A clash between culture and democracy

Marriage equality is available in only 32 countries (see map below) in 2023 according to the Human Rights Campain. So when Thuji, a JSW law student, chose the topic for our Current Legal Issues class last fall I was thrilled. Bhutan can be very progressive when talking about popular topics like the environment and climate change. But Bhutan has a very traditional culture it aggressively preserves. This can make the way forward on social issues more difficult to find. While Bhutan recently decriminalized same sex relationships, marriage rights have not followed. Thuji did a great job leading discussions and having participants engage in a power walk to develop empathy for those who are not able to enjoy the full privileges of citizenship. Over the course of the semester she learned to embrace the role of an ally and advocate and changed minds along the way.