From the UN: Forty-two UN experts, including Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, Dubravka Šimonović, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and many others from across the Human Rights Council, issued a joint statement on COVID-19, calling it “a wake-up call for the revitalization of universal human rights principles”. They stressed that the fundamental human rights of every individual must be respected even while battling the pandemic: “Everyone, without exception, has the right to life-saving interventions”. And, while governments need to support public health systems:
“Addressing this crisis is more than that. States must take additional social protection measures so that their support reaches those who are at most risk of being disproportionately affected by the crisis.”
Madrigal-Borloz also released an open letter specifically to the LGBT community in which he recognized that many sexual and gender minorities face challenges that put them at even greater risk during this unprecedented time—especially, having insecure housing and shelter, facing discrimination in healthcare, being reliant on informal work, and much more. He offered words of encouragement:
“I, for one, believe that this moment demands the type of conviction and discipline that I know the LGBT movement(s) can deploy, because I have seen them deployed time and time again. I also believe that our strength and tenacity, and our capacity for kindness and compassion will be among our unique contributions to the manner in which this great adversity will be met.”
UNAIDS continued to recognize the importance of putting communities at the center when tackling HIV and the fight for health for all. Executive Director Winnie Byanyima visited peer-led organizations in Norway who are helping to support people living with and affected by HIV. She heard from the organizations on issues around sex work, chemsex, ageing, youth, LGBTI people’s needs, and migration.
Byanyima also spoke with The Body Pro about how countries must consider the realities vulnerable groups face when designing a response to COVID-19. She urged governments to take advantage of local community organizations:
“If you empower communities, I can tell you, they will find innovative, creative ways of prevention. They know everybody, they know who is vulnerable and who is not, and they will find creative ways for prevention even in those settings where social distancing is impossible.”
UNAIDS published two new guidances to help communities handle COVID-19. "Rights in the time of COVID-19 — Lessons from HIV for an effective, community-led response" provides clear steps to approach this highly dynamic situation and build a culture of solidarity, trust, and kindness.
While emphasizing that we don’t yet know everything about how HIV and COVID-19 interact, “What people living with HIV need to know about HIV and COVID-19” provides practical information. It recommends that people living with HIV carefully follow prevention measures and have on hand a multi-month supply of their medications. It encourages key populations, including people who use drugs, sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, and prisoners, to ensure that they have the materials needed to protect their health and prevent HIV during this time when supply chains are disrupted and quarantine measures are in place—such as sterile needles, condoms, PrEP, contraception, and gender-affirming hormone therapy.
UN Women released a guidance for COVID-19 that examines the unique ways that the pandemic will impact women and girls. It provides suggestions to ensure specific resources are targeted to meet their needs.
HIV, Health, and Wellness: Thailand’s National AIDS Commission announced a new policy allowing people living with HIV to obtain their antiretroviral therapy (ARV) in three to six month doses to prevent them from running out of medication during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the Philippines, guided by Department of Health recommendations, HIV treatment hubs and community groups have stepped up to ensure that people living with HIV can continue to receive medication and other services during the government’s lockdown. Among the changes being made are new ARV distribution points, delivery and pickup services, and apps to quickly and easily find hygiene clinics and treatment hubs. Some groups warn that the changes are only a temporary solution and that if the lockdown is extended they will face shortages in medication, food, and other basic necessities.
From China, Equal Eyes partner GaySpot shared the experience of Shen Ming as COVID-19 disrupted the city of Wuhan. Shen Ming was restricted from travelling ahead of the Chinese New Year after his boyfriend’s family was admitted to the hospital for COVID treatment. When he remained healthy, Shen Ming became a volunteer driver helping people living with HIV to obtain their medicines throughout the lockdown.
As governments enforce social distancing and local quarantines, many are wondering what intimacy looks like in the age of the novel coronavirus. Writing for the Terrence Higgins Trust, Dr Michael Brady broke down what we know about sexual transmission of COVID-19. (Bottom line, there’s no current evidence, but exchanging saliva will exchange the virus.) The NYC Department of Health offered specific guidelines on who it is safe to have sex with and what sexual acts are particularly risky. Matthew Hodson, of UK-based HIV/AIDS awareness group NAM, advised that most people not having sex can pause their PrEP regimen. However, those taking gender-affirming therapies should continue their daily PrEP routine. See details at PinkNews.
Meanwhile, the world's largest producer of condoms, Malaysian company Karex Bhd, announced that factory closures during the pandemic have already created a shortfall of 100 million condoms. Karex supplies condoms for the UK's national health system, the UN population fund, and they are marketed internationally by Durex and others.
Organizers of the 23rd annual International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) announced that the July event will be held virtually in light of the pandemic. Now renamed AIDS 2020: Virtual, the event is expected to include all the primary features of the traditional conference. Civil society partners voiced their support for the decision, noting that the change allows those working on the front-lines to focus their efforts on the response to COVID-19. The change also opens opportunities for those who would have been unable to travel to participate.
Organizers of HIV2020, scheduled to be held in Mexico concurrently with AIDS 2020, announced the event has been cancelled while they explore alternatives.
In non-COVID-19 news, Trans Pulse Canada released data from the first ever national all-ages survey on health and well-being among trans and non-binary people in Canada. Among the findings, the report shows that nearly half of trans and non-binary people live below the poverty line, 56% report fair or poor mental health, and 45% had unmet health needs.
A new study published in The Lancet Public Health found that having access to identity documents that reflect a person’s accurate gender identity improved mental health and reduced suicidal thoughts. The study evaluated responses from 22,286 adults in the US who identify as transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, and similar terms. The study found that having all IDs match your identity was associated with a 32% reduction in serious psychological distress and 22–25% reduction in suicidal ideation and suicide planning compared with having no matching IDs.
At the virtual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2020) researchers presented information on the importance of tailoring HIV interventions to the specific needs of trans individuals. Using research from the US, Kenya, and Zimbabwe the session emphasized the different risk factors different groups face.
Another study presented at CROI 2020 suggests that taking PrEP to prevent HIV transmission also protects against hepatitis B infection. The study, which followed 591 gay and bisexual men in Japan, found that PrEP was associated with a significant reduction in hepatitis B infection rates. This reduction of risk was higher than that associated with the hepatitis B vaccination.
The UK announced it will make PrEP available free to any at-risk individual through their local health provider. Previously, the National Health Service offered PrEP only through participation in the Impact trial and demand for the drug outnumbered available trial participant spots. Those left out had to purchase it privately.
More HIV, Health, and Wellness
From the World of Politics: In Hungary, a day after being granted emergency powers to handle COVID-19, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán submitted a new bill to amend the Civil Registry Act. If passed, the Registry will record "gender at birth" and will prevent people from changing their gender or name—as reported by GSN and others. Local support organization Transvanilla Transgender Association denounced the bill for violating trans people's rights. The response has been swift from The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, ILGA-Europe, and others including the European Parliament's Intergroup of LGBTI Rights. Marc Angel MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup said:
"This move does not only intentionally silence the trans community – it seeks to erase it and deny its existence"
In the US, as the country is focusing on the response to COVID-19, the Idaho state government has passed two bills to restrict trans people’s rights. HB 509 will block a person from legally changing their gender and HB 500 prohibits trans girls and women from participating in school sports as women and girls. The bill mandates that schools review DNA analysis, monitor hormone levels, and inspect youths’ “internal and external reproductive anatomy” to determine who is allowed to play as girls. The New York Times reported that the bills resemble dozens under consideration across the country.
Also in the US, the government passed a $2 trillion stimulus package to lessen the impacts of the pandemic. The bill includes $90 million for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and $65 million for Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS. The primary goal of the funding is to ensure that people living with HIV are able to continue accessing their HIV medication throughout the crisis.
In India, the state of Kerala announced it will distribute provision kits to transgender people registered with the government to help them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The kits include food and cooking oil and are expected to last one week. The government will review whether to extend the program.
In the UK, Scotland concluded the second public consultation period on reforms to the Gender Recognition Bill (Scotland). The bill—which The National reported is now “on hold” indefinitely due to the pandemic—is intended to make it easier for a person to gain legal recognition of their gender identity. Pink News reported that 60% of responses were in favor of the reforms. Scotland’s Catholic Bishops released a statement opposing the bill which they say will hurt vulnerable people. Despite arguments from some people that trans rights put women in danger, seven women’s groups issued an open letter supporting the bill:
“We do not regard trans equality and women’s equality to contradict or be in competition with each other.”
In Ghana, a government representative announced that it will not allow Pan-Africa ILGA to host the 2020 5th Regional Conference in the country. Pan-Africa ILGA announced in January that the biennial conference would be held with the theme “Sankofa: Looking back to our roots - Reclaiming our right” in partnership with the Ghanese civil society group “Popular Education and Human Rights”. Some local leaders opposed the conference, asking the government to refuse to issue visas to participants and an online petition against the event drew 19,000 signatures. Pan-Africa ILGA declined to comment; however, organizers announced the conference would be delayed due to the pandemic.
The Global Equality Caucus—the international network of parliamentarians and elected representatives aiming to tackle discrimination against LGBT+ people—held a series of round tables with Canadian parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and other dignitaries to discuss the roll of bipartisan leadership when addressing the challenges LGBT+ people face globally.
The Council of Europe released a statement celebrating 10 years since the Council adopted the first international standard to advance human rights and equality for LGBTI persons. Director General for Democracy, Snežana Samardžić-Marković, reflected that great progress has been made; however, "untold challenges" are ahead:
"Human rights do not become irrelevant or a luxury when crises happen - it's then that we need to step up our work."
More from the World of Politics
The Politics of Union: The European country of Andorra proposed a new bill to get rid of the term “civil union” and to remove any legal difference between same-sex and opposite-sex marriage. The Andorra government explained that the term “casament” (Catalan for wedding) will be used for all civil marriages and “matrimoni” will be used for religious canonical marriages. The bill would also recognize children born via surrogacy outside of the country (surrogacy is banned within Andorra). Democratic counselor, Ester Molné noted that:
“The family concept is evolutionary and therefore the rules must be updated and adapted to the changes in society”.
From Bermuda, attorneys for OutBermuda confirmed that the UK Supreme Court will hear the Bermudan government's arguments against marriage equality in December 2020. Bermuda’s path to marriage equality has been waged across the courts for three years. Although Bermuda’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in 2017, the government quickly passed the Domestic Partnerships Act which revoked same-sex marriage and replaced it with “domestic partnerships”. The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal struck down the Act and allowed marriages to go forward. The government is seeking its final appeal to stop marriages with the UK Court acting as the Privy Council—the final court for the British Overseas Territories and Commonwealth countries.
In South Korea, Kim Kyu-jin and her wife are suing 100 people who made intensely malicious, threatening, and sexual comments against the pair when local news media interviewed them about their American wedding. These represent a fraction of the most malicious comments from over 10,000 mostly negative responses to the article. Although South Korea does not recognize same-sex marriage, several couples have celebrated symbolic marriage ceremonies. Kyu-jin reflected that although there has been public backlash and they continue to face obstacles, many in the business of marriage have been supportive:
“I’ve learned that [South] Korea is very capitalist — everything is consumer first. I think the private sector is beginning to look at gay people as customers.”
In Mexico, the Mexico City Government held a mass wedding to celebrate 10 years of legal recognition of same-sex couples in the region. Nineteen of Mexico’s 32 states allow same-sex marriage—the other 13 require that couples appeal to the court for their marriage to be recognized.
More from the Politics of Union
Let the Courts Decide: Singapore’s High Court dismissed three challenges to Section 377A of the Penal Code that criminalizes same-sex sexual activity. The court rejected arguments that the law is unconstitutional stating that Section 377A “serves the purpose of safeguarding public morality by showing societal moral disapproval of male homosexual acts”. The challengers, Johnson Ong Ming aka DJ Big Kid, Doctor Tan Seng Kee, and Executive Director of support group Oogachaga, Bryan Choong, have all said they will take their cases to the Court of Appeal. Dr Tan noted that the law discriminates against people who “contribute in no small measure to the country's economy, especially in the creative industries, and effectively renders them second-class citizens”.
In Turkey, the 2nd Administrative Court of Ankara ruled that a ban on LGBTI+ activities put in place by the governor was unlawful and canceled the ban. In 2017, Ankara’s governor put in place an indefinite ban on LGBTI events to “protect” the public security during an “emergency period”. The court eventually overturned this ban, however another was put in place as a “post-emergency state”. The government could not provide requested documents to defend the ban and the court issued a new decision that both bans were unlawful.
From Tunisia, LGBTQ rights group Shams spoke with journalist Amel al-Hilali about a new ruling that will protect the organization’s right to continue. The group’s legal troubles began in December of 2015 when a complaint was filed against them because they advocate for decriminalization of same-sex sexual activity. The Court of Cassation ruling in February of this year ends five years of appeals to prevent Shams from doing their work.
Russian activist Yulja Tsvetkova spoke to Michele Benini about being under house arrest and facing up to six years in prison if convicted of pornography charges and violating the anti-gay propaganda law. Tsvetkova, who has previously been questioned by authorities for her work, was arrested this time for her social media posts about LGBT issues, feminism, and menstruation. She explained why it was important to her to speak out against discrimination. Although she was recently allowed to leave her house, a trial date for the charges has not been set.
In the US, a group of organizations are suing the Department of Health and Human Services for refusing to enforce protections that prevent federal grantees from denying services to LGBTQ people. In November of 2019 the HHS issued a notice of nonenforcement. Puneet Cheema, of Lambda Legal, explained how this nonenforcement could impact vulnerable people especially during the response to the pandemic.
Regarding Religion: In Austria, a group of Catholics, including priests and laypeople, have drawn up a “charter of fundamental rights in the Church”. The charter addresses 15 rights including the “right to be treated as true equals regardless of gender, nationality, race, language, origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, wealth, political or theological beliefs”. The charter has been proposed as national theologians are calling for a synodal process—a period of consultation and reform.
The German Catholic Church has just begun its two year “synodal way” at which German bishops committed to re-assessing the Church’s teaching on human sexuality.
Fear and Loathing: In Panama and Peru, the governments have implemented gender-based quarantine measures that allow women to leave the house on some days and men on the other. Peru's President Martin Vizcarra assured that this would not impact LGBTQ people and that this is "not at all a pretext for any homophobic measure". Meanwhile, in Panama, police arrested trans woman Bárbara Delgado when she attempted to reach the medical center near here home where she volunteers as a health reach outworker. Because she was out on a women's day and her ID has a "male" gender marker, she was held for three hours and fined $50.
From Uganda, the Guardian reported that police arrested 16 men and 4 trans women at a local shelter for LGBT people. They are charged with failing to observe social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19. Writing for 76 Crimes, Kikonyogo Kivumbi reported that the men were beaten and forced to take a “walk of shame” through the village. The people were accused of homosexuality and of bringing the “coronavirus curse”.
From France, Tetu reported that a gay couple living in Marseille was left a threatening note telling them to leave the neighborhood because “we know that you homosexuals are the first to be contaminated by COVID-19”. One of the men, David, reflected that, as a caregiver he can understand that it is hard to be locked up at home:
“I think there are some who "crack" a little, the stupidity comes out...I had never faced homophobia in my life...I wonder what it will be next time. Are they going to smash my car? Are they going to wait for me downstairs?”
With “shelter-in-place”, lockdowns, and quarantines to slow the spread of COVID-19 being enacted around the world, many are worried about the dangers to sexual and gender minorities. Writing for Reuters, Annie Banerji spoke to hijras and trans women in India, many of whom survive through begging and performance art, who have seen all opportunities for revenue stop. Writing for them, Isiah Magsino spoke to queer hourly wage workers in the US who have no health insurance and no paid sick leave about the choices they are forced to make in the pandemic.
OutRight launched the COVID-19 Global LGBTIQ Emergency Fund, noting:
“The sober truth is that this global emergency already presents tremendous challenges to LGBTIQ people, especially in places with deep poverty and weak health systems or government infrastructure. When a crisis hits “everyone” – the most marginalized become even more vulnerable.”
The International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe called for national governments to move quickly to supply financial support, eviction protection, and access to healthcare for all sex workers regardless of immigration status. Sex worker advocacy groups in Canada have joined together to launch the Emergency Support Fund for Sex Workers to raise financial support for workers during the crisis. Indian organizations Jimme Foundation, Citizens for Justice and Peace, and Kranti launched a fundraiser for sex workers. Over 1,500 Bangladeshi women working at one of the world’s largest brothels, the Daulatdia, are appealing for immediate government support after the brothel was temporarily closed.
Journalist Ban Barkawi spoke to activists and social support providers in Israel, Lebanon, and Tunisia where LGBT+ people often face hostile family environments. Barkawi reported that shutting down counselling centers and enforcing curfews eliminates many people’s access to private spaces and increases bullying, isolation, and fear. From Canada, writer Niko Stratis explored what it means to isolate for trans and non-binary people especially when they are unable to access their gender affirming drug therapies.
In the UK, the group “akt” is providing emergency services for LGBT youth who feel unsafe at home because their families or roommates reject their sexuality or gender identity. In Ireland, the Facebook group LGBTI+ Older and Bolder is trying to help overcome loneliness among the community. In the US, the charity group SAGE is calling 2,000 vulnerable older LGBT people a day and delivering 200-250 daily meals throughout New York City.
From Ghana, Carl Collison spoke to queer folk about the Yolo Lounge collective—a rare community group that gathers for monthly social events despite criminalizing laws and a deeply religious and conservative environment. The group helps people feel less isolated and is essential to “push back against intolerance”. As one 23-year-old described:
“The one thing we want to achieve with these events is to make queer people here in Ghana see they are not alone. That they have a bigger family out there...And when I see the community like this, I see so much life in them.”
Winds of Change: On International Transgender Day of Visibility (31 March) PinkNews celebrated with a list of positive and up-lifting moments impacting trans and non-binary people around the world—including highlights from Hungary, Brazil, Pakistan, Canada, Cuba, Japan, and more. Writing for ILGA-World, Kellyn Botha called on the public to extend more empathy for trans people around the world. The Trevor Project released its first “Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Non-binary Youth” to help educate people on the basics of gender identity and expression so that communities can be “safer, kinder, and more accepting”.
The International Commission of Jurists published a new paper on Pakistan’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018. Their analysis found that changing legislation is not enough to protect trans peoples' rights. Authorities must also take an inclusive and proactive approach toward enforcing new legislation.
Many LGBTQ support organizations reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic and offered words of encouragement to the community. ILGA-World released practical tips for working safely, resources for keeping engaged, and launched the campaign “#InThisTogether” to spread positive messages. Human Rights Campaign identified ways the pandemic will impact global LGBTQ advocacy. MPACT released 10 tips for staying safe that are relevant for LGBTI advocates around the world. Amnesty International created a "Dos and don'ts" list to help governments.
UHAI EASHRI, Africa’s first indigenous activist fund based in Kenya and supporting sexual and gender minorities and sex worker human rights, urged the community to pay attention to the information coming from Ministries of Health and offered words of support in English, French, and Swahili:
“In deep solidarity, we hope to encourage you all in the knowledge that as a people, as a continent and as a community we have never been defined by how dire our situations have been, but by the perseverance, solidarity and power we have demonstrated in those dark times. Grace, love and courage have led us through many times, and this pandemic will be no different.”
Among the big events being postponed, the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will not be unveiled in its new permanent home in California. Started in the US in 1985, the AIDS Memorial Quilt is considered the largest ongoing community folk project in the world and commemorates those lives lost to the AIDS pandemic. With the postponement, activists reflected on how the current pandemic parallels and differs from that time. Executive director of the memorial, John Cunningham said the experience is “bringing up a lot of unresolved grief and anger”. However, he noted that when those impacted by HIV stepped forward despite discrimination, a disregard of health care workers on the frontline, and underwhelming government response, it gave others hope:
“We saw neighbors helping neighbors. …Some of the best examples of what it means to be a community were born there.”
Sports and Culture: Many lives will be lost to the COVID-19 pandemic before the worst is past us. Professor Gita Ramjee, former Chief Specialist Scientist and Director of the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) HIV Prevention Research Unit, passed from COVID-19 related complications in a hospital in South Africa. Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, known for his plays that embodied gay themes in the 60s and 70s and tackled the AIDS epidemic in the 80s and 90s, died from coronavirus complications in Florida. Famed drag performer and actor Nashom Wooden died in his home after being turned away from a local hospital because he did not exhibit enough symptoms, according to the New York Daily News. Lorena Borjas, renowned Latinix transgender activist, trafficking survivor, and founder of the Lorena Borjas Community Fund, passed away the day before the Transgender Day of Visibility.
Non-binary musician Rae Spoon spoke to four non-binary artists living in Canada about what inspires them, supporting marginalized art, and how they are surviving during the ongoing pandemic.
Check out this short film produced by and starring Kamari Romeo, a black British trans man, alongside the members of HumbleBee Creative. “Toybox: Brit-ish Childhood” is a spoken word album with music and puppetry that examines the experiences of growing up in the foster care system in England.
Top photo by Pierre Herman