It's 2017: Queer News Roundup

^It's been a week for queer victories around the world, but challenges persist.

This week Australia's $122 million, voluntary postal survey on marriage equality officially closed, after a gruelling campaign filled with misleading advertisements and violence. The vote was marked by a high turnout of nearly 80%, much higher than the Brexit referendum in the UK and the Irish marriage equality referendum. However, it was widely criticised for disrespecting the rights of LGBT Australians, as well as its potential impact on mental health, with high-profile condemnations of the vote from the Human Rights Commission and American late-night television host John Oliver.

A recent poll found that while a "yes" result is most likely, 49% of Australians believe religious institutions should be allowed to reject same-sex marriages. WA Senator Dean Smith, who is openly gay, has signalled he will move his bi-partisan bill for marriage equality next week if a yes vote is returned, to the concern of Liberal and National party members who are hoping for stronger religious protections.

Famous actor Kevin Spacey has been accused of sexually assaulting a number of children, including actor Anthony Rapp who spoke about an experience in 1986 where Spacey allegedly climbed on top of the then under-18 Rapp and attempted to seduce him. Spacey's response on Twitter, in which he came out as gay, was criticised by the LGBT+ community for perpetuating the false link between pedophilia and homosexuality.

^Danica Roem celebrates a historic victory.

A wave of Democratic victories in state elections in the USA saw a high number of LGBT+ candidates elected to office, seen in part as a repudiation of a dysfunctional and discriminatory administration. This included Danica Roem, who will be the first openly trans state congressperson in America. Roem defeated an intensely conservative candidate who had previously opposed the bathroom rights bill and labelled himself "chief homophobe".

In California, the Palm Springs City Council is now entirely comprised of LGBT members, applauded as a victory for LGBT acceptance.

In Europe, German's constitutional court has ruled that legal documentation must now include a third gender option for those who do not identify as male or female.Former professional soccer player Paul Mortimer has added his voice calling for FIFA to take steps against the homophobia that is rife within football industries and games. Elsewhere in the world, Amnesty International has condemned a proposed bill in Egypt that would criminalise homosexuality, following arrests and a crackdown on the LGBT flag.

In entertainment, the annual report by GLAAD on queer representation in TV has been released. Key findings included an overall increase in the number of LGBT characters on-screen, the underrepresentation of LGBT characters of colour, and the low number of bisexual characters. The full report can be found here.

This week was not a good one for Kenyan Film Classification Board Chief Ezekial Mutua, who blew up upon seeing photos of two male lions engaging in copulation and affection. He claimed that they "need counselling", citing a human influence, adding the absurd idea that "demonic spirits inflicting humans seems[sic] to have now caught up with animals."

That was the week in queer news. You can follow us on Facebook where we regularly share and post news articles from around the web.

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