sparkindarkness | A good news round up (Reply)

Time to get back into the swing of things with a blast of good news.

We need this, we spend – and I certainly spend – far too much time seeing the bad. And we have to see the bad – we truly do have to see the bad so we can combat it, we can work against it and we can see how awful things still are and where the attacks are still coming from. It’s vital we do not turn our back on this suffering, it’s vital we don’t pretend this isn’t happening

But at the same time it’s soul destroying. It’s painful to see the bad stuff every day without reminding ourselves there are victories as well. Sometimes it’s necessary to remind ourselves we are winning this, slowly but surely we are winning.

Mayor of Turin, Italy symbolically marries a Lesbian couple. Yes it’s not legal, but this man is an ally and trying. Respect due.

While the Atlanta gay bar police raid is a complete trainwreck and justice seems to be the last thing on the police’s mind, at least the Atlanta City Council seems interested in pursuing justice.

Mexico City makes both gay marriage AND gay adoption legal. Our families have value and are due respect, it is always a joy to see them honoured as such. It is especially a joy to see this step forward in a country that is so religious. Congratulations to the new marriages that will follow.

There has been a second gay marriage in Argentina. Step by step, moving forwards

In a ruling that could have massive effect across Europe – the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that you cannot discriminate against gay couples ruling that Poland could not treat an unmarried homosexual couple any worse than an unmarried heterosexual couple. While it certainly doesn’t open the door to gay marriage – it does strike a strong blow against homophobia, homophobic discrimination and homophobic family discrimination across all the nations that have signed up to the ECHR. This could be big.

In Western Australia 2 trans men have won a major case forcing recognition of their true gender without having to have organs that allow them to bear children removed. A step forwards – not perfect but still a step forwards.

Gay Marriage and Gay adoption laws pass the first round of hearing in Slovenia’s Parliament *Hopes* let this be another step

After a long battle and much flouncing from the religious right, withdrawl of charity services and almost legendary flouncing by the oh-so-loving Catholic church and even a last minute run to the Supreme Court to try and stop it – gay marriage is legal in Washinton DC. Congratulations all you loving new spouses.

Though Maryland will not perform same-sex marriages – they have moved a step in the right direction by recognising same-sex marriages that occur in other states. Another step forwards Every step counts.

And closer to home – the House of Lords has backed removing the prohibition against religious wording and religious buildings being used for gay ceremonies. Good – as I’ve said before, why should Christians dictate MY religious choices? Naturally the Anglican church is huffing at people daring not to submit to their religious dictates. Now if the parties involved and the religions involved WISH to include religion in their same-sex union, they may do so.

And in the relief section of the news – 2 desperate attempts to gut the Equality bill in the House of Lords have been stopped – both of which would have allowed religious based discrimination and bigotry to be allowed even outside of churches. This would have rendered all the homophobic elements of the Equality Act completely and utter unenforceable – anyone claiming a religious basis to their hatred could discriminate freely. I find myself in near complete agreement with Baroness Murphy when she said “I do not doubt that that is not the intention of my noble and learned friend Lady Butler-Sloss, but these amendments are deeply, offensively, homophobic.” I disagree in that I do not think Lady Butler-Sloss is noble and I don’t have any doubt at all that she is a homophobe.

There are good things – we could all do to remember it when faced with all the bad