International victories for LGBT movement

The international movement for lesbian, gay, bi and trans rights recently received two victories. In the federal district of Mexico City, the assembly approved same-sex civil unions for the first time in Mexico’s history on Nov. 9. While not a full approval of same-sex marriage, under the ruling couples will be provided benefits similar to those currently received only by married couples, including inheritance and pension rights; under the ruling, heterosexual unmarried couples can also register their union. (AP, Nov. 10)

The only opposition votes to the bill—which passed 43-17—came from the National Action Party of President Vicente Fox and president-elect Felipe Calderón. Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is a stronghold of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who will be sworn in as Mexico’s legitimate president in a people’s inauguration on Nov. 20. The Advocate reports that the PRD has been promoting the civil union measure for several years. (Nov. 11)

Hawai’i: highest-elected transgender person

In Hawai’i, Kim Coco Iwamoto has become the first openly transgender person elected to a state-level office in the United States. She was elected to Hawai’i’s state level Board of Education on a platform that focused on the issues of children in Hawai’i’s public school system.

Iwamoto’s campaign website states: “Education is an investment that yields the highest returns for our whole community. Public schools must be fully funded to achieve our community’s vision of public education, not just to meet state and federal mandates.” (kimcoco.com)

Iwamoto is an attorney with a history of advocacy in the LGBT communities. In 2004 she co-authored a commentary in the Honolulu Advertiser deriding the Hawai’i legislature for its failure to pass legislation that would protect people from housing discrimination based on sexuality. (June 13, 2004)

She is featured in a handbook on transgender policy for her activism in regards to transgender-sensitive restroom facilities on the campus of the University of New Mexico, from which she holds a law degree. She has also advocated for transgender youth at the Hawai’i state capitol. (AP, Nov. 8)

Iwamoto told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin: “I’ve never run as anyone else but myself. I am a first-time candidate, so I think it says a lot about the people of Hawai’i who’d like to focus on the issues and move education forward.”