supporters and human rights groups including Forbidden Colours, Renew Europe, LevFem, Feminist Mobilizations, and Action (LGBT Deystvie) protested Bulgaria’s new anti-LGBTQ+ bill banning discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Introduced by the far-right party Revival (Vazrazhdane), activists are concerned that the new law resembles anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Russia (“Queer Notes,” News & Letters, July 20, 2021) and Hungary which result in severe oppression of Queer people. The European Commission requested clarification of the law in mid-August. At the protest against the new law outside the Parliament in Sofia, one sign read, “School for all! Let’s stop the hate.” Chants included: “Fascism kills, power covers up” and “Shame on you.”