Apologies to all for the long silence. Worldwide events march on and we've been distracted. Our promise is to do better in the days ahead and keep the blog current on behalf of your Queer and Allied friends around the globe.
Even though serious human rights violations continue especially across Africa, Central Europe and the Middle East there has been progress in other parts of the world. For example, The United States Agency for International Development announced recently that it is providing 11 million dollars to fund a new initiative to promote LGBT rights in developing countries. This is a public-private partnership between USAID and San Francisco-based Olivia Cruises, UCLA’s Williams Institute, the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The initiative will work with local LGBT groups to provide leadership training, research and other help, lending the imprimatur of the U.S. government to people who in many countries are outcast and vulnerable. The first work will take place in Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia. Officials said there has been a spike in violence against transgendered persons in Honduras since a 2009 coup in the country.
On the marriage equality front both Uruguay and New Zealand recently passed legislation legalizing same sex marriages. This brings the total to 13 Countries with gay marriage laws on the books.
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