Berlin-based writer, curator, and activist Federico Hewson has spent decades examining the intricate relationship between human beings and flowers and the symbolic interpretations of flowers. His latest initiative further explores that connection by pairing flowers with artistic renderings of queer activists around the world who were tragically murdered for their activism. Hewson shares his personal motivations, shedding light on the emotional resonance and historical importance driving his exploration of the intersection between flowers and queer activism. He also talks about Berlin’s thriving queer art scene and his ongoing efforts to commemorate, honor, and showcase the stories of diverse queer activists (Interviewed by Jason Jenn, artwork by Bill Roberts and photography by Nicolai Froundjian ).
And in NewsWrap: a lawsuit challenging Ghana’s ban on same-gender sex is dismissed by the Supreme Court, the government of Namibia is appealing a High Court decision that struck down laws criminalizing same-gender sex, Christopher Street Day Parade in Cologne, Germany is hailed as the largest parade in the city’s history, the “queer panic defense” comes off the legal table in Michigan, LGBTQ ally U.S. President Joe Biden passes the Democratic Party torch to LGBTQ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by John Dyer V and Kalyn Hardman (produced by Brian DeShazor with technical assistance by Daniel Huecias).
All this on the July 29, 2024 edition of This Way Out!
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Complete Program Summary
for the week of July 29, 2024
Flowers of Queer Remembrance
NewsWrap (full transcript below): Ghana’s Supreme Court upholds laws criminalizing private consensual adult same-gender sex … the government of Namibia appeals their high court’s repeal of similar antiquated statutes … organizers say that the record crowd of up to 1.4 million people at this year’s Christopher Street Day LGBTQ Pride Parade in Cologne, Germany makes it the largest parade of any kind in the city’s history … Michigan becomes the 20th U.S. state to eliminate the “queer panic defense,” used by thugs to defend their violent assault or even murder of an LGBTQ person because of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity … Joe Biden passes the torch of leadership of the Democratic Party, and the top of the presidential ticket, to his Vice President and fellow queer ally Kamala Harris [with several comments by U.S. President Joe Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Vice President and now presidential candidate Kamala Harris] (written by GREG GORDON and LUCIA CHAPPELLE, produced by BRIAN DeSHAZOR, reported this week by JOHN DYER V and KALYN HARDMAN).
Feature: It’s complicated — the relationship between humans and flowers. You can see it all throughout history: the bountiful gardens and festive arrangements, the expressions of love and of grief. Federico Hewson’s life-long study of the symbolic interpretation of flowers inspired his recent exhibition, Flowers of Queer Remembrance. The Berlin-based writer, curator, and activist pairs flowers with artistic renderings of murdered queer activists from around the world. Hewson tells This Way Out’s JASON JENN more about the project, and about Berlin’s thriving queer art scene.(with music by THE KINGSTON TRIO and FRANK SYLVIANO).
Web links:
NewsWrap
A summary of some of the news in or affecting
global LGBTQ communities
for the week ending July 27th, 2024
Written this week by Greg Gordon and Lucia Chappelle,
reported by Ava Davis and Joe Boehnlein,
and produced by Brian DeShazor with technical assistance by Daniel Huecias
A lawsuit challenging Ghana’s ban on same-gender sex has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. All seven members of the Court voted to uphold the Ghanian Criminal Code of 1960, which defines private adult same-gender relations as “unnatural carnal knowledge.” The punishment for breaking the relic of British colonial law is up to three years in prison. Presiding Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie said that the July 24th decision would be explained, but he declined to say when.
To Liz Throssell of the U.N. Human Rights Office, the ruling was “especially concerning given reports of a recent spike in violence against LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.”
Meanwhile, more violence is feared as suspense surrounds a Supreme Court ruling on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanian Family Values Bill. Unanimously approved by Parliament in February, it not only increases the jail time, but essentially criminalizes being “out.” It punishes anyone who even “promotes” LGBTQ rights to minors with up to 10 years behind bars. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has said that he will not sign the bill until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality.
U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a statement saying, “We urge Ghana to uphold its obligations under international human rights law, including in the human rights treaties it has ratified, and to ensure that all people living in Ghana, without exception, are able to live free from violence, stigma, and discrimination.”
Queer activists told Pink News that uncertainty over the looming provisions of the Family Values bill are making life in Ghana a daily challenge. Some say they are considering fleeing the West African nation.
The government of Namibia is appealing a High Court decision that struck down laws criminalizing same-gender sex. Several members of the Cabinet jointly filed an appeal of the June ruling to the Supreme Court on July 20th, according to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation.
The government argues in its appeal that the High Court failed to consider public opinion and the original intentions of the Constitution regarding sexual orientation. Those provisions date back to the apartheid-era, before Namibia freed itself from South African rule in 1990.
While the government warns that the ruling could have significant implications for Namibian society and public morality, Namibia Equal Rights Movement founder Omar van Reene says there are two motives behind the government’s appeal: “to buy cheap campaign points to their minority homophobic base (and) showing that they are fighting against ‘homosexuality’ in the country.” His social media post concludes, “We know our constitution is clear, that apartheid-era laws have no place in a born-free Namibia. So, fear not, dive into community and not into despair. We will win at the Supreme Court.”
[SOUND: crowd sounds]
Organizers say the annual Christopher Street Day Parade in Cologne, Germany was the largest parade of any kind in the city’s history. Record crowds estimated at up to 1.4 million people celebrated LGBTQ Pride on July 21st. Ninety floats blasted dance music along the rainbow-filled route as more than 60 thousand people marched to support the theme “For human rights. Many. Together. Strong.”
An online video plea for physical violence against the event was eventually dismissed by police officials after they found no evidence of any real threat. However, 13 men who were shouting anti-queer epithets and tearing down rainbow flags were arrested. They’re being charged with incitement to hatred and property damage.
The alarming rise of anti-LGBTQ hate in his country and across Europe has not escaped German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. He called the Christopher Street Day Parade “an important demonstration for democracy, freedom, and the rights of queer people.”
Wrong-doers can no longer use the “queer panic defense” in Michigan. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation on July 23rd that forbids the use of the “sexual orientation or gender identity of a victim as a defense to a crime.”
The bill passed in the state Senate by a vote of 24 to 14, including two Republicans. Its passage in the House was a two-vote squeaker: 56 to 54.
Countless perpetrators have won reduced sentences with the so-called “queer panic defense.” The American Bar Association’s assessment says that it has been used "to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant's violent reaction."
Michigan is now the 20th U.S. state to prohibit the legal maneuver.
Democrats introduced legislation to federally ban the “queer panic defense” last year. Unfortunately, it needs comfortable majorities in both the House and the Senate to succeed.
Finally, U.S. President Joe Biden is passing the torch of the Democratic Party to Vice President Kamala Harris. The 82-year-old Biden has been a stalwart friend to the LGBTQ+ community during his long, storied career.
As Vice President to President Barak Obama, Biden caused what was a major stir at the time when he upstaged his boss in announcing his public support for marriage equality. It happened during a May 2012 interview on NBC’s Meet the Press:
[SOUND: Biden]
Look, I just think that … the good news is that as more and more Americans come to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition: who do you love? Who do you love, and will you be loyal to the person you love? And that’s what people are finding out is what all marriages at their root are about – whether they’re marriages of lesbians, or gay men, or heterosexuals.
As President, Biden often reminded young transgender people of his ongoing support. For example, in a State of the Union address he said:
[SOUND: Biden]
[applause] The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families, it’s simply wrong! I said last year, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I’ll always have your back as your President, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential. [applause]
A disastrous performance in a debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump in late June was a career-ender for Biden. Party leadership convinced him that he was not the best candidate to defeat the would-be dictator. He reluctantly made his decision known on July 21st. It became official with an address from the Oval Office three days later:
[SOUND: Biden]
I revere this office. I love my country more. It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your President, but in defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think is more important than any title.
Biden vowed to vigorously advance his agenda as President until his term ends in early January. He unequivocally endorsed his 59-year-old Vice President to the top of the Democratic Party ticket. The Party in turn has rallied behind her in the first days of a re-invigorated campaign.
The presumptive Democratic presidential candidate also has a long history of LGBTQ+ allyship. As Attorney General of California, Kamala Harris championed the state’s first same-gender marriages.
[SOUND: Harris]
By virtue of the power and authority invested in my by the state of California, I now declare you spouses for life.
[cheers]
That was a moment in the history of the ongoing fight for the civil rights of people. There are some things that we should have no patience, because justice delayed is justice denied. We’re talking about the fight for civil rights and for equality and equal justice under law, and we should not have so much patience that we deny people justice.
Married dad and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was pleased with the Harris’ candidacy. He described his initial reaction during a July 22nd interview on MSNBC:
[SOUND: Buttigieg]
We happened to have the TV on in the kitchen as she addressed the campaign staff in Wilmington just as we were putting the mac and cheese out for our son and daughter. And it was amazing when our daughter who’s about to be three pointed to the TV and said, “What’s that?” I just got goosebumps as I heard myself saying, “That’s Kamala Harris, and she’s going to be the next President.”
Harris kicked off her campaign with a speech at West Allis Central High School in West Allis, Wisconsin on July 23rd:
[SOUND: Harris]
Before I was elected Vice President, before I was elected U.S. Senator, I was elected Attorney General of the state of California, and I was a courtroom prosecutor before then. And in those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump’s type!
[cheers]
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