From the UN: Celebrating Human Rights Day, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima released a statement calling attention to the inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19. She noted that during the pandemic vulnerable people, including sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, trans people, and people who use drugs, were often target by officials, exposed to violence, and omitted from social protection programs. Calling criminal law a “heavy and blunt instrument”, she urged for reform so that laws work for everyone and protect everyone.
Along with her statement, UNAIDS launched the “Solidarity Fund” to support social entrepreneurs and micro-business owned by people facing special hardships during COVID including people living with HIV, women, sex workers, trans people, people who use drugs, and gay men and other men who have sex with men. The fund will be piloted in Brazil, Ghana, India, Madagascar, and Uganda.
In the Latin American and Caribbean region, UNAIDS partnered with Women Sex Workers of Latin America and the Caribbean (RedTraSex) to announce the expansion of the Global Partnership For Action to Eliminate all Forms of HIV related Stigma and Discrimination across the region.
The UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, joined over 50 other experts to declare that there is a direct link between the COVID pandemic, socio-economic vulnerability, and the risk of forced labour and sexual exploitation. The experts called on governments to address inequalities that push people on the edges of society into slavery and exploitation. They urged leaders to improve access to essential health care and reproductive services, mental health counselling, legal aid, job training, and income generating support without discrimination.
The UNDP, Pan-Africa ILGA, CIVICUS, and Positive Vibes held the first in a series of video chats on LGBTI inclusion and the sustainable development goals in Africa—"What’s in it for LGBTI communities?” Check it out!
The UN held the 13th session for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during which participants discussed the right to employment, the needs of older persons, and the promotion of inclusive environments. A special side event was held on the experiences of LGBTI persons with disabilities, examining how discrimination is compounded by a person’s sexuality, gender, ethnicity, age, economic status, and other factors. Co-hosted by the Missions of Finland and Costa Rica, UN Women, and several activist groups, the conversation looked at the challenge of accessibility in queer spaces and the impact of homophobia and transphobia within disability movements. Watch the discussion now!
The UN Free & Equal project joined with Cyndi Lauper and her organization True Colors United to launch the first-ever global campaign to address homeless among LGBTIQ+ youth. Check out their video and learn more about how you can support homeless and housing insecure kids!
HIV, Health, and Wellness: With the passing of another World AIDS Day, many leaders took the opportunity to reflect on how COVID has derailed the response to HIV and has disproportionately impacted marginalized people by disrupting access to healthcare, employment, and other social safety nets. Leaders also praised the ingenuity of frontline health workers who have developed innovative ways to reach communities with access to testing, treatment, and prevention services.
UNAIDS released a new report “Prevailing against pandemics by putting people at the centre” in which it called on countries to adopt bold but achievable HIV targets to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Executive Director Winnie Byanyima reflected:
“The collective failure to invest sufficiently in comprehensive, rights-based, people-centred HIV responses has come at a terrible price. Implementing just the most politically palatable programmes will not turn the tide against COVID-19 or end AIDS. To get the global response back on track will require putting people first and tackling the inequalities on which epidemics thrive.”
The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) announced that the 2021 International Conference on AIDS & STIs in Africa (ICASA) will no longer be held in Kampala, Uganda next December because SAA could not guarantee "peace, security, and a conducive environment for all". Activists recently petitioned the SAA to reconsider Uganda as a host following two days of riots in the country that left at least 49 people dead.
A new Dutch study published in JAIDS found that people living with HIV are at a heightened risk for developing frailty compared to their peers. An article in Geriatrics evaluating a UK-based clinic found that—by working together—geriatric and HIV specialists were able to improve quality of life on a number of measures. And a US-based study in AIDS Care looked at how loneliness impacts morbidity and mortality in older persons living with HIV. The authors found that depression and HIV-related stigma was strongly correlated with a person’s level of loneliness.
Meanwhile, a group out of the University of Toronto is examining both HIV-negative and HIV-positive middle-aged and older gay men and other men who have sex with men to examine the resources, strengths, and other protective factors that have allowed them to remain resilient in the face of decades of exposure to the HIV epidemic.
A new article in American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine looked at the relationship some older LGBTQ people have with spirituality and how that relationship could inform more inclusive hospice and palliative care.
Finally, an article in the Journal of Aging Studies reviewed several recent publications on older LGBT+ persons and identified six key problems with the research that led to inaccurate reporting with severe implications to policy, practice, and future research. Most critically, the authors found that articles routinely made conclusions for the entire “LGBT+ community” even when study participants were overwhelmingly of one sub-group. They offered some solutions to address these problems to create robust, reliable data that can be useful to policy-makers and providers of older LGBT+ persons.
From Switzerland, the support groups VoGay, Les Klamydia's, and Lilith presented the results of a survey on the health of lesbians and other women who have sex with women (including trans, intersex, and non-binary people who identify as women). They announced that there were several “alarming findings” including that over half had experienced suicidal thoughts, over two-thirds had experienced sexual violence, and nearly a third do not have a gynecologist or other provider for their sexual health.
The Eurocentralasian Lesbian+ Community (EL*C) has launched a survey to determine how lesbians and lesbian groups across Europe and Central Asia have been impacted by COVID. The survey is available in English, Italian, Russian, Turkish, French, Spanish, German, and Serbian. Check it out and spread the word!
Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC) released results from a survey of Black LGBTQ people from Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the UK, the US, Argentina, Barbados, Ghana, Kenya, and Liberia. GBGMC found that COVID has created a "looming exacerbation of discrimination" including devastating economic impact, reduced access to healthcare, and an increase in violence and "government-sanctioned brutality".
More HIV, Health, and Wellness
From the World of Politics: On Human Rights Day, Bhutan’s parliament voted to remove sections of the penal code used to criminalize same-sex sexual activity. The King of Bhutan will need to approve the change for it to take effect.
Argentina’s House of Deputies passed a draft law to legalize abortion of pregnancies up to 14 weeks. The law now moves to the Senate for approval. Outside of the congress building thousands of supporters celebrated—many of whom had slept in the streets overnight awaiting the news. Deputy Silvia Lospennato remarked:
“Today we are going to give back to women the right to decide about their own bodies. No one else will decide for us.”
In the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality passed the SOGIE Equality Bill which prohibits discrimination against people based on their real or perceived gender and sexual orientation. It will now advance to the plenary. The bill was first introduced to the country’s congress twenty years ago but has been stalled every year it has received consideration. During the recent Committee hearing on the bill, many were alarmed by the “glaringly dangerous” misconceptions and comments made by those who oppose it. Although it has gained political and celebrity endorsements, Senate President Vicente Sotto has vowed to block it.
In the US, the Department of Labor Office of Federal Contracts issued a new rule that enables for-profit groups that contract with the federal government to claim religious exemptions from nondiscrimination policies. Previously, only faith-based nonprofit organizations were exempt. Lambda Legal’s Director of Law and Policy, Jennifer Pizer, noted the rule creates “essentially limitless exemptions” and that it is "hard to overstate the harm" that is being done to LGBTQ people, women, religious minorities, and others.
The Guardian reported that the UK has launched a review of the Human Rights Act to examine how the legislation, which incorporates rights established under the European Convention on Human Rights, is interpreted in the courts. Stonewall explained that the Act “underpins” LGBT equality in the country and Amnesty International warned that undermining the Act would be a “giant leap backwards” and “the single biggest reduction in rights in the history of the UK”:
“It took ordinary people a very long time to win these rights and we mustn’t let politicians take them away with the stroke of a pen.”
India’s Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment announced a new website to facilitate people obtaining their Transgender Certificate and Identity Cards with their appropriate gender identity. The ministry will also establish shelters for trans people in every state that will provide lodging and vocational training.
A group of 28 Members of the European Parliament sent an open letter to the government of Pakistan calling on them to investigate recent attacks on transgender rights activists in the country. Internationally recognized activist Nayyab Ali suffered serious injuries when she was assaulted and robbed at her home in November. Noting that the attack “clearly was in reprisal for her human rights work”, the MEPs said they were “deeply disturbed” that authorities have failed to hold perpetrators to account for this and other “gruesome” attacks on trans people.
On behalf of the Netherlands government, the Minister for Legal Protection, Sander Dekker, gave a formal apology for legislation that required people to undergo irreversible sterilization procedures in order to change their recognized gender identity. Additionally, any person who underwent these procedures is eligible to claim €5,000 EUR compensation. The law was in place between 1985 and 2014.
Germany’s Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer issued an official apology for “systematic discrimination” including dishonorable discharges and forced medical exams against gays and lesbians serving in the military between 1955 and 2000. The government has approved legislation that will clear military records of targeted veterans and will provide a symbolic sum of €3,000 EUR to those who were dismissed, passed over for promotion, or convicted in military court for consensual gay sex. Germany previously apologized to and compensated gay and bisexual men targeted by Nazi-era laws criminalizing homosexuality. Meanwhile—for over a year—trans activists have been pushing for an apology and compensation for the German law (struck down by the courts in 2011) that required sterilization for gender recognition.
In Australia, the state of Tasmania is considering recommendations that it offer automatic compensation to people whose records have been cleared under 2017’s Expungement of Historical Offences Act. These offences include crimes related to consensual gay sex and crossdressing. Compensation was one of several recommendations made by a recent independent review of the Act. The review also concluded that the Act should be expanded to include other charges and convictions related to alleged sexual orientation and gender identity.
A new book, “The Case for Gay Reparations”, is available for pre-order by Professor Omar G. Encarnacion. The book examines two decades of “gay reparations”—policies intended to make amends for a history of discrimination, stigmatization, and violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Check out his New York Times op-ed on the subject.
After a recent scandal caused Hungary’s Member of the European Parliament József Szájer to resign, many activists and other MEPs are speaking out against what they say is "hypocrisy" in Hungary’s policies towards the LGBT+ community. Reuters reported that Hungary's Parliament has adopted a new amendment to the constitution which redefines "family"—effectively banning adoptions by same-sex couples. The amendment also requires children are raised according to Hungary's “constitutional identity and Christian culture”. Meanwhile, at least four city governments recently banned children’s books and other “LGBT Propaganda” leading István Boldog, a Member of Hungary’s Parliament, to promise he will introduce a constitutional amendment to ban so-called propaganda nationwide.
Turkey’s Ministry of Commerce announced that all products including those sold on e-commerce sites with the phrase LGBT and rainbow themes must be marked with an +18 age warning.
In Russia, a Deputy Chairman to the State Duma, Pyotr Tolstoy, announced that he had asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to “deal with” the support group “Deti-404” (“Children not found”) and its creator Elena Klimova. Klimova has been found guilty of violating the country’s law banning “gay propaganda” twice and her website is blocked in the country. However, according to Tolstoy, many parents have complained that their children are still able to access the group which provides support for LGBT youth through Facebook and the Russian social media site VKontakte. Meanwhile, the District Court of Yekaterinburg fined a 20-year-old 50,000 rubles for violating the ban with an LGBT friendly page on VKontakte. Local LGBT support group “Coming Out” is currently conducting a survey of young adults concerning how the “gay propaganda” law has impacted them. The findings will be part of a new report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Russian activists recently celebrated a win when the Commission on Legislative Activity rejected a package of draft amendments to the Family Code that included amendments to prohibit trans people from marrying, adopting children, or changing gender.
More from the World of Politics
The Politics of Union: Switzerland's National Council is expected to vote on Friday to legalize marriage equality and to allow lesbian couples access to fertility treatments. The bill was first introduced in 2013 and has gone through multiple rounds of debate.
Estonia's Parliament (the Riigikogu) is debating whether to hold a national referendum on marriage equality with the question: "Shall marriage remain a union between a man and a woman in Estonia?" A second hearing on the referendum will be held in January. Kaja Kallas, leader of the opposition party, called the referendum pointless, ridiculous, and cruel:
"Why do we need to divide our families? What is it good for? Who does it benefit? What is made better if we tell some people that their family is not right? Let us please cancel this referendum."
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a report declaring that sections of Jamaica’s Offences Against the Person Act (which criminalizes same-sex sexual activity and “acts of gross indecency”) violate individual rights protected under the American Convention on Human Rights. During testimony to the IACHR, Sarah Bosha, Legal Advisor at AIDS-Free World, said that the law “legitimizes and permits homophobic attitudes by health care workers” and “drives LGBT people underground and away from essential HIV testing and treatment services”.
In Singapore, activist and doctor Tan Seng Kee has submitted a new appeal against Section 377A of the Penal Code—the law criminalizing consensual same sex activity. Dr Tan argues that the Attorney General’s stated position that the law goes unenforced means it is obsolete and must be abolished. Last year the Supreme Court dismissed three separate challenges against 377A.
In the UK, the High Court issued a ruling to prevent people under 16-years-old from being prescribed puberty blockers without the direct approval of a court. “Puberty blockers” are medication that temporarily pause the development of puberty and secondary sex characteristics by blocking hormone growth. The Mayo Clinic explains that these drugs can be prescribed to trans young people to temporarily suppress puberty, reduce gender dysphoria, and eliminate the need for future surgeries.
Although the ruling is being appealed, many UK youth treated by the National Health System have been told they will no longer be able to obtain medication through the NHS. Teen Vogue spoke to 18-year-old Alex Vellins about how this ruling will impact him. Support group Stonewall said the ruling sets a “dangerous precedent not just for the rights of trans young people, but for all young people”. And the charity Mermaids called it “potentially catastrophic”:
“It cannot be exaggerated the impact that this might have, not only on the population of trans young people that require hormone blockers, but it may potentially open the floodgates towards other questions around bodily autonomy and who has the right to govern their own body.”
In Canada, the British Columbia Supreme Court placed a temporary injunction preventing a 17-year old’s gender-affirming mastectomy. The child’s mother told the court the procedure was “unnecessary” and blamed a Ministry of Education program for pushing her child to a gender-change clinic. She is also seeking a court order to end her child’s use of puberty blockers. Trans rights activist Morgane Oger explained to Reuters that Canada’s “Infants Act” allows youth under 19 years of age to consent to medical treatment without parental involvement as long as the health care provider is sure that the treatment is in the child’s best interest, and that the child understands the details of the treatment, including risks and benefits.
In the US, a federal court ruled that a ban on providing youth “conversion therapy” violates therapists’ free speech rights. In the US, 20 states and some municipalities have banned so-called conversion therapy. The American Psychological Association President Sandra L. Shullman called the ruling “wrong-headed” and noted it “may well result in harm to patients, especially minors who are often subjected to this type of therapy against their will”.
Also in the US, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case seeking to allow allow the state of Indiana to refuse to recognize same-sex parents on their child’s birth certificate. Lower courts ruled in favour of 8 lesbian couples who, having conceived via sperm donors, were seeking to have both mothers listed on their children’s birth certificates. In similar circumstances, the state recognizes husbands as fathers on a child’s birth certificate even if the child was conceived via artificial insemination.
In Turkey, a criminal court of Ankara postponed the final hearing against 18 students and a teacher who were arrested in 2019 during a peaceful Pride march. The Ünikuir Association criticized the delay and accused the court of trying to “undermine international solidarity”. Many human rights groups had spoken out in support of the Pride participants and had called for an independent and impartial investigation into the excessive force police used against those arrested.
Regarding Religion: Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined nearly 400 senior faith leaders from 35 countries representing 10 religions to sign a historic declaration calling for the end of criminalization of LGBT+ people and a global ban on so-called conversion therapies, as reported by the Guardian and others. The declaration kicks off the launch of “the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives” which will provide a “strong and authoritative voice” from the faith community who wish to affirm and celebrate the dignity of all, independent of their sexuality, gender expression and gender identity.
Religious leaders and activists from around the world met virtually for “Intimate Conviction 2: Continuing the Decriminalization Dialogue”, a conference to discuss the role the church has played in maintaining laws that target same-sex intimacy. The three day event focused primarily on the experiences of those in the Global South and included topics such as the “hypocrisy” of anti-gay Christianity, the relationship between laws that criminalize LGBT people and laws that seek to control women, LGBTQ spirituality and activism, and more. Videos from the conference are available here.
From the US, Catholic theologians Michael Lawler and Todd Salzman published an essay calling on the Church to “go in search” of transgender and intersex people, to affirm and respect them, and to “cease bullying them and discriminating against them”. The essay breaks down recent Church documents including the Vatican’s “Male and Female He Created Them” that, they say, misunderstand the experiences of trans and intersex people. Urging for more acceptance, they reflect:
“Transgender and intersex persons, no less than every other person, are created in the mysterious image and likeness of the mysterious God. If created by God equal to every other human creature, we ask, why are they a threat to and lost in the Catholic Church?”
Lawmakers in Pakistan have put forward a resolution demanding that trans people are allowed to perform the Hajj and Umrah—two Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. As activist Zanaya Chaudhry explained, the Pakistan government marks trans person’s passports with an “x” in the gender column. However, the Saudi government does not recognize this marker. She noted:
“It is high time that a solution to this issue is discussed, so that the country’s Muslim transgender population to has the same access to the house of God as any other person of the faith.”
The Global Interfaith Network (GIN-SSOGIE) launched the “Fearless Allies toolkit”–a collection of strategies to foster dialogue between religious leaders and LGBT+ people developed from a series of interviews with Catholic, Hindu, Methodist, Traditional African, and Islamic leaders.
Fear and Loathing: Human Rights Watch released a new report “They’re Chasing Us Away from Sport” documenting the human rights violations athletes are subjected to by sport governing bodies that regulate participation to women’s sports through “sex testing”. The report exposes 80 years of sex testing that have policed women, especially women of colour, around the world and lead to ridicule, harassment, economic ruin, and invasive and non consensual genital exams.
Australia’s Monash University released a pair of studies that examine the discrimination faced by young athletes. One study of young lesbian, gay, and bisexual athletes in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK found that 82% of male and 77% of female athletes hide their sexuality from teammates. Those who had come out were significantly more likely to be targeted by bullying or slurs. The other study examined how teen males in rugby and ice hockey use homophobic language. Nearly 70% reported that their teammates use gay slurs and over 53% self-reported using slurs. The study noted that athletes with positive and negative attitudes towards gay people were equally likely to use slurs. Former American football player David Kopay, one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay, reflected on the disappointment many feel from these results:
“I’ve sacrificed so much to try and change this problem. I know most people don’t mean anything when they use these horrible words, but… you have no idea what people are thinking.”
From Chile, the Movement of Integration and Homosexual Liberation (Movilh) warned of a new “wave” of violence against trans women and gay men. Movilh further denounced officials for failing to support victims.
From the US, actress and activist Laverne Cox revealed she and a friend were physically attacked by a man yelling transphobic slurs. Reflecting that “this isn’t shocking to me” because she has been harassed and bullied her whole life, she noted that being a celebrity hasn’t protected her from the violence targeted against trans people. However, she shared her story because:
“I think it’s important to remind myself and remind you that when these things happen, it’s not your fault. It’s not your fault that there are people not cool with you existing in the world.”
Winds of Change: ILGA-World released the 2020 update to its State-Sponsored Homophobia report that surveys the legislation that impacts people around the world due to their sexual orientation. It finds that while progress has been made in many places, during the COVID pandemic, many governments “stepped up their efforts to oppress” LGBTQ communities. Julia Ehrt, ILGA-World Director of Programs, reflected:
“Amidst such concerning situations, explicit legal protections against violence and discrimination have become - more than ever—paramount to safeguard our human rights and dignity, to prevent harm, and to heal from the violations we suffer.”
Outright International announced they have already distributed nearly $1 million in small grants to LGBTIQ people through their COVID relief fund. Check out their report on some of the recipients of the fund!
In Malaysia, a group of NGOs launched a campaign to raise money for homeless LGBTQ people. With a goal of 30,000 MYR ($7400 USD), the group plans to build a shelter in the Klang Valley and provide psychosocial support to residents.
Rainbow Railroad, a non-profit that helps LGBTQI people around the world escape dangerous environments, launched “60 in 60”— a campaign to raise $600,000 CA ($470,000 USD) to move 60 people to safety before the end of the year. The group, which receives thousands of requests for help every year, says each rescue costs around $10,000 CA to help a person resettle in a new country. Check out this video from Executive Director Kimahli Powell!
The Chennai International Queer Film Festival premiered “Sab Rab De Bande”—the first Indian documentary about being queer and Sikh. Director Sukhdeep Singh spent four years making the film which features queer Sikhs from across India.
Check out the new docu-series “Them” that seeks to educate cisgender people about the lives of trans and non-binary people. The series was filmed behind the scenes of Irish-Italian pop singer Flavia’s new music video featuring a cast of trans, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary people. Them is free to stream on the LGBTQ network Revry!
UK charity Kaleidoscope Trust hosted a panel and screening of the new film “KINGS” from Melanie Grant about the 2019 international King Conference and Show—an event that celebrates trans masculinity and masculine presenting LBQ women in the Caribbean and beyond. Moderated by award-winning director Campbell X, the discussion brought together people from Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Eswatini, Venezuela, UK and more. Watch the discussion and check out the film!
Fresh off of the Toronto Film Festival, the Nigerian short film Ìfé, directed by Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim and produced by Pamela Adie and The Equality Hub, has been released on the EHTv Network. Check it out! As reviewer Otosirieze Obi-Young describes:
"Ìfé is both a lesbian experience and, regardless of sex and gender, a simple story of modern dating. It is not interested in “making a point,” because it recognizes that the lives of LGBTQ people are not lived to make points for heterosexual conviction."
France announced its official submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars will be Two of Us—the story of a decades-long secret romance. Reviewer Mark Keizer called it an "an entirely unique and uniquely vital lesbian love story". Check out the trailer!
The new documentary Queer Japan by Graham Kolbeins celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in the country. With over 100 interviews across five years and various Japanese locations, Kolbeins “peels back the orderly Japanese patina to reveal a vibrant social ecosystem fighting for equality”. The film is available to stream now—Watch the trailer!
Top image by Jeet Dhanoa