Parliament reconvenes after court ruling
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, reluctantly reconvened Parliament late last week after the British Supreme Court unanimously ruled that his suspension of Parliament was unlawfully orchestrated. Influential British lawmakers have since called for Johnson to step down, including the leader of the opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn, who said, “For the good of the country, he should go.” Despite opposition, Johnson has continued to push for his plan of a hard-line Brexit, following the results of the 2016 referendum in which Johnson voted to leave the European Union. Additionally, by a vote of 306 to 289, Johnson had his seventh consecutive parliamentary defeat after Parliament rejected his request to adjourn next week while his ruling Conservative Party holds its annual conference.
Greta Thunberg delivers speech to UN
Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate activist, addressed the UN last week at the Climate Action Summit. Her blunt style of speech accused world leaders of destroying her childhood with their inaction on the issue of climate change. The speech has since been referred to as “How dare you” on social media platforms and in the media. “You are failing us, but young people are starting to understand your betrayal… The eyes of all future generations are upon you and if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you,” Thunberg said, according to NBC News.
Trans man considered legal mother after giving birth
Last Wednesday, England’s high court ruled that a transgender male who gives birth to a child should be legally regarded as the child’s mother. According to NBC News, the ruling came after Fred McConnell, a transgender man, requested to be legally recognized as the father of his child after being required to register as his mother. McConnell was assigned female at birth, but transitioned to live as a male at age 22, undergoing a double mastectomy and testosterone therapy to complete the transition. He also changed his court papers, passport and health records to reflect his male identity. The case sparked controversy on both sides when McConnell chose to give birth via an intrauterine insemination fertility treatment using donor sperm and was recognized as the child’s legal mother.
Sydney, Australia legalizes recreational marijuana
After months of debate, Sydney, Australia became the first jurisdiction to legalize recreational marijuana. The choice echoes the action the United States has taken, although still considered illegal by the federal government. The new Australian law will allow residents above the age of 18 to possess up to 50 grams of dried marijuana and grow two plants per person or four plants per household. Michael Pettersson, a Labor Party lawmaker, said, “It will work to reduce the harm of drugs in our community by reducing the stigma of drug use and encouraging people to seek help without fear of arrest.”
