“Being an ally came naturally to me. LGBT rights are human rights. It wasn’t in me to stand idly by while my friends and family were being mistreated.”
~ Cyndi Lauper , winner of the inaugural High Note Global Prize
From the UN: UNAIDS’ new Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima delivered her first address to the Programme Coordinating Board reflecting that “we are still on a journey” and warned:
The UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz visited Colombia to meet with human rights defenders at the Latin America and the Caribbean regional ILGA conference. He praised global and regional level conversations as a tool to dispel “hateful narratives” that make people afraid of the LGBTI community. Attending the conference for the first time, activists from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Guyana met with Madrigal-Borloz to draw his attention to specific challenges faced by France's overseas territories.
Madrigal-Borloz also issued a call for contributions to his upcoming report to the Human Rights Council. This report will focus on the practices of so-called “conversion therapy” on LGBT and gender diverse people around the world. The report aims to examine the different types of practices associated with conversion therapy and the legislation and policies that exist in relation to them. The deadline for submissions is 21 December.
From Brazil, UNAIDS launched a new report the “Stigma Index on People Living with HIV/AIDS — Brazil” based on survey data from people across seven cities. The study found that 64% of all respondents experienced some form of discrimination because of their HIV status. LGBT people living with HIV continued to face the highest levels of stigma—74.9% of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, 62.3% of lesbian, bisexual, and other women who have sex with women, and 90.3% of transgender people reported experiencing some form of discrimination. Fear of being outed kept 11.9% of men, 13.2% of women, and 27.4% of trans people from seeking health services.
The UNDP released a new report “Tolerance but not Inclusion” that evaluates the experiences of and attitudes towards LGBT people in Thailand. The report found that most LGBT people continue to face challenges accessing healthcare, education, and employment due to stigma. Although many non-LGBT people have broadly accepting views of the community, many also admit they would be less accepting of an LGBT person as a family member, fellow worker, student, or social acquaintance.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a revised version of “Born Free and Equal”—a guidance to provide Member States with the latest information regarding the human rights treaty bodies, special procedures, and international human rights laws related to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and —for the first time—intersex people.
On Human Rights Day (10 December), the UN awarded pop icon Cyndi Lauper the inaugural High Note Global Prize for her lifelong advocacy for LGBT people and for her charity True Colors United that supports homeless LGBT youth. The award is part of the High Note Global Initiative to celebrate artists who fuse music with human rights. Lauper reflected:
"The crackdowns and restrictions on LGBTI people, groups and campaigns are unacceptable. Young people are being judged and punished for who they are and who they love. At UNAIDS, we will focus on reforming laws, policies and practices and will prioritize our support for key populations."
The UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz visited Colombia to meet with human rights defenders at the Latin America and the Caribbean regional ILGA conference. He praised global and regional level conversations as a tool to dispel “hateful narratives” that make people afraid of the LGBTI community. Attending the conference for the first time, activists from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Guyana met with Madrigal-Borloz to draw his attention to specific challenges faced by France's overseas territories.
Madrigal-Borloz also issued a call for contributions to his upcoming report to the Human Rights Council. This report will focus on the practices of so-called “conversion therapy” on LGBT and gender diverse people around the world. The report aims to examine the different types of practices associated with conversion therapy and the legislation and policies that exist in relation to them. The deadline for submissions is 21 December.
From Brazil, UNAIDS launched a new report the “Stigma Index on People Living with HIV/AIDS — Brazil” based on survey data from people across seven cities. The study found that 64% of all respondents experienced some form of discrimination because of their HIV status. LGBT people living with HIV continued to face the highest levels of stigma—74.9% of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, 62.3% of lesbian, bisexual, and other women who have sex with women, and 90.3% of transgender people reported experiencing some form of discrimination. Fear of being outed kept 11.9% of men, 13.2% of women, and 27.4% of trans people from seeking health services.
The UNDP released a new report “Tolerance but not Inclusion” that evaluates the experiences of and attitudes towards LGBT people in Thailand. The report found that most LGBT people continue to face challenges accessing healthcare, education, and employment due to stigma. Although many non-LGBT people have broadly accepting views of the community, many also admit they would be less accepting of an LGBT person as a family member, fellow worker, student, or social acquaintance.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a revised version of “Born Free and Equal”—a guidance to provide Member States with the latest information regarding the human rights treaty bodies, special procedures, and international human rights laws related to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and —for the first time—intersex people.
On Human Rights Day (10 December), the UN awarded pop icon Cyndi Lauper the inaugural High Note Global Prize for her lifelong advocacy for LGBT people and for her charity True Colors United that supports homeless LGBT youth. The award is part of the High Note Global Initiative to celebrate artists who fuse music with human rights. Lauper reflected:
“Being an ally came naturally to me. LGBT rights are human rights. It wasn’t in me to stand idly by while my friends and family were being mistreated.”
HIV, Health, and Wellness: To mark World AIDS Day, UNAIDS launched its new report “Power to the people” that documents the significant progress made when communities are able to have meaningful involvement in the work to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima emphasized that “the way communities are being taken for granted has to change”:
In Thailand, APCOM hosted the 2019 Asia Pacific HERO Awards honoring 10 people and organizations who have made significant contributions to the rights and health of LGBTI people and people living with HIV.
The Journal of General Internal Medicine published one of the first studies to examine barriers to PrEP using national healthcare system records. It found that healthcare providers were the main reason patients were unable to obtain PrEP—providers’ negative attitudes towards PrEP, ignorance about how it works, and misunderstanding how the healthcare system offers it. Those patients who were already educated about PrEP and who continued to ask for it despite resistance were the most successful getting a prescription.
The US Department of Health and Human Services announced a new program called “Ready, Set, PrEP” to bring free PrEP drugs to uninsured people across the country. To be eligible a person must obtain a prescription and be tested for HIV every three months, both of which are not covered and could be a barrier for uninsured people.
Hugo Greenhalgh, editor of Reuters Openly shared how access to PrEP has impacted the LGBT community:
Meanwhile, fifty-two LGBT, sexual and public health, and HIV advocacy organizations are calling attention to factually inaccurate ads on Facebook and Instagram that misrepresent the safety of PrEP drugs. The ads, placed by personal injury lawyer groups, suggest that PrEP used to prevent HIV causes serious side-effects. Facebook has ignored requests to remove the ads which have been seen well over a million times. In an open letter, the groups urged Facebook to take urgent action and state that by allowing the ads to continue, it is “convincing at-risk individuals to avoid PrEP, invariably leading to avoidable HIV infections. You are harming public health.”
From Indonesia, the Jakarta Post spoke with activists about how increasing religious fundamentalism, polarization, and intolerance against LGBT+ people is driving HIV rates up.
DW news spoke with Kenya’s “King of Condoms” Stanley Ngara who travels the streets doing demonstrations to teach the community about condoms and preventing HIV. Check out the video!
“In the face of adversity, communities of gay men, sex workers and people who use drugs have organized themselves to claim their right to health as equal citizens. So, we know that communities have proved their worth. There is no debate there.”
In Thailand, APCOM hosted the 2019 Asia Pacific HERO Awards honoring 10 people and organizations who have made significant contributions to the rights and health of LGBTI people and people living with HIV.
The Journal of General Internal Medicine published one of the first studies to examine barriers to PrEP using national healthcare system records. It found that healthcare providers were the main reason patients were unable to obtain PrEP—providers’ negative attitudes towards PrEP, ignorance about how it works, and misunderstanding how the healthcare system offers it. Those patients who were already educated about PrEP and who continued to ask for it despite resistance were the most successful getting a prescription.
The US Department of Health and Human Services announced a new program called “Ready, Set, PrEP” to bring free PrEP drugs to uninsured people across the country. To be eligible a person must obtain a prescription and be tested for HIV every three months, both of which are not covered and could be a barrier for uninsured people.
Hugo Greenhalgh, editor of Reuters Openly shared how access to PrEP has impacted the LGBT community:
“I’ve often thought that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans people of my generation all suffer from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder; our mental health collectively ruined by decades of bullying, abuse and inequality. PrEP won’t eradicate that, of course. But it distinctly lessens the burden for the next generation.”
Meanwhile, fifty-two LGBT, sexual and public health, and HIV advocacy organizations are calling attention to factually inaccurate ads on Facebook and Instagram that misrepresent the safety of PrEP drugs. The ads, placed by personal injury lawyer groups, suggest that PrEP used to prevent HIV causes serious side-effects. Facebook has ignored requests to remove the ads which have been seen well over a million times. In an open letter, the groups urged Facebook to take urgent action and state that by allowing the ads to continue, it is “convincing at-risk individuals to avoid PrEP, invariably leading to avoidable HIV infections. You are harming public health.”
From Indonesia, the Jakarta Post spoke with activists about how increasing religious fundamentalism, polarization, and intolerance against LGBT+ people is driving HIV rates up.
DW news spoke with Kenya’s “King of Condoms” Stanley Ngara who travels the streets doing demonstrations to teach the community about condoms and preventing HIV. Check out the video!
From the World of Politics: India’s upper house of Parliament (the Rajya Sabha) voted to pass the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019. It will become law if approved by President Ram Nath Kovind. Although on the surface the bill aims to insure nondiscrimination against trans people in education, healthcare, and employment, members of the community have vigorously opposed it. Among the chief complaints: poor definitions of who the bill protects, unclear language that activists say can be used against trans and intersex individuals, and a lack of any binding obligations to ensure that people are protected. The bill further rolls back rights trans people currently have including the right to self-determine gender without medical intervention.
Also in India, a new report by the consulting firm Dalberg found that an estimated 102 million people do not have an Aadhaar ID—the national biometric digital identity system. Among those left out of the system are over 25% of third-gender citizens and 30% of the homeless population. The Aadhaar is mandatory to access many services in the country including bank accounts, SIM cards, and schools.
In Australia, the Northern Territory state parliament voted in favor of the Sex Industry Bill 2019 to decriminalize sex work. Meanwhile, the state parliament of South Australia voted against decriminalization. And the state of Victoria, which decriminalized sex work in 1986, announced it will undertake a full review of laws that regulate the industry including workplace safety, stigma, the gig economy, and criminal activity within the industry. UNAIDS praised the Northern Territory for upholding the rights of sex workers and enabling them to “operate within existing laws and regulations”.
Also in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the long-awaited Religious Freedom Bill will not be voted on this year. Morrison said a new draft is being prepared that considers the many comments submitted by individuals, faith groups, advocacy groups, and other organizations. The previous draft has been condemned by some for putting religious rights ahead of other rights and for overriding all other federal and state anti-discrimination bills. Meanwhile, some religious groups believed the draft did not go far enough to protect people of faith. Groups on both sides have welcomed the delay. A recent nationwide poll found that 64% of respondents do not believe religious groups should be allowed to discriminate against LGBT employees.
In the US, some Republican legislators proposed the “Fairness For All Act” which attempts to balance LGBTQ rights with religious freedom. The bill would grant some LGBTQ protections but would allow religious organizations, wedding services, and businesses with fewer than 15 employees to discriminate as reported by the AP, Washington Blade, and others. National rights groups have spoken out against the bill. It is unlikely to pass as Democrats support the competing Equality Act which does not include exclusions.
In Guyana, a group of Christian leaders launched a new political party called “The People’s Republic Party” (PRP). The party’s presidential candidate Dr Valerie Leung promised to bring an end to corruption. Among the other topics discussed, Leung condemned the “lifestyle” of LGBTQ people and declared that they are “troubled people” who need help.
Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that it completed an investigation of registered non-governmental organizations. Following the review, 12,089 organizations have been removed from the registry and told they must cease operations immediately. Dr Frank Mugisha, director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, said his and other LGBT rights groups have lost their registration though they plan to challenge the decision. This comes as tensions over LGBT rights remain high.
Also in India, a new report by the consulting firm Dalberg found that an estimated 102 million people do not have an Aadhaar ID—the national biometric digital identity system. Among those left out of the system are over 25% of third-gender citizens and 30% of the homeless population. The Aadhaar is mandatory to access many services in the country including bank accounts, SIM cards, and schools.
In Australia, the Northern Territory state parliament voted in favor of the Sex Industry Bill 2019 to decriminalize sex work. Meanwhile, the state parliament of South Australia voted against decriminalization. And the state of Victoria, which decriminalized sex work in 1986, announced it will undertake a full review of laws that regulate the industry including workplace safety, stigma, the gig economy, and criminal activity within the industry. UNAIDS praised the Northern Territory for upholding the rights of sex workers and enabling them to “operate within existing laws and regulations”.
Also in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the long-awaited Religious Freedom Bill will not be voted on this year. Morrison said a new draft is being prepared that considers the many comments submitted by individuals, faith groups, advocacy groups, and other organizations. The previous draft has been condemned by some for putting religious rights ahead of other rights and for overriding all other federal and state anti-discrimination bills. Meanwhile, some religious groups believed the draft did not go far enough to protect people of faith. Groups on both sides have welcomed the delay. A recent nationwide poll found that 64% of respondents do not believe religious groups should be allowed to discriminate against LGBT employees.
In the US, some Republican legislators proposed the “Fairness For All Act” which attempts to balance LGBTQ rights with religious freedom. The bill would grant some LGBTQ protections but would allow religious organizations, wedding services, and businesses with fewer than 15 employees to discriminate as reported by the AP, Washington Blade, and others. National rights groups have spoken out against the bill. It is unlikely to pass as Democrats support the competing Equality Act which does not include exclusions.
In Guyana, a group of Christian leaders launched a new political party called “The People’s Republic Party” (PRP). The party’s presidential candidate Dr Valerie Leung promised to bring an end to corruption. Among the other topics discussed, Leung condemned the “lifestyle” of LGBTQ people and declared that they are “troubled people” who need help.
Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that it completed an investigation of registered non-governmental organizations. Following the review, 12,089 organizations have been removed from the registry and told they must cease operations immediately. Dr Frank Mugisha, director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, said his and other LGBT rights groups have lost their registration though they plan to challenge the decision. This comes as tensions over LGBT rights remain high.
The Politics of Union: In Japan, the city of Yokohama began issuing certificates recognizing same-sex couples that will allow them to apply for public housing as a family. Some other areas, including parts of Tokyo, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Osaka also have certificates to recognize same-sex couples although they do not afford any rights or protections. A recent poll showed that nearly 80% of Japanese people under 60 support marriage equality—a steep increase in support compared to a few years ago. Haru Ono and her partner are one of six couples who filed lawsuits seeking the right to marry this past Valentine’s Day:
In Thailand, a lesbian couple with support from the Foundation for SOGI Rights and Justice (FOR-SOGI) filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court to challenge Civil Code laws that limit marriage equality.
In China, legislators have been accepting public comments on a draft section of the Civil Code that addresses marriage and family. After a month-long effort by civil society, the South China Morning Post reported that over 190,000 comments were submitted in favor of recognizing same-sex marriage. However, the Parliament already announced in August that it will not consider adding same-sex marriage to the new Civil Code.
The National Council of Monaco adopted a bill to allow co-habitating couples to apply for a civil union. The Council noted that the bill is not intended to “compete” with marriage and will not grant any rights to adoption.
“The No. 1 reason I thought I had to participate in this lawsuit was that I wanted to show my children that it’s O.K. that we’re a family. When we’re at home, we’re very naturally a family, but when we go out, there are times when we are treated as though we aren’t.”
In Thailand, a lesbian couple with support from the Foundation for SOGI Rights and Justice (FOR-SOGI) filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court to challenge Civil Code laws that limit marriage equality.
In China, legislators have been accepting public comments on a draft section of the Civil Code that addresses marriage and family. After a month-long effort by civil society, the South China Morning Post reported that over 190,000 comments were submitted in favor of recognizing same-sex marriage. However, the Parliament already announced in August that it will not consider adding same-sex marriage to the new Civil Code.
The National Council of Monaco adopted a bill to allow co-habitating couples to apply for a civil union. The Council noted that the bill is not intended to “compete” with marriage and will not grant any rights to adoption.
Let the Courts Decide: South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that a section of the Equality Act that relates to the prohibition of hate speech is unconstitutional stating it is “vague” and “over broad”. Judge Mahomed Navsa has given Parliament 18 months to clarify the language. In his ruling Navsa added:
In Zambia, Judge Charles Zulu sentenced two men to 15 years in prison for having sex in 2017. They were arrested after a hotel worker allegedly saw them through an open window. The conviction kicked off a dispute between the US Ambassador to Zambia, Daniel Foote, and Zambian President Edgar Chaga Lunga. Foote objected to the harsh punishment. President Lunga said that he may look at a shorter punishment but will not accept to repeal the law.
In Malaysia, two Vietnamese tourists suspected of being a gay couple were convicted of participating in an “immoral act” after State Immigration authorities arrested them in their hotel room.
The 47 Nigerian men arrested during a police raid of a hotel on charges of same-sex “amorous relationships” last year pleaded not guilty and were released pending bail. The men say they were attending a birthday party when the hotel was raided. Activist Xeenarh Mohammed, executive director of the Lagos-based Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS), said the laws were vague and amounted to harassment.
A Japanese trans woman is challenging a special law that prevents people from officially changing their gender if they have under-aged children.
In Colombia, 40 human rights lawyers from across Latin America have launched “Red Litigio LGBT”—a litigation network to guarantee the rights of LGBT people in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.
“I am not unmindful of the threat to life, limb, and psyche that members of the LGBTI community face. I will take care in crafting a remedy to ensure that they are not left without recourse.”
In Zambia, Judge Charles Zulu sentenced two men to 15 years in prison for having sex in 2017. They were arrested after a hotel worker allegedly saw them through an open window. The conviction kicked off a dispute between the US Ambassador to Zambia, Daniel Foote, and Zambian President Edgar Chaga Lunga. Foote objected to the harsh punishment. President Lunga said that he may look at a shorter punishment but will not accept to repeal the law.
In Malaysia, two Vietnamese tourists suspected of being a gay couple were convicted of participating in an “immoral act” after State Immigration authorities arrested them in their hotel room.
The 47 Nigerian men arrested during a police raid of a hotel on charges of same-sex “amorous relationships” last year pleaded not guilty and were released pending bail. The men say they were attending a birthday party when the hotel was raided. Activist Xeenarh Mohammed, executive director of the Lagos-based Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS), said the laws were vague and amounted to harassment.
A Japanese trans woman is challenging a special law that prevents people from officially changing their gender if they have under-aged children.
In Colombia, 40 human rights lawyers from across Latin America have launched “Red Litigio LGBT”—a litigation network to guarantee the rights of LGBT people in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.
Regarding Religion: The Church of England released a new guidance—“Faith sensitive and inclusive Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education (RSHE)”—to help all of its schools become in compliance with the UK Equality Act. Schools in the UK are required to update sex, health, and relationship education curriculums by September 2020.
In the US, some Catholic dioceses in Texas and Pennsylvania filed lawsuits opposing regulations that prevent adoption and foster agencies from discriminating against LGBT couples, reported New Ways Ministry. Meanwhile, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops praised the Department of Health and Human Services for proposed changes that will allow faith-based agencies to refuse to work with individuals that do not follow a group’s religious beliefs.
Brian Cahill, retired executive director of San Francisco Catholic Charities, condemned US bishops for not standing up for LGBT rights. He stated that they abandoned “thousands of poor and needy children, and ignored the reality that the largest cohort of potential adoptive parents for the most challenging and troubled children in the foster care system are committed same sex couples who want to create a family”.
In the new book “Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman”, activist Abby Stein described reaching out to her father and the Hasidic community. Although it has been difficult, she values that she was able to get her father to admit that trans people exist. And while there is transphobia:
In the US, some Catholic dioceses in Texas and Pennsylvania filed lawsuits opposing regulations that prevent adoption and foster agencies from discriminating against LGBT couples, reported New Ways Ministry. Meanwhile, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops praised the Department of Health and Human Services for proposed changes that will allow faith-based agencies to refuse to work with individuals that do not follow a group’s religious beliefs.
Brian Cahill, retired executive director of San Francisco Catholic Charities, condemned US bishops for not standing up for LGBT rights. He stated that they abandoned “thousands of poor and needy children, and ignored the reality that the largest cohort of potential adoptive parents for the most challenging and troubled children in the foster care system are committed same sex couples who want to create a family”.
In the new book “Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman”, activist Abby Stein described reaching out to her father and the Hasidic community. Although it has been difficult, she values that she was able to get her father to admit that trans people exist. And while there is transphobia:
“I realized it’s usually not religion, and it’s not God. It’s people and the culture, which is why it was a big deal for my dad.”
Fear and Loathing: ILGA released the 2019 State-Sponsored Homophobia report surveying the legislation that impacts people around the world due to their sexual orientation. The report notes that there has been significant progress in many areas including an expansion of marriage equality and new protections from discrimination. However, they also warn that activism against homophobia must continue:
The UN offices of El Salvador released a statement calling on authorities to investigate an increase of hate crimes against the LGBTI community. They said urgent action is needed to punish perpetrators and prevent further acts of violence. At least three trans women and one gay man were found murdered over a period of four weeks. Roberto Zapata, secretary general of advocacy group AMATE El Salvador, warned that the government agency responsible for addressing LGBTI discrimination was absorbed into the Ministry of Culture this summer. Subsequently:
In Germany, Berlin police reported that in the first nine months of 2019 there has been a 42% increase in reported attacks against LGBT people compared to all of 2018. Police chief Barbara Slowik blamed “an increasing polarization of society”.
In Haiti, leading LGBT+ rights activist Jeudy Charlot was found dead in his home. Charlot had been the target of several anonymous threats in the months leading up to his death but chose to continue his work. Friend and colleague Neish McLean explained:
From Turkey, the newspaper Karınca spoke to the Civil Society Association (CİSST) about the ongoing human rights violations faced by prisoners in Turkey. They note that transgender women and sick prisoners are particularly vulnerable to abuse in the system.
Studying South Africa, the Williams Institute released a new report on the economic cost of stigma and discrimination against LGBT people. They estimated wage discrimination and underemployment of LGBT people cost over $316 million USD a year. They estimate the cost of health disparities experienced by LGBT people could be as high as $19.5 billion.
Writing for openDemocracy, Diana Cariboni investigated the ultra-conservative lobby groups that are pressuring the Inter-American human rights system to oppose sexual and reproductive rights. As Peruvian human rights lawyer Pedro Calvay Torres described:
“There is a very noticeable re-invigoration of the campaigns to push back against our hard fought and won victories for equality in human rights with states and their legal jurisdictions.”
The UN offices of El Salvador released a statement calling on authorities to investigate an increase of hate crimes against the LGBTI community. They said urgent action is needed to punish perpetrators and prevent further acts of violence. At least three trans women and one gay man were found murdered over a period of four weeks. Roberto Zapata, secretary general of advocacy group AMATE El Salvador, warned that the government agency responsible for addressing LGBTI discrimination was absorbed into the Ministry of Culture this summer. Subsequently:
"The new authorities don't have justice or the prosecution of these cases as a priority… This new government is completely silent."
In Germany, Berlin police reported that in the first nine months of 2019 there has been a 42% increase in reported attacks against LGBT people compared to all of 2018. Police chief Barbara Slowik blamed “an increasing polarization of society”.
In Haiti, leading LGBT+ rights activist Jeudy Charlot was found dead in his home. Charlot had been the target of several anonymous threats in the months leading up to his death but chose to continue his work. Friend and colleague Neish McLean explained:
"As activists, we don't focus so much on the danger. We know that not all of us can leave our countries to flee for safety in other places. Some of us have to remain behind to do this difficult work. And so we focus on the work."
From Turkey, the newspaper Karınca spoke to the Civil Society Association (CİSST) about the ongoing human rights violations faced by prisoners in Turkey. They note that transgender women and sick prisoners are particularly vulnerable to abuse in the system.
Studying South Africa, the Williams Institute released a new report on the economic cost of stigma and discrimination against LGBT people. They estimated wage discrimination and underemployment of LGBT people cost over $316 million USD a year. They estimate the cost of health disparities experienced by LGBT people could be as high as $19.5 billion.
Writing for openDemocracy, Diana Cariboni investigated the ultra-conservative lobby groups that are pressuring the Inter-American human rights system to oppose sexual and reproductive rights. As Peruvian human rights lawyer Pedro Calvay Torres described:
“It’s a new issue that civil society, historically committed to the system’s strengthening and defense, is now demanding changes against gender perspectives, LGBTIQ people and reproductive rights. The strategy is directed at weakening the system’s ability to demand protection standards.”
Winds of Change: The UK think tank Legatum Institute released its 2019 “Prosperity Index” measuring the economies and lived experiences of people around the world. Among the findings, Legatum concluded that generally people have become more tolerant of the LGBT community across 111 countries.
The Other Foundation published results from the Malawi National Attitudes Survey (MNAS) evaluating public perception of LGBTI people. The report found that Malawians have a broader acceptance of people based on gender identity than acceptance of people based on sexuality. A large majority were accepting of intersex people in family and public life and nearly 90% believe they should be protected from violence. Over 30% believe trans people should be protected from violence although far fewer (14%) believe they should be accepted in families. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of people see same-sex intimacy as “unnatural” and are not ready to accept a gay or lesbian persons into their family.
ILGA-Europe held a two-day event with D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from nine European countries. (The capital "D" is used by those who identify with the Deaf community. Lowercase "d" is used to refer to the medical condition of having hearing loss.) Among the many ideas discussed were improving visibility for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, better educating both LGBTI and disability organizations, making it easier for D/deaf and disabled people to participate in advocacy work, and increasing accessibility to all Pride events.
From Argentina, journalist Samantha Schmidt wrote about the young people who are “rewriting the rules of the language to eliminate gender” by creating and using words separate from the traditional masculine and feminine pronunciations. Although they have been ridiculed by some, their casual and repeated usage is slowly making it to mainstream and official circles.
In Switzerland, as part of the 15th annual Festival Les Créatives multidisciplinary festival on feminism and women (including trans and cisgender people), activists participated in a round table on the struggles and rights of lesbians. Ahead of the event Alice Coffin of the European Lesbian* Conference spoke with Le Temps on “lesbian invisibility” and the impact on lesbians’ sexual health.
From Algeria, the mostly-online LGBTQIA organization Alouen (“Colors”) spoke with Lyas Laamari about how the fight for equality fits within the ongoing political protests in the country. Although they are not able to be legally recognized as an organization, they continue to gather online and offline with discretion:
The Other Foundation published results from the Malawi National Attitudes Survey (MNAS) evaluating public perception of LGBTI people. The report found that Malawians have a broader acceptance of people based on gender identity than acceptance of people based on sexuality. A large majority were accepting of intersex people in family and public life and nearly 90% believe they should be protected from violence. Over 30% believe trans people should be protected from violence although far fewer (14%) believe they should be accepted in families. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of people see same-sex intimacy as “unnatural” and are not ready to accept a gay or lesbian persons into their family.
ILGA-Europe held a two-day event with D/deaf and disabled LGBTI activists from nine European countries. (The capital "D" is used by those who identify with the Deaf community. Lowercase "d" is used to refer to the medical condition of having hearing loss.) Among the many ideas discussed were improving visibility for D/deaf and disabled LGBTI people, better educating both LGBTI and disability organizations, making it easier for D/deaf and disabled people to participate in advocacy work, and increasing accessibility to all Pride events.
From Argentina, journalist Samantha Schmidt wrote about the young people who are “rewriting the rules of the language to eliminate gender” by creating and using words separate from the traditional masculine and feminine pronunciations. Although they have been ridiculed by some, their casual and repeated usage is slowly making it to mainstream and official circles.
In Switzerland, as part of the 15th annual Festival Les Créatives multidisciplinary festival on feminism and women (including trans and cisgender people), activists participated in a round table on the struggles and rights of lesbians. Ahead of the event Alice Coffin of the European Lesbian* Conference spoke with Le Temps on “lesbian invisibility” and the impact on lesbians’ sexual health.
From Algeria, the mostly-online LGBTQIA organization Alouen (“Colors”) spoke with Lyas Laamari about how the fight for equality fits within the ongoing political protests in the country. Although they are not able to be legally recognized as an organization, they continue to gather online and offline with discretion:
“We are proud of having a real community, supportive and aware of their own rights and dignity. What’s even more important, however, is how Algerian LGBTQIA people now don’t have to feel alone or abnormal, as they would have even just ten years ago. The visibility gained by some famous LGBTQIA personalities allowed us to push back against certain taboos and open the topic to public debate, and to get closer to open-minded people, convincing them to support our cause.”
Business and Technology: A study from the US University of Colorado Boulder found that facial recognition services consistently fail to recognize trans and non-binary people. Researcher Morgan Klaus Scheuerman noted that the systems reinforce outdated stereotypes of what you “should” look like. Facial recognition services have previously come under fire for significant racial bias. Usage of the technologies have sparked debate even as governments around the world move quickly toward adopting them. Tre’Andre Valentine, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, warned:
Four former Google workers came forward to challenge the company’s escalation against employees who speak out about corporate policies. The workers, who were fired over the US Thanksgiving holiday, have been involved in protests about sexual harassment, discrimination, and benefits for LGBT employees. Sophie Waldman, a fired software engineer, remarked that the company’s ethical decisions particularly impact LGBTQ people:
An investigation by German site NetzPolitik.org found that the wildly popular social media platform TikTok has been censoring videos by people with disabilities, overweight people, and LGBTQ people. The company, based out of China, said the videos were limited to prevent bullying on the platform. They claim the policies have been updated for “more nuanced anti-bullying policies”.
MPACT, the Global Action for Gay Men's Health and Rights, released two new videos to help protect activists and their work: a guide to physical security and a guide to digital security. They include tips about computers, phones, surveillance, and data protection.
“We cannot allow technology to be used in areas like government services, policing, or border control if it excludes and alienates or otherwise ignores an entire class of people. Unfortunately, absent regulation, that’s exactly what’s happening.”
Four former Google workers came forward to challenge the company’s escalation against employees who speak out about corporate policies. The workers, who were fired over the US Thanksgiving holiday, have been involved in protests about sexual harassment, discrimination, and benefits for LGBT employees. Sophie Waldman, a fired software engineer, remarked that the company’s ethical decisions particularly impact LGBTQ people:
“From the beginning, queer and trans people at Google have banded together to make sure we have great benefits and a strong community. A lot of us feel very directly that it’s us and people like us that are on the line.”
An investigation by German site NetzPolitik.org found that the wildly popular social media platform TikTok has been censoring videos by people with disabilities, overweight people, and LGBTQ people. The company, based out of China, said the videos were limited to prevent bullying on the platform. They claim the policies have been updated for “more nuanced anti-bullying policies”.
MPACT, the Global Action for Gay Men's Health and Rights, released two new videos to help protect activists and their work: a guide to physical security and a guide to digital security. They include tips about computers, phones, surveillance, and data protection.
Sports and Culture: As the year comes to an end, writer Sarah Neilson recommends 15 overlooked non-fiction, fiction, and poetry books that tackle queer themes. Writer Roberto Igual reviews three new South African queer books including singer and artist Nataniël’s autobiography, the short story collection “They Called Me Queer” by LGBTQIA+ African writers, and the graphic short story collection “Meanwhile” from Southern and East African artists.
The Oscars have received a number of official submissions to the Best Foreign Language category exploring themes of sex, discrimination, and acceptance. To name a few: Venezuela’s Yo Imposible (“Being Impossible”) centers around a woman who discovers she is intersex and that she was subjected to surgeries as a baby. Bolivia’s Tu Me Manques ("I Miss You") is a heartbreaking story of a man coming to terms with his gay son’s death. Panama’s Todos Cambiamos ("Everybody Changes") is a drama about a family as one parent comes out as transgender. Check out their trailers!
The Oscars have received a number of official submissions to the Best Foreign Language category exploring themes of sex, discrimination, and acceptance. To name a few: Venezuela’s Yo Imposible (“Being Impossible”) centers around a woman who discovers she is intersex and that she was subjected to surgeries as a baby. Bolivia’s Tu Me Manques ("I Miss You") is a heartbreaking story of a man coming to terms with his gay son’s death. Panama’s Todos Cambiamos ("Everybody Changes") is a drama about a family as one parent comes out as transgender. Check out their trailers!
