28 Aug 2014 - NPWJ News Digest on LGBTI rights

Articles

Michigan Education Groups Call For LGBT Rights
By Pride Source, 27 Aug 2014

WDET reports that many Michigan colleges, universities and schools have officially endorsed the passing of protections for LGBT people in the state. Organizations representing these various groups join more than 50 business and non-profit groups who are urging Michigan lawmakers to pass legislation protecting LGBT persons from discrimination. The coalition expects this legislation to be introduced next month. "We see it both as an important message for students but also an important issue for community colleges, as they are also in the business of attracting talent," said Michigan Community College Association President Mike Hansen.

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India’s LGBT Community Dares to Hope After Health Minister’s Comment on Gay Rights
By Global Voices, 26 Aug 2014

A recent comment by India's health minister that gay people are entitled to human rights just like anybody else has rekindled hopes among the country's LGBT community, which has fought a long battle to convince the government to decriminalise homosexuality and uphold social justice. The minister was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an event organized by the health ministry in Delhi. When asked about his views on gay rights and decriminalization of consensual gay sex between adults, Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that everybody has human rights and it is the job of the government to protect them.

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Ecuador LGBT to Receive Civil Status on ID Cards
By TeleSur, 26 Aug 2014

Many LGBT activists applaud the move as an important step toward greater rights, but there remain many questions about how it will look in practice. The civil status of same-sex couples in Ecuador will appear on government-issued ID cards beginning September 15, according to President Rafael Correa's announcement in his weekly Saturday television address. Formerly, only the civil status of heterosexual couples was recognized in Ecuador. "If there was any doubt about heterosexual or same-sex civil unions being put on national ID cards, there is none any more," said Correa in his televised address.

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Lithuanian Television Broadcasters Refuse to Air Pro-LGBT Ad
By Human Rights Campaign, 22 Aug 2014

Lithuanian television broadcasters have refused to air a video clip that features several LGBT couples as well as allies. The video was produced by the national LGBT rights organization LGL and was meant to be a positive representation of the LGBT community, as a part of their larger campaign “Change It”. While the video itself does not contain anything provocative, commercial broadcasters fear that it may be in violation of the Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information.

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