2015: A Year in Review of LGBT Equality Worldwide
Post submitted by Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training
As 2015 draws to a close, HRC takes a closer look at the many ways in which the fight for equality has made progress, as well as those places where the fundamental rights of LGBT people are increasingly under siege.
Good News:
Global Momentum for marriage equality grows:
In the United States, millions of Americans celebrated a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June that made nationwide marriage equality the law of the land. A month earlier, 62 percent of Irish voters voted ‘yes’ in the first-ever referendum for marriage equality in the world. Same-sex couples in Ireland began tying the knot in November. In June, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional, paving the way for a court-based legal strategy to compel states without marriage equality to clear the way for same-sex marriages. Both Cyprus and Chile passed civil union legislation in 2015 but stopped short of full marriage equality.
U.S. appoints special LGBTI envoy:
The United States became the first country in the world to have a dedicated senior government official whose mandate is to advance LGBT rights and equality around the world. The U.S. government appointed Randy Berry, an accomplished career foreign service officer, as its first-ever special envoy for LGBTI human rights.
Nepal’s new constitution protects LGBT citizens:
In September, Nepal became the first Asian nation, and one of a handful in world, to include protections for LGBT people in its new constitution. Nepal has set an example for giant neighbors like India and China, where LGBT people are offered limited legal rights and face discrimination and harassment.
Transgender recognition laws gain ground globally:
In April, lawmakers in Malta unanimously adopted a groundbreaking bill that recognizes the fundamental rights of transgender, intersex and genderqueer people. Similarly, Ireland passed a law in July that allows transgender people to change their gender without legal or medical certification. Thailand’s government passed a gender equality law in September that provides protections from discrimination on the grounds of gender identity. Vietnam followed suit and passed a law in November protecting transgender people and legalizing gender reassignment surgery. Bolivian lawmakers voted in December to allow adult transgender people to legally change their name and gender on government documents.
Hateful anti-LGBT law struck down in Kazakhstan:
In May, the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan invalidated on technical grounds a proposed Russian-style “anti-propaganda” bill that would have criminalized LGBT human rights advocacy. Kazakhstan’s senate had passed the bill in February and it had been awaiting the president’s signature. However, the bill may still be reintroduced by anti-LGBT elements in the government.
Ukraine outlaws anti-LGBT workplace discrimination:
Ukraine’s parliament took a step towards preventing anti-LGBT discrimination in the workplace in November by passing workplace nondiscrimination legislation as part of a series of reforms aimed at securing Ukrainian citizens visa-free travel privileges to the European Union.
Mozambique Decriminalizes Homosexuality:
Mozambique decriminalized homosexuality in June by introducing a new penal code that scrapped Portuguese era colonial prohibitions on homosexuality. The revision of the penal code was a monumental victory for LGBT activists. However, the Mozambican government continues to deny recognition to Lambda, the country’s leading LGBT rights organization.
United Nations pushes for LGBT human rights:
The United Nations, under the leadership of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, continued to be a staunch ally in the fight for equality in 2015. In June, the U.N. human rights office released a landmark report on the state of LGBT rights around the world. The report noted substantial progress on LGBT equality, while highlighting the violence, criminalization and discrimination that LGBT people continue to face in every region of the world.
Dangerous Developments:
ISIL targets gay men in barbaric ways:
As it continues its extremist path of destruction across Iraq and Syria, ISIL has released images and videos documenting the brutal execution of men accused of being gay. In a particularly shocking example, ISIL released videos of the public execution of four gay men on Twitter on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, using the hashtag “Love Wins.” In August, the U.N. Security Council convened a session to discuss the plight of LGBT people who face horrific violence and persecution in areas controlled by ISIL.This was the first-ever Security Council session explicitly focused on LGBT people.
Gambian president continues persecution of LGBT community:
At a rally in May 2015, President Yahya Jammeh threatened to slit the throats of gay men. U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice issued a statement condemning Jammeh’s “unconscionable” threats against LGBT Gambians, who live under a cloud of fear. In 2014 Jammeh signed into law a draconian measure further criminalizing being gay with the possibility of life imprisonment. After the law was passed, Jammeh’s security forces immediately began cracking down on LGBT people.
Mass arrests of LGBT people in Egypt:
Egypt’s crackdown on LGBT people, especially gay men and transgender women, continued to widen in 2015. Those arrested were often prosecuted under charges of “debauchery.” The ongoing crackdown is part of a calculated effort by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to establish his political legitimacy with the conservative Islamist opposition.
World Congress of Families hosts international conference:
In October, the notoriously anti-LGBT World Congress of Families (WCF) held an international conference in Salt Lake City, bringing together thousands of the most hateful extremists from around the world. Designated an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Conference included speakers like Senator Ted Cruz’s father, Rafael, who called LGBT advocates pedophiles and smeared transgender people; Nigeria’s anti-LGBT activist Theresa Okafor, who has compared LGBT people to the terrorist group Boko Haram; and Sharon Slater, the president and founder of Family Watch International, who has described LGBT equality as “inherently destructive.” WCF has been successful in promoting anti-LGBT laws and homophobia, and contributing to hate-based violence against LGBT people across the globe, from Russia to Nigeria to Australia.
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This morning, nominees were announced for the 73rd Golden Globes and LGBT-inclusive feature Carol leads the film categories with five nominations including Best Motion Picture – Drama. Stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara scored nominations in Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and out director Todd Haynes is nominated in Best Director – Motion Picture. Lily Tomlin picked up two nominations for Best Performance by an Actress, one for her work in the film Grandma and one for her Netflix series Grace and Frankie. Eddie Redmayne is nominated in Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for The Danish Girl, one of three nominations for the film. Emma Donoghue is nominated in Best Screenplay for her film Room and Sam Smith’s Bond theme “Writing’s On The Wall” scored a nomination in Best Original Song – Motion Picture.
Bisexual singer/actress Lady Gaga (American Horror Story: Hotel) is nominated in Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, she’s joined in the category by Queen Latifah for her portrayal of queer blues singer Bessie Smith in HBO’s Bessie. Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) picked up a nomination in Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. Viola Davis is nominated in Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama for her portrayal of Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder. Uzo Aduba scored a nomination in Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her work on Orange is the New Black. Jeffrey Tambor picked up a nomination in Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of 
Nominees for the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards were also announced this week, this is the only show with winners selected solely by actors and their peers. Carol stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara picked up nominations in Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading and Supporting Role, respectively. Eddie Redmayne is nominated in Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for The Danish Girl. Queen Latifah is nominated in Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for HBO’s Bessie. Viola Davis (How To Get Away with Murder) scored a nomination in Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series with Uzo Aduba nominated in Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (Orange is the New Black). Jeffrey Tambor is nominated in Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Transparent, he is joined in the category by out actor Jim Parsons. LGBT-inclusive series Orange is the New Black, Transparent, and Modern Family are nominated in Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series with Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, and House of Cards picking up nominations in the Drama Series category. The SAG Awards will be simulcast 
The NAACP Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by people of color in arts and those who work to promote social justice through creativity. LGBT-inclusive series Orange is the New Black and Survivor’s Remorse are nominated in Outstanding Comedy Series with Being Mary Jane, Empire, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder nominated in Outstanding Drama. Orange is the New Black stars Laverne Cox and Uzo Aduba picked up nominations in Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively, and Andre Braugher is nominated in Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of 
HBO’s Bessie picked up five nominations total, including two for out writer/director Dee Rees. Dope, which follows three best friends (including butch 
Nominees for the 58th Annual Grammys were announced earlier this week. Out musician Courtney Barnett is nominated in Best New Artist. Ricky Martin’s A Quien Quiera Eschuchar (Deluxe Edition) scored a nomination in Best Latin Pop Album. The Firewatcher’s Daughter, the newest from Brandi Carlile, is nominated in Best Americana Album. Brandy Clark’s “Hold My Hand” from her album 12 Stories picked up a nomination in Best Country Song. Janis Ian and Jean Smart’s reading of the queer historical fiction novel Patience and Sarah by Isabel Miller scored a nomination in Best Spoken Word Album. The original cast recording of the Broadway musical Fun Home, about the life of 
