by Elton John, David Furnish, Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Ian McKellen, Skin, Edward Enninful , Frank Ocean and Helena Dalli
Elton John is a singer-songwriter, David Furnish is a Canadian film-maker, Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player, Ilana Kloss is a former professional tennis player, Ian McKellen is an English actor, Skin is a singer and songwriter, Edward Enninful is editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Frank Ocean is a singer-songwriter and Helena Dalli is European commissioner for equality
June and the summer months have become synonymous with a rich global calendar of Pride marches and events, during which we address prejudice and issues that are topical to the LGBTQ+ community. These public gatherings challenge discrimination and inequality everywhere and bring communities together to embrace and reflect.
This year, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed all that. Pride events are either happening online or not at all, but we need their spirit of solidarity, inclusion and acceptance all the same. This is exactly the time to up the ante. The pandemic has intensified previous systemic vulnerabilities, with dire, possibly long-term social and economic consequences for minorities. And beyond the pandemic, during this moment when the world is demanding change, we must fight for a future where people of all racial and ethnic origins, sexual orientations and gender identities have the opportunity to live free from discrimination, injustice and mistreatment of all forms.
In recent decades, various countries have registered some progress in this area of policy.
Following the decriminalisation of homosexuality, a growing number of countries introduced anti-discrimination and anti-hate laws and now recognise rainbow families and gender diversity. Despite this progress, no society has yet achieved LGBTQ+ equality. Additionally, discrepancies remain between legislative standards and the everyday realities of LGBTQ+ people. The prejudice, the stereotyping, the attitudes take much longer to address and change. Also, the risk of that progress becoming undone remains. Indeed, a backlash is underway, led by the “anti-gender” and “traditional family” movements. Read more via Guardian