“If we walk separately, they will hang us together.”
~ Monika Tichy, Polish activist urging feminist’s and LGBTQ movements to work together
From the UN: UNAIDS launched its 2020 World AIDS Day campaign “Global solidarity, shared responsibility”. The campaign was inspired by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrates how health is interlinked with other social and economic issues. Noting that “no one is safe until everyone is safe”, the campaign emphasizes that health crises such as COVID-19 and HIV exacerbate the challenges marginalized groups face.
UNAIDS praised the “countless examples” of community activism that have been key to responding to these health crises. However, recovery “cannot be the sole responsibility of communities”. UNAIDS called on governments and civil society to come together and find new ways to respond so that healthcare is funded, systems are strengthened, access is ensured, and that human rights and gender equality are respected. First recognized in 1988, World AIDS Day is celebrated every year on 1 December.
The UN LGBTI Core Group, an informal cross regional network of UN Member States, welcomed Malta and the Republic of North Macedonia to the group. Through this collaboration thirty-three states and the European Union work together to mainstream LGBTIQ inclusion throughout the UN.
UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, is holding an open consultation on the future priorities of his office. The meeting will review his 2021-2023 work plan and will consider recommendations from stakeholders. Open to States, UN agencies, regional human rights groups, members of civil society organizations, academic institutions, corporate entities, and all other interested stakeholders, you are invited to join on 20 November.
HIV, Health, and Wellness:
The New Zealand AIDS Foundation announced they will install “smart vending machines” to distribute HIV self-testing kits. Canada approved the use of the country’s first HIV self-testing kit with plans to distribute 60,000 free kits across the country.
Nigeria’s government plans to prioritize HIV self-testing starting in January. However, some experts fear this shift to self-testing will prevent gay and bisexual men and trans people from getting linked into health care. Although self-tests are more cost-effective, testing centers have become “one-stop shops” for people who must remain in secret providing them with testing, treatment, social support, and other care.
A study in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, looked at why Chinese gay and bisexual men have resisted using HIV self-testing kits despite efforts in the country to make them more accessible. The researchers identified several barriers shared by interviewed men including fear of fake tests, fear of being outed as gay, and fears that they would not be able to find care if they discovered they were HIV-positive through a self-test.
A study published in HIV Medicine found that gay men and other men who have sex with men in Ukraine who were supported by NGOs had better HIV-related outcomes than other men. NGOs supplied them with condoms, education, and HIV testing and were able to connect HIV-positive men to care.
Ahead of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria annual strategy meeting, Ren Minghui, WHO Assistant Director-General for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Shannon Hader, Deputy Executive Director of Program at UNAIDS, released a new op-ed arguing that mental health must become an integral part of the global responses to HIV and TB. They called for an explicitly defined, fully funded strategy to address mental health at every stage of HIV and TB care.
A new study published in JAMA Network explored the prevalence and mental health of trans and gender non-conforming youth in China. As in studies from other regions, these youth had significantly higher levels of depression, self-harm, and suicide ideation than their cisgender peers. What is unique to this study is that researchers had detailed information on youths' sex assigned at birth and gender identity allowing for a closer evaluation of different sub-groups of gender minorities. Writing in response to the Chinese study, experts weighed in on why this information is critical yet so often missing from mental health research.
The Journal of Sex Research published an article that examines mental health through the particular lens of youth who are questioning, unsure of, or exploring their sexual identity. Researchers found increased rates of suicidality among questioning youth compared to other LGBQ youth when the questioner also identified as a trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming.
Many studies from across regions have found that non-heterosexual youth have significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts or behavior compared to their heterosexual peers. An article in The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention explored whether “suicidality has become a recognized and even an expected idiom of LGB youth distress; and that suicidality is written in the 'script' of what it means to be a sexual minority”. In a series of studies researchers evaluated college-aged youth in Italy for acceptance and empathy towards suicidal thoughts and people who have attempted suicide. They found that LGB youth were more accepting of suicidal behavior and more empathetic towards people who had attempted suicide than their peers. They suggest that new suicide prevention strategies are needed for LGB youth.
More HIV, Health, and Wellness
From the World of Politics: The European Commission launched its first strategy on LGBTIQ equality. The five-year strategy states that “there is a worrying trend in parts of the EU of more frequent anti-LGBTIQ incidents” and remarks that it “is imperative that Member States react quickly to reverse these new developments”. Reflecting that “discrimination is often multidimensional”, it calls upon an intersectional approach to create sustainable and respectful changes in society.
The new European Human Rights Ambassadors from the UK, Estonia, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and Luxembourg are holding a virtual webinar to introduce themselves and their agendas on 18 November. Check it out and ask them your questions!
Angola’s National Assembly approved revisions to the Penal Code that include an expansion of the non-discrimination rules to protect sexual orientation, as published in the country’s Diaro da Republica. First considered in 2019, many applauded reports that the code will decriminalize same-sex sexual relations by removing the phrase “vices against nature”—commonly used to target suspected gay people. The Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Francisco Queiroz, praised the code, which will go into effect in February 2021, noting that with it:
“Angola stops using inherited laws and colonial administration and starts to use a Penal Code inspired by its political, legal, and social reality.”
Norway’s parliament approved a bill to broaden hate speech legislation to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as protected categories. Since 1981 the hate speech law has protected gay and lesbian people.
Italy’s House of Chambers passed the Zan law to ban discrimination based on a person’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. The Senate will consider the bill in early 2021.
For the second time North Macedonia’s Parliament has passed an Anti-Discrimination Law to prohibit discrimination based on race, origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or political beliefs. Originally passed in 2019, the Constitutional Court repealed the law in May 2020 on a technicality. Following the August elections, Social Democrats brought the law back for a new vote which succeeded. Activists are calling on the government to move swiftly and put it into effect properly.
Hungary is considering several constitutional amendments that critics say will cement the power of the conservative nationalist government. Among the draft amendments is a plan to ban children from being adopted by same-sex couples and require that children must be brought up in accordance with “the values of the Christian culture of Hungary”. Same-sex marriage is not legal in the country, however adoptions have previously been granted to non-married people. Another amendment states children have a right “to their identity in line with their birth sex” and a right to education “based on Christian culture”. The Hatter Society condemned the proposed amendments as a “crusade” against LGBTI people.
In Poland, a civic draft law was submitted to parliament (the Sejm) that would ban Pride and other demonstrations for social equality of LGBT+ people including meetings about marriage equality, adoption, and gender recognition. The Polish constitution allows civic groups to introduce draft laws if they collect at least 100,000 signatures from the public. Over 200,000 have reportedly signed the “Stop LGBT” bill.
Albania’s Ministry of Health approved a new protocol to prevent “automatic gender assignment surgery” on intersex children. The new protocol calls for a multidisciplinary panel led by a doctor to advise parents when a child is born with atypical genital development. Activists were disappointed that the government failed to enact a total ban on all non-vital interventions on infants.
Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies is considering the “Comprehensive Protection of Sexual Characteristics” bill to protect intersex people from non-consensual body modification. The law says any procedure not medically necessary to a child must be postponed until they have reached the age or maturity to consent. Additionally, it states all people have the right to receive truthful information about their own bodies and establishes protections for gender recognition.
In Australia, the state of Victoria elected more openly LGBTQI candidates to local council seats than ever before.
The newly re-elected Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, has selected Grant Robertson as deputy prime minister—the first openly gay person to hold the position.
With more votes cast than in any previous election, the United States elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President. Over 220 openly LGBTQ candidates were also elected to office including Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres, the first openly gay Black men elected to Congress, and Sarah McBride, the first openly trans person elected to Senate.
Despite Biden’s win the government is likely to remain divided. This could prevent the new administration from moving forward with the Equality Act and other progressive legislation. However, activists noted that President-elect Biden will be able to do many things with executive power, including reversing the Trans Military Ban, adding sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination language back into programs governed by the Department of Health and Human Services, and reinstitute guidance to allow trans students to use bathrooms of their choice and participate in sports corresponding with their gender identity.
More from the World of Politics
The Politics of Union: In India, the Delhi High Court joined together multiple petitions arguing that the Hindu Marriage Act should allow the marriage of any two Hindus regardless of gender. Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court is still considering petitions arguing that same-sex marriage should be legal under the Foreign Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act—the secular law that applies to marriages outside of the Hindu faith. Writing for the Leaflet, Dormaan Dalal examined the different provisions of the Special Marriage Act that can be interpreted to support marriage equality.
In Estonia, the three ruling parties of the coalition government announced a referendum on marriage will move forward next spring with the question: “Should marriage in Estonia remain as a union between one man and one woman?” The far-right Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) had wanted to repeal the 2015 Registered Partnership Act which allows any couple to register under the law. However, they agreed to join the coalition government with the promise of a marriage referendum. Writing for EuroNews, Linas Jegelevicius explored how the issue is dividing the country and why many fear it signals the new government will “roll back other hard-won freedoms”.
Ukraine activists have prepared a draft bill to legalize Registered Civil Partnerships. The policy and legislation coordinator of a coalition of human rights NGOs, Sviatoslav Sheremet explained that they hope to build off Pope Francis’s statements in support of civil unions to convince stakeholders that establishing a legal framework for couples outside of the church will benefit all Ukrainians including same-sex couples.
More from the Politics of Union
Let the Courts Decide: The US Supreme Court heard Fulton vs the City of Philadelphia—a case concerning whether agencies that receive funding from the government to provide social services must follow non-discrimination laws. In the current case, Catholic Social Services argued that because it is a religious agency it should not have to consider same-sex couples as potential parents for foster children. The city of Philadelphia argued that the group is free to express its religious beliefs but it is not free to dictate the terms of a municipal contract.
Last month Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal issued a ruling banning abortions for fetal abnormalities—a move activists say effectively bans almost all abortions due to restrictions already in place. The ruling has led to several weeks of the largest protests ever seen in the country—watch this video from the Guardian following some of the activists. Meanwhile, the ruling should have been published and enacted by 2 November; however, the government has missed the deadline. Although a government spokesman has promised the ruling “will be binding and nobody intends to refuse to publish it”, experts say that would violate the constitution.
Regarding Religion: The Church of England published “Living in Love and Faith”—a set of resources to address “tough questions” surrounding gender, sexuality, and marriage. The collection includes a 480 page book, films, podcasts, and an online library to help people “listen and learn” from one another. The Church says the resources will “inspire people to think more deeply about what it means to be human and to live in love and faith with one another”. The book's forward acknowledges the “huge damage and hurt” caused to LGBTI+ people in the name of the church.
Jayne Ozanne, a British evangelical leader who works with religious organizations to eliminate discrimination, argued that despite its length the Living in Love and Faith series does not go far enough. She states that acknowledging harm to LGBT+ people without taking actions to address the hurt is a “failure”.
Fear and Loathing: Ahead of the Trans Day of Remembrance (20 November) the Trans Murder Monitoring research project released data on known trans and gender diverse people who have been killed in the last 12 months. While noting that many deaths around the world go unreported or misgendered, the project found that 82% of all reported murders occurred in Central and South America with the majority in Brazil, Mexico, and the US. The Human Rights Campaign announced it has recorded at least 34 violent deaths of trans and gender non-conforming people in the US since January—more than any other year. Noting that the number of victims has climbed even during the pandemic, Tori Cooper, of the HRC, remarked:
“We must all ask ourselves what each of us is doing to work to bring this violence to an end.”
The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights, published a new in-depth report— “What Color is the Invisible? The Human Rights Situation of the Black LGBTI Population in Brazil”. The report “adopts race not as simply an object of study, but rather as a lens that allows observing certain hierarchical dynamics that negatively affect black people”. Noting that there is very little specific data on Black LGBTI Brazilians, the report draws from sources across civil society, academic research, government agencies, and meetings with communities and activist groups.
Police in Istanbul, Turkey, raided the homes of 18 trans women and detained them citing “coronavirus measures” and allegations of providing a place for prostitution. The women were released the next morning. Local LGBTI+ organization SPoD condemned the police for acting without merit in the middle of the night. SPoD attorney remarked:
“This raid during the pandemic period and the wait in the police station for hours is against human rights...Do you have to detain people who aren't even suspects, who you're asking for their knowledge on an issue, in the middle of the night from their homes 'en masse'? A night raid, instead of a daytime visit, means the criminalization of trans women and their street.”
Winds of Change: Polish activist Monika Tichy, Chairwoman of the board of Lambda Szczecin, wrote about the importance of solidarity between women’s and LGBT+ rights movements which she calls “inextricably linked”:
“Violence against women, including legislative violence, and hatred of gays are a manifestation of the same toxic, machoest masculinity that poisons our civilization and returns it evolutionarily to the jungle level, where every male wants to be alpha, and fangs and claws, instead of reason and conscience, decide who is right”
In Turkey, the Kaos GL Association and the Women for Women’s Human Rights Association are working on a joint collaboration to encourage feminists and LGBTI+ activists to work together to oppose attacks from right-wing conservatives in the region. Their most recent workshop brought together journalists and activists to examine how negative media portrayals of LGBTI+ people significantly increased following a Diyanet (the state Religious Affairs department) sermon that targeted LGBTI+ people, people living with HIV, and women who have had extramarital affairs. Check out their report.
From Botswana, Dumi, an activist and member of the African Queer Youth Initiative, spoke with the podcast “QueerSounds” on what it means to be a grassroots organizer.
ILGA World will host a panel with civil society, corporations, trade unions, and human rights experts to discuss how the UN Standards of Conduct for Tackling Discrimination against LGBTI people are being implemented in workplaces around the world. Join the conversation on 19 November!
And Youth Voices Count, a regional advocacy network of young LGBTQI people in Asia-Pacific, announced the new recipients of its “Ignite! Empowerment Grants” to youth led LGBTQI groups in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea.
School Days: The Journal of Adolescent Health published a new systematic literature review of three decades of research on US school-based comprehensive sex education. Researchers identified how quality education improves a variety of health outcomes outside of the context of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The authors further noted the importance of starting education at young ages:
“As with all other areas of the curriculum, building an early foundation and scaffolding learning with developmentally appropriate content and teaching are key to long-term development of knowledge, attitudes, and skills that support healthy sexuality.”
A new investigation from openDemocracy found that the US-based Christian organization Family Watch International (FWI) has been “coaching” politicians and religious and civic leaders across Africa to oppose comprehensive sexuality education during annual “training” programs for at least a decade. Through FWI’s website “Stop CSE”, the group targets 10 African countries and provides tools to fight education which they claim amounts to “abortion, promiscuity, and LGBT rights education”. Misinformation spread by groups such as FWI was so full of errors in South Africa that the Department of Education released a curriculum fact sheet to debunk the claims. openDemocracy spoke with UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, who is from Uganda, on how quality CSE empowers young people:
“CSE is an integral part of the right to education and to health. It is not optional. It is not negotiable.”
Last month China amended the law to require schools to provide age appropriate sex education for all children. However, writing for South China Morning Post, Viola Zhou reported that the government has not issued any plans to implement a national curriculum and that the law only mentions sexual abuse prevention. Local education experts say deep-seated values and a lack of knowledge among teachers could make creating a comprehensive and inclusive curriculum challenging.
During the recent US election, nearly 60% of voters in Washington state approved of a comprehensive sex education mandate that requires schools to provide age-appropriate information based off of the state’s standards. Washington is the first state to put sex education to a vote. In the US, curriculums including information on abstinence, HIV, and consent vary from state to state. Furthermore, a review by the Guttmacher Institute finds that six states require that non-heterosexual relationships are only discussed in a negative way.
Writing for Reuters, Anjelica Jarrett examined how Japanese universities are leading the way on transgender inclusion. In Bangladesh, the Ahmad Firdaus Bari Choudhury Foundation opened the country’s first Islamic school for transgender and third sex students. Meanwhile Shinta Ratri, who founded Indonesia’s first Islamic boarding school for trans women over 10 years ago, spoke about how COVID has impacted the school.
Sports and Culture: Out of Nigeria the Equality Hub launched a new streaming service “EhTV Network” to showcase premium Nigerian made LGBTQ-themed content.
The winner of the TV show Drag Race Thailand, Aunchalee Pokinwuttipob, spoke with Chalinee Thirasupa about the ongoing protests in the country and how they offer an opportunity for LGBT people to push for greater freedoms.
Writing for the Guardian, Isabelle Kliger looked at how drag performers have long been leaders in activists’ movements. She spoke with drag artists about how television has brought them new visibility and expanded their opportunities to express their opinions.
Check out the trailer for the new docu-series “We’re Here” that follows a team of drag artists including performers Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadle as they travel to rural US towns to talk with residents and put on drag shows with the locals. As reviewer Mary Elizabeth Williams describes, underneath the show’s shiny, glittery surface, it suggests that progress moves forward when communities respect their own members and when a person's family of choice loves them even in the hardest times:
“After all, if every marginalized community waited until everything was fixed and safe and all good for them to celebrate, we'd have no parties. And even if not everybody wants to come, the magic still happens when everybody is welcome.”
Top photo by Leonhard Schönstein