On Pride Day, Canada, Brazil, and Europe back ‘rights of LGBTQI people' — US silent
On Saturday, to mark Pride Day, the foreign ministries of Canada, Brazil, Australia, and a number of European countries issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. The message was clear: rising hate speech, criminalisation, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities worldwide must be condemned.
According to Reuters, the statement read:
'We are speaking and acting as one to champion the rights of LGBTQI people.'
It added:
'At a time when hate speech and hate crimes are on the rise, and in view of efforts to strip LGBTQI people of their rights, we reject all forms of violence, criminalisation, stigmatisation or discrimination, which constitute human rights violations.'
The statement was backed by countries including Spain, Belgium, Colombia, and Ireland.
The international statement comes amid growing concern that regression in one country can embolden anti-LGBTQ movements elsewhere. Activists particularly fear worsening conditions in countries like Uganda and Ghana, where LGBTQ communities already face harsh legal and social environments.
Absent from the list of signatories was the United States. The Trump administration did not publicly endorse or sign onto the joint declaration, a move that raised eyebrows among human rights advocates and foreign policy observers.
'As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,' said President Donald Trump at his inauguration speech on January 20.
This proclamation was followed by a slew of executive orders which withdrew several Biden era initiatives that prevented discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and aimed to enhance the recognition and visibility of LGBTQIA+ persons.
On the same day as the Pride Day statement, tens of thousands of demonstrators in Budapest took to the streets to protest Hungary's controversial law passed in March, which allows local authorities to ban Pride events.
The law, introduced by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government, has faced backlash from both civil society and the European Union.
Rainbow flags and chants of solidarity filled the capital as citizens defied government efforts to suppress public expressions of LGBTQIA+ identity.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
How will the Dalai Lama's successor be chosen? Explained
The choice of a successor to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists, is a matter of riveting interest not only for followers of his religion, but also China, India, and the United States, for strategic reasons. The Nobel peace laureate, who turns 90 on Sunday, is regarded as one of the world's most influential figures, with a following extending well beyond Buddhism. Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after his death. (Reuters) Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after his death. The 14th Dalai Lama, born as Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in northeastern Tibet, was identified as such a reincarnation when he was just two years old. A search party sent by the Tibetan government made the decision on the basis of several signs, such as a vision revealed to a senior monk, the Dalai Lama's website says. The searchers were convinced when the toddler identified belongings of the 13th Dalai Lama with the phrase, "It's mine, it's mine". In the winter of 1940, Lhamo Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of today's Tibet Autonomous Region, and officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibetans. Also read: Dalai Lama expected to speak on reincarnation, emanation on 90th birthday: French scholar How will his successor be chosen ? In his book "Voice for the Voiceless", released in March 2025, the Dalai Lama said his successor would be born outside China. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in northern India since 1959, after fleeing a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists. He wrote that he would release details about his succession around the time of his 90th birthday. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile, based in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, like the Dalai Lama, says a system has been established for the exiled government to continue its work while officers of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation will be charged with finding and recognising his successor. The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 to "maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama" with regard to his religious and spiritual duties, it says on its website. Its senior officers include several of his aides. What does China Say ? China says its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, as a legacy from imperial times. A selection ritual, in which the names of possible reincarnations are drawn from a golden urn, dates to 1793, during the Qing dynasty. Chinese officials have repeatedly said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be decided by following national laws that decree use of the golden urn and the birth of reincarnations within China's borders. But many Tibetans suspect any Chinese role in the selection as being a ploy to exert influence on the community. It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion, "to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas, let alone that of the Dalai Lama," the Buddhist leader has said. In his book, he asked Tibetans not to accept "a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China," referring to the country by its official name. Beijing brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a "separatist" and prohibits displays of his picture or any public show of devotion towards him. In March 2025, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Dalai Lama was a political exile with "no right to represent the Tibetan people at all". China denies suppressing the rights of the Tibetan people, and says its rule ended serfdom in, and brought prosperity to, a backward region. What role could India and US play ? Apart from the Dalai Lama, India is estimated to be home to more than 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists who are free to study and work there. Many Indians revere him, and international relations experts say his presence in India gives New Delhi some kind of leverage with rival China. The United States, which faces rising competition from China for global dominance, has repeatedly said it is committed to advancing the human rights of Tibetans. U.S. lawmakers have previously said they would not allow China to influence the choice of the Dalai Lama's successor. In 2024, then U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law that presses Beijing to resolve a dispute over Tibet's demands for greater autonomy.
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Netanyahu sees ‘broad regional possibilities' after conflict with Iran, prioritises release of hostages held in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday (June 29), said that releasing the hostages held by Hamas was atop his priority list. He highlighted that the recent conflict with Iran opened up 'broad regional possibilities', particularly securing the release of 50 remaining captives in Gaza. 'Many opportunities have opened up: first and foremost to rescue the hostages, but also for broader regional prospects. Of course, we will also need to resolve the issue of Gaza, to defeat Hamas, but I believe we will accomplish both tasks,' Netanyahu said during his visit to a Shin Bet facility in southern Israel. The Israeli prime minister's comments mark a significant shift in his stance, as previously he emphasised that the war would not stop until Hamas was defeated. The remarks also come as the Jerusalem District Court, citing classified diplomatic and security grounds, postponed Netanyahu's testimony this week in the ongoing corruption trial. This fuelled speculation that the efforts were being made to end the war in Gaza. 'Netanyahu in process of hostage negotiation with Hamas,' says Trump Netanyahu's remarks also come as US President Donald Trump on Sunday said in a Truth Social post that Netanyahu was involved in securing a deal with Hamas, which would include the return of hostages and a possible ceasefire. The US president denounced the corruption trial against Netanyahu and said that this 'political witch hunt' is not allowing the Israeli prime minister to conduct talks with both Hamas and Iran to his ability. 'It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu. He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States…Importantly, he is right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas, which will include getting the Hostages back,' Trump said. Defending Netanyahu against the corruption trial, Trump further said, 'The travesty of 'Justice' will interfere with both Iran and Hamas negotiations. In other words, it is INSANITY to do what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu.' Earlier, Trump gave a timeline for the truce to be signed between Israel and Hamas and said that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict would be reached within a week. (With inputs from Haaretz and Reuters)
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Deal that reduced US tariffs on UK cars and aircraft parts comes into effect
The trade deal between the U.S. and Britain is now active. It lowers tariffs on some British imports. Car manufacturers will benefit from reduced tariffs. Tariffs are fully removed for aircraft engines and parts. However, steel and aluminum tariffs are still a problem. Britain avoided some tariffs, but faces new ones soon. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The trade deal signed between U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer lowering some tariffs on imports from Britain has come into effect, the British government said on car manufacturers will now be able to export to the U.S. under a reduced 10% tariff quota from an earlier 27.5%, while the current 10% tariffs were fully removed for goods like aircraft engines and aircraft parts, the statement said, reiterating details announced earlier in the issue of steel and aluminum tariffs remains has avoided tariffs of up to 50% on steel and aluminum that the U.S. imposed on other countries earlier this month, but it could face elevated tariffs starting July 9 unless a deal is reached."... we will continue go further and make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed," the British statement added.
