Thailand institutes new GRS rules
A one-year waiting period, etc., are now required in Thailand to obtain GRS.
Tags: Grs, New Year, Thailand, Waiting PeriodFor Gay Iranian Refugees, a Matter of Life or Death
NOTE: This is the second of two parts, the first, on the election revolt, was on EDGE in June.
The international media clamor surrounding last month’s Iranian election, which saw the contentious re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad result in weeks of protests, demonstrations and violence, may have died down, but the unstable atmosphere lives on for residents of the Islamic republic.
They continue to face major restrictions on free speech and threats to their safety if they choose to speak out. And they will not soon forget the street violence that resulted in the death, imprisonment and harassment of many protesters, activists and journalists–all part of the worst unrest the country has seen in thirty years.
This is particularly true for gay and lesbian Iranians, both those who remain inside the country and those who have escaped. They are familiar with oppressive treatment from their government, one which continues to outlaw homosexuality and crack down against any outward display of queerness. The first story (published here June 30, 2009,) examined the environment facing the Iranian queer community, particularly in light of the government’s attempts to silence any post-election voices of dissent.
Building from that story, we now take a look at the climate facing queer Iranians who have fled the country with the hopes of seeking asylum in the West. Forced, in many cases, to leave behind their families, friends and the culture of their blood, their dreams of living in freedom still face a number of challenges.
When gay Iranian refugees and asylum seekers leave, they are sent to live temporarily to a number of a different places, though most end up in small Turkish towns known as “satellite cities,” far from the larger cities like Ankara or Istanbul. They file a request to be granted official refugee status with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in order to legally move West, and then they wait. In many cases, that waiting period can last up to three years, a time during which employment is difficult to find and harassment is not unusual.
See For Gay Iranian Refugees, a Matter of Life or Death
EDGE Boston
* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/for-gay-irani…
Gay marriage comes to Iowa today
(Des Moines, Iowa) The only gay couple who were legally wed in Iowa are looking forward to getting some company.
Iowa county clerks were to begin processing same-sex marriage applications Monday, following the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling on April 3 that legalized same sex-marriage. Iowa typically requires a three-day waiting period …
Tags: County Clerks, Des Moines, Gay Couple, gay marriage, Iowa County, Iowa Court, Iowa Supreme Court, marriage, Marriage Applications, Moines Iowa, same sex marriage, Waiting PeriodGay marriages begin tomorrow in Iowa
Beginning Monday, same-sex couples will be allowed to legally marry in Iowa. Committed gay and lesbian couples from neighboring states, including Illinois, are planning trips to the Hawk Eye state.
Iowa becomes the third state offering same-sex marriage, following the state’s Supreme Court decision in March. Massachusetts and Connecticut already allow same-sex marriage and Vermont has passed a law that will take effect in September.
Iowa counties will begin processing same-sex marriage applications tomorrow morning. County recorders offices will open at 8 a.m.
The first day that Iowa will allow gay marriage is on April 30 because the state requires a three-day waiting period, but a judge can waive that delay and allow an immediate wedding. Many speculate the first gay weddings could happen within hours tomorrow. See Gay marriages begin tomorrow in Iowa ChicagoPride.com
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/gay-marriages…
