International LGBT Rights: Marriage in Sweden, No Marriage in Nigeria

While the eyes of the world were certainly watching the U.S. this week, there were definitely some important LGBT news items popping up elsewhere around the globe. From Jakarta to Stockholm, from Istanbul to Abuja, we've got your international LGBT news roundup right here.

Sweden: Count this under the "we thought they already legalized this" banner. But by May 1, 2009, Sweden's coalition government is hoping to have a gender neutral marriage law which will grant same-gender couples the exact same legal rights and status as straight couples. Sweden has recognized civil unions for gay and lesbian couples for more than twelve years now, and the country's largest religious body - the Church of Sweden - views relationships equally. The only holdout has been the country's Christian Democrat party, which has been a roadblock for advancing marriage equality. Until this year, it looks like.

Indonesia: Transgender activists held their first national gathering in Indonesia, calling for an end to discrimination in all 23 of Indonesia's provinces. “Our main agenda is to empower transsexuals so that their existence is acknowledged,” said Yulianus Rettoblaut, head of the Indonesian Transsexuals Communications Forum. In addition to gathering as a community, transgender advocates also met with lawmakers and staff from the Indonesian House of Representatives, to discuss equal access to health care, and equal access to employment. Organizers estimated that more than 100 people attended the events.

Turkey: It's unusual to think that just being allowed to turn the lights on in your office is a victory. But that's exactly what Lambda Istanbul is celebrating, after nearly being shut down by the Turkish government for violating nationwide laws on morality. Instead, the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that Lambda Istanbul is allowed to remain open, and that the organization does not violate any of Turkey's morality laws. The Court's ruling also recognized the right of LGBT citizens to freely organize and form associations. The ruling is seen as an effort to help push Turkey more in line with the human rights norms of the European Union, since Turkey is a candidate for EU membership.

The Netherlands: The International Gay and Lesbian Youth Association (IGLYO) will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a giant gathering of LGBT activists in Amsterdam this July. The gathering, being dubbed "This is Who I Am" by organizers, will bring together LGBT youth activists to focus on best practices for LGBTQ youth relating to the Yogyakarta Principles - the application of human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Nigeria:  Well, it can't all be good news.  Word out of Nigeria this week is that the country's House of Representatives has voted unanimously to ban same-sex marraige.  Anti-gay Nigerian politicians were certainly on their soapboxes this week, calling same-sex marriage an affront to Christianity and to Islam, and blaming LGBT citizens for spreading disease.  The Nigerian Humanist Movement criticized the government for taking such an action, saying that this vote "is a step backward for Nigeria's democracy and a breach of the nation's human rights obligations," and that banning gay marriage only serves to increase homophobia in the area.