Actor found guilty of lying to police in hate crime hoax
Actor Jussie Smollett has been found guilty on five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report to Chicago police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019. A jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than nine hours over two days this week before reaching the guilty verdict. Smollett faces a possible fine of $25,000 USD and up to three years in prison.
Canada bans conversion therapy
Canada banned conversion therapy this week. The law makes it a crime to subject a person of any age, consenting or not, to ‘treatment’ designed to change their sexual orientation or identity. The new Canadian law also makes it an offence to profit from the provision of conversion therapy. In a statement this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “It’s official, Our government’s legislation banning the despicable and degrading practice of conversion therapy has received Royal Assent, meaning it is now law“.
Sauti Sol singer Chimano hailed in Kenya for coming out as gay
One of the members of the Kenyan band Sauti Sol, Willis Austin Chimano has come out as gay, telling a local media outlet that he no longer wants to live a lie. Sauti Sol is one of Africa’s biggest male bands and won the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards. Gay sex in Kenya is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. While prosecutions in Kenya are rare there are still reports of attacks against LGBT people in the country. Attitudes are changing slowly, especially among young people.
Chile passes marriage equality bill
Chile’s parliament overwhelmingly passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the country. The new law also enables gay couples to adopt children. The law was supported by President Sebastián Piñera who will now sign it into law. Same-sex civil unions were allowed in 2015, but a marriage equality bill has been stalled since 2017. The president had been pushing the bill and it passed 82 votes to 20, with 2 abstentions.
