11 Of The Best LGBTQ Stories Of 2022
From landmark rulings to the first same-sex marriages in several countries, it has been a year of celebration and of diversity.
As we close out the year, it’s time take a moment to reflect on the progress and victories the LGBTQ community has achieved in 2022.
From landmark rulings to the first same-sex marriages in several countries, it has been a year of celebration and of diversity.
These are best LGBTQ stories from 2022.
1. South Korea Overturned The Jail Sentences Of Two Gay Soldiers
In a landmark ruling, the South Korean supreme court has overturned the conviction of two gay soldiers, who had sexual intercourse during their military service.
In 2016, a military court sentenced an army lieutenant and a sergeant to suspended prison terms for violating the 1962 Military Criminal Act, which prohibits same-sex relationships between military personnel.
Considering the relationship was consensual, occurred off duty, and at a private setting, the court ruled on Thursday April 21 that the conviction infringed upon a person’s right to sexual self-determination.
2. The Former Miss Argentina And Miss Puerto Rico Secretly Got Married
After keeping their two-year relationship secret, the former Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico have announced that they are officially married on Instagram.
Mariana Varela and Fabiola Valentín were contestants at the Miss Grand International in 2020, representing their countries Argentina and Puerto Rico, respectively.
3. Being LGBTQ In Vietnam Is No Longer Classified As “An Illness”
Vietnam has officially announced that being LGBTQ should not be considered an illness in a landmark moment for LGBTQ rights in the country.
Medical institutions and professionals should no longer discriminate against and not provide proper medical care for LGBTQ people, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.
The landmark announcement hopes of rectifying the current treatment of LGBTQ patients in the country and brings Vietnam’s health policy in line with that of the World Health Organization (WHO) for LGBTQ people
4. This Gay Couple Photobombed A Live Show And Defied Singapore’s LGBTQ Content Ban
A clip of two men kissing on a live broadcast from Singapore TV channel Channel News Asia (CNA) has gone viral for defying Singapore’s censorship laws and ban on same-sex relationships.
The moment happened in a bar in Beijing, China, on Saturday Feb. 4 during a broadcast about the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
“This kiss, while a small action, is a breakthrough for the Singaporean LGBTQ community, who are still criminalized and censored in Singapore,” Ross Murray, Senior Director of the GLAAD Media Institute, said. “Let this Olympian kiss be a call to strike down Section 377A of Singapore’s penal code, and end the criminalization of LGBTQ people globally.”
5. Ministers In The Church Of Scotland Can Now Officiate Same-Sex Marriages
The Church of Scotland has voted to allow its clergy to officiate same-sex marriages for the first time.
The church’s general assembly, its decision-making body, voted 274 to 136 on Monday May 23rd to allow its ministers to apply to marry same-sex couples.
6. Chile Issued Its First Gender-Neutral ID
Chile has issued its first gender-neutral ID to Shane Cienfuegos, a 29-year-old nonbinary transgender activist and writer.
They received an ID at a civil registry in Santiago on Friday Oct. 14 with the gender designation of X instead of “M” for male or “F” for “female”.
7. Same-Sex Couples Wed In Switzerland After Same-Sex Marriage Was Legalized
Multiple same-sex couples got married in Switzerland after the country officially legalized same-sex marriage in July. Voters had overwhelmingly voted to legalize same-sex marriage in a referendum in September last year.
8. The First Same-Sex Marriages Also Took Place Across Chile
Meanwhile, the first same-sex marriages also took place in Chile after the parliament approved a landmark law legalizing same-sex marriage in the majority Catholic country last year.
With 82 votes in favor, 20 against and two abstentions, lawmakers on Dec. 7 overwhelmingly voted for the law, which will also allow same-sex couples to adopt children.
9. An Attempt To Ban Same-Sex Marriage In Guatemala Failed
Guatemala’s congress suspended a bill that would have banned same-sex marriage, increased abortion penalties and prohibited schools from teaching sexual diversity after the conservative president said he would veto it.
The “Life and Family Protection Law” had prohibited unions from same-sex couples and stated a matrimony is only made up of a man and a woman.
10. A Referendum To Ban LGBTQ Content For Children In Hungary Also Failed
A referendum in Hungary to ban LGBT content for children failed after it failed to receive enough votes to be considered valid.
In June 2021, Hungary’s parliament passed a law banning content seen as “promoting” homosexuality and changing genders to under-18s, including books, educational materials and advertisements.
The law was widely criticized by the international community and rights groups, and the European Commission launched legal action against Hungary in July 2021 over violating the “fundamental rights of LGBTIQ people” under EU law.
11. And Thailand Moved One Step Closer To Same-Sex Marriage After It Approved Four Draft Bills
In June, Thailand took a step toward marriage equality as lawmakers passed a first reading of four different bills on same-sex unions, including two bills that would allow same-sex marriages and two others that would permit civil partnerships.
A committee will now examine the bills in detail and consolidate them into two proposals, with MPs choosing between civil partnerships or same-sex marriage.
If legalized, Thailand would become the second country in Asia to allow same-sex marriage after Taiwan.
