Weekly Queer Digest
July 30-August 6, 2021
State of the World…
This week saw fascinating advancements and devastating blows to LGBTI+ rights globally.
Hundreds took part in the Cayman Islands' first gay pride parade, Namibian sprinters ran the Olympic women's 200 meters after being banned from 400 meters, a federal court ordered Mexico's Sonora state to bring in marriage equality, and openly LGBTQ-elected officials in the United States now number nearly 1,000 people.
These positive developments were met with ongoing persecution as Ukraine's LGBT+ activists were attacked online and in the street, China banned a German consulate from social media for posting about an LGBTQ film festival, and Hungary set referendum questions in LGBT content and information clampdown. Additionally, Ghana is poised to vote on the worst anti-LGBTQ bill ever - where identifying as gay could result in a five-year prison sentence while advocating for LGBTQ rights could be punishable by up to ten years behind bars.
The only way to achieve freedom is to recognize the ongoing work that needs to happen and unify through intersectionality to ensure that all LGBTI+ people can live healthy, safe, and flourishing lives.