The LGBTI Core Group, co-chaired by Argentina and The Netherlands, held a high level discussion during 75th session of the General Assembly to address the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) persons and what is being done to work towards inclusion. Those who suffer from intersecting forms of discrimination are often pushed into a vicious circle during their entire lives. Such experience includes, lack of recognition of their gender identity, higher levels of bullying in school, discrimination in the health system and disproportioned representation in homelessness, among other things. In this panel discussion, high level authorities and civil society will talk about the ways in which we can better address intersecting forms of discrimination and transform that circle into a virtuous one.

The event began with a keynote address by High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Moderator: Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International

Panelists:

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust and Co-Founder/Director of UK Black Pride.

Ronald Céspedes, Indigenous Activist from Bolivia who identifies as ‘quewa’ or two-spirited.

Shamim Salim Juma, queer Muslim disabled feminist and human rights activist in Kenya. Shamim is the Co-Founder of Henna Space, an organization for queer, Muslim women and queer, disabled persons. Shamim is also a member of the African Queer Youth Initiative.

The United Nations LGBTI Core Group is an informal cross regional group of United Nations Member States established in 2008. The group is co-chaired by Argentina and The Netherlands, and includes Albania, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Uruguay, and the European Union, as well as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Watch and OutRight Action International.