Thailand – Thai legislators passed four separate laws on same-sex partnerships in their first reading  on Wednesday, one step closer to becoming the second territory in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Thailand has the most open and visible lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in Asia, contributing to the image of tolerance and charm as a generous vacation destination …

Malaysia – Walt Disney Co has been unable to obtain permission to show its new Pixar movie Lightyear in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries, a source said yesterday, and the animated film appeared unlikely to open in China, the world’s largest movie market. A Lightyear producer told Reuters that authorities in China had asked for cuts to the movie, …

The United Arab Emirates has had a major overhaul of the country’s Islamic personal laws, allowing unmarried couples to cohabitate, loosening alcohol restrictions, and criminalizing so-called “honor killings.” The broadening of personal freedoms reflects how UAE has focused on becoming a nation of tolerance, of freedom, and one that respects the human rights of the people. This new laws has …

Malaysia: Human Rights Watch said today that the Malaysian government should renounce a plan by a cabinet minister to raise criminal penalties against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens. The effort to increase criminal penalties against LGBT Malaysians is the latest in a series of measures to cement the Perikitan Nasional government’s anti-LGBT, anti-human rights stance. The proposed amendment …

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals are referred to in the Family Resilience Bill. In the draft of Family Resilience Bill by the Legislative Body of the Parliament (18/2/2020), individuals or members of LGBT families are required to report as stated in articles 86 and 87. The following is a draft of the 2020 Family Resilience Bill. Article 85 …