29 June 2017 - NPWJ News Digest on on LGBTI rights

Articles

Tanzania’s president is cracking down on LGBTQ rights. He says cows would approve.
By Vox, 28 Jun 2017

In a strikingly homophobic rant last week, Magufuli slammed foreign NGOs that campaign for gay rights and Tanzanian LGBTQ activists, saying, “Those who teach such things do not like us, brothers. They brought us drugs and homosexual practices that even cows disapprove of,” according to the AFP.

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Being LGBT Inclusive Is Good for Business, Survey Finds
By Fortune, 28 Jun 2017

Nearly half of Americans and 64% of those who identify as LGBT allies say they are more likely to spend money with brands that are LGBT inclusive, according to a new survey from Ogilvy. The study found that the opposite was true as well — nearly half of Americans and a majority of allies said they would avoid purchasing products and services from companies they perceived as not supporting the LGBT community.

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Germany, Malta on Verge of Marriage Equality
By Human Rights Watch, 28 Jun 2017

Barring any last minute political surprises, two European Union countries are poised to embrace marriage equality: Germany and Malta. At an event in Berlin hosted by a women’s magazine, Chancellor Merkel responded to a question from the audience and said opinion polls show that the vast majority of Germans favor marriage equality. She suggested that a free vote on the matter could be held in the German parliament.

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LGBT Activists Prevented From Assembling in Istanbul
By TIME, 25 Jun 2017

Turkish police stopped activists for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex rights from gathering in large numbers for LGBT pride in Istanbul on Sunday, but smaller groups made impromptu press statements defying a ban imposed by the governor. Organizers of the 2017 Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride had vowed to march in central Taksim Square, using a Turkish hashtag for "we march," despite the ban on gay pride observances ordered by the Istanbul governor's office for the third year in a row. Police established checkpoints in the area, preventing groups from entering Istiklal Avenue and turning back individuals who were deemed to be associated with the planned march. Small groups assembled on side streets were chased away by officers.

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LGBTQ students prone to bullying
By The Standard, 23 Jun 2017

Students across the Philippines experience bullying and discrimination in school because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, Human Rights Watch says in a report released on Thursday. While Philippine law provides protections against discrimination and exclusion in schools, lawmakers and school administrators need to take steps to ensure they are fully implemented, the group says.

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