South Korea: Activists, report show systemic discrimination
Reuters reported on September 14 that activists in South Korea believe the country's lack of anti-discrimination laws is harming many citizens, especially LGBT youth. A report by Human Rights Watch said that public views of LGBT people in the country have been improving, but also that the South Korean government had not made any "real" progress in LGBT rights, "citing intense conservative and religious opposition to justify inaction." Most notably, the report said that many schools have anti-LGBT policies, such as avoiding the topic of LGBT people in sex education, and funding mental health programs with counselors that discouraged students from being LGBT. Anti-discrimination legislation is pending in the National Assembly, and leaders of the ruling party have expressed their support.

El Salvador: President sticks to "original design" with recent bills

Reuters reported on September 17 that the Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has confirmed that a number of constitutional reforms sent to Congress will not include legalization of same-sex marriage, citing "original design" as justification. Bukele said he also excluded legalization of abortion. Reuters noted that El Salvador has some of the Americas' strictest anti-abortion laws. Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, responded on Twitter: "Just in case any dupe still thought Bukele was a modern leader."