Ending the Year with Good News for LGBTQIA+ People and Our Allies

With this calendar year coming to what feels like a quick close, I thought I'd end this year with three stories that show that there is progress being made towards treating those of us who LGBTQIA+ people as equals. In parts of the world, people are continuing to advocate for change from the "status quo," and doing the right thing for and with LGBTQIA+ people.

The first story has to do with Canada, and the abolishment of so-called "conversion therapy" as a valid and scientifically sound way of working with LGBTQIA+ people. Prime Minister Trudeau calls the practice "despicable and degrading." As of Dec. 9, 2021, according to the Senate of Canada, conversion therapy is understood to be prohibited, by law, in Canada. So-called conversion therapy relied on the assumption that sexual orientation can be changed or "cured," which is an idea discredited by major medical and psychological associations the US and the United Kingdom, along with Canada. In the US, 20 states and 100 municipalities have outlawed conversion therapy.  Here's a link to the article: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/09/americas/canada-conversion-therapy-ban/index.html

The second story is about same sex marriage in very-Catholic Chile! On Dec. 7, 2021, the Chilean parliament both approved same sex marriage, along with permitting LGBTQIA+ people to adopt children. While they approved same-sex unions previously, this new law allows for marriages, and all the rights of marriage for LGBTQIA+ couples. Here is link to this article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59570576.

Believing in good things coming in threes, the third story has to do with the US White House, and the people who are selected to sit and be part of the press pool. The Washington Blade, the oldest LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the country, has been given an official, designated seat in the White House James S. Brady briefing room. This is the first time an LGBTQIA+ publication has been given this honor. This will take effect on Jan. 3, 2022, and Chris Johnson will be the White House reporter for the Blade. Here's the link to this article: https://www.joemygod.com/2021/12/first-lgbtq-paper-awarded-seat-in-wh-briefing-room/

So, Happy Holidays, and thank goodness for these three gifts that make a fun and fine ending to 2021.



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