Alabama Supreme Court Refuses to Defy the Supreme Court Ruling for Same Sex Marriage

On March 4 the Alabama Supreme Court refused to defy the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the United States. This decision cut of the conservative bid to ban same-sex wedding in Alabama. The court issued a short and to the point, one-sentence order that dismissed a challenge by a judge and a conservative group that wanted the state to ban same-sex marriage and ignore the Supreme Court’s decision. The order was literally eleven words long. Many other state justices were against the high court’s ruling but were unable to sway the court.

According to Chief Justice Roy Moore, some previous state orders that bar gay marriage in Alabama still remain. Thankfully, most judges in the state are ignoring the orders and hundreds of same-sex couples have been happily married.

The chief justice called the court’s ruling “immoral, unconstitutional and tyrannical.” He then called homosexuality a “disgrace to human nature.” He has again and again shown his distaste for homosexuality and continued to do so after the ruling.

“The order effectively ends the case. It appears to give us no options,” said Eric Johnston, an attorney for Alabama Policy Institute, which went to court in hopes to prevent more gay marriages in Alabama. Some parts of Alabama do refuse to give out same-sex marriage licenses as well as heterosexual marriage licenses. Hopefully those parts of Alabama will soon follow the example of those that issue marriage licenses to all, no matter their sexuality.

China bans gay couple on screen

            China’s new censors on television and streaming websites are being brought under fire after a popular show streaming on the web that depicted a young gay couple was taken off the air. The show was called “Addicted,” which was based off of a novel called “Are You Addicted?” By Chai Jidan. It was cancelled after its third week on air. The show is now only available to stream on Youtube, which is also banned in China. This is considered a step back for the LGBTQ movement in China. Now there is absolutely no representation for members of the gay community on television. The new censorship, which was featured in an eight page document outlining new censorships that actually came out in December of 2015. It was just widely reported in Chinese state media recently. Other censorships include the banning of smoking, fighting, drug use, drinking, and anything that would have “adverse effects on minors.”

“No television drama shall show abnormal sexual relationships and behavior such as incest, same-sex relationships, sexual perversion, sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual violence, and so on,” state the new censorship regulations. The document also listed other topics forbidden on television that might damage China’s image, promote extravagant lifestyles, undermine national unity and show feudalism and superstitions. Even though the gay community has made strides in China for the past few decades, according to a 2015 survey by U.S. research group Pew, 61 percent of China’s population said that homosexuality was wrong. Viewers all over the country are upset about these censorships but cannot do anything due to the government’s complete power.

Israel to hold its first transgender beauty contest

            On Thursday, March 3, Israel held its auditions for its first transgender beauty contest. The auditions were held at a club in Tel Aviv, Israel and was filled with transgender women hoping to be the first “Miss Trans Israel.” Tel Aviv has become one of the world’s most gay-friendly travel destinations, unlike many parts of the middle east where gays can face persecution.

A pageant will be held in May and the winner of that pageant will represent Israel in the Miss Trans Star International pageant, which will be held in Spain in August of 2016.