Due to persistent stigmatization and discrimination, LGBTI people are likely overrepresented among the poor. When people are left behind – including due to sexual orientation or gender identity – everyone misses out on their skills and productivity
As part of its commitment to social inclusion and shared prosperity, the World Bank is scaling up efforts to make sure LGBTI people can be fully integrated into development. Because of its consequences on the lives and poverty levels of an entire group, but also due to its adverse impacts on economies and societies at large, LGBTI exclusion is very much a development issue.
“Eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity requires coordinated action by all segments of society to eradicate the root causes of exclusion. The exclusion that affects indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, LGBTI people, and other marginalized groups,” said Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, Senior Director for the World Bank’s Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience Global Practice. “We will not be able to achieve our mission of fighting poverty and boosting shared prosperity unless everyone can participate in the development process and reap the benefits of economic growth.” Read more via World Bank
"Pathologization – Being lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans is not an illness"
Speaking ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May, a group of United Nations and international human rights experts* call for an urgent end to the pathologization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) adults and children.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, a group of UN human rights experts, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe urge Governments worldwide to reform medical classifications and to adopt measures to prevent all forms of forced treatments and procedures on LGBT persons....
Pathologizing and stigmatizing medical classifications relating to gender identity and expression are used to justify subjecting trans people, even at young ages, to forced or coercive sterilization, hormone therapy, surgeries, and psychiatric evaluations, and in other ways abusively conditioning their human rights. Read more via OHCHR
UNAIDS Executive Director's Message on IDAHOT 2016
The key pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals is ensuring that no one is left behind. But LGBT people continue to face challenges in many parts of the world. Embrace diversity on this day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. Learn & watch more via UNAIDS
UNAIDS Caribbean: All human beings are born free and equal
Excerpt of statement by Dr. César Núñez, UNAIDS Latin America and Caribbean Regional Support Team Director:
[IDAHOT] comes at a critical time for Latin America and the Caribbean. This year the world started its 15-year journey toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals with their emphasis on dignity, equality and security for all. Yet recent events in the region demonstrate that entire communities remain degraded, discriminated against and excluded.
[...]Here’s an idea of the fallout. According to UNESCO almost half of LGBT students in Latin America do not finish secondary school. Global AIDS Response Progress Report data show that in some countries HIV rates among men who have sex with men and transgender women are as much as twenty times the national average. Globally, there were more than 1300 reported killings of transgender people between 2008 and 2013. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights notes that four of every five such murders occurred in this region.
Discrimination increases the vulnerability of entire communities by driving them away from life-saving services like health. Our words, actions and attitudes really do hurt. We have learned over the last three decades that HIV is not just about sex. Social exclusion, gender-based violence, poverty, unemployment and unmet health needs are among the contributing factors. Read his full statement via UNAIDS Caribbean
IDAHOT 2016: Media Statement
Once again this year, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia truly deserves its title of a "Global Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities". Beyond the rather narrow notions of "Homo", "Trans", "Bi"; the day offers a fantastic display of diversity, which mirrors the many facets of human sexualities and gender identities and expressions.
All over the world, advocates and their allies are fighting for what matters most to them: the right to be free from criminalisation, persecution, stigmatisation. Sometimes the right simply to live, as in many countries people have to fear for their lives.
This year specifically, we are seeing the "fault-line" deepening between places where activism is increasing and those where it is repression that is on the rise. Read about this year's activities via IDAHOT
Why We Fight
For International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), the United Nations asked LGBTI people around the world to film a short clip of why they fight and why they stay strong.
LGBTI people from 21 countries around the world explain why they fight for equality For International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), the United Nations asked LGBTI people around the world to film a short clip of why they fight and why they stay strong. Some, like India and Lebanon, are fighting for decriminalization. But for many more from Japan to Jamaica, the UK to United States, many said they are fighting for love, for acceptance and for people to be themselves.
Some, like India and Lebanon, are fighting for decriminalization. But for many more from Japan to Jamaica, the UK to United States, many said they are fighting for love, for acceptance and for people to be themselves. Read more via Gay Star News
UN Committee against Torture to reprimand Nepal, UK over IGM Practices
This week it's the turn of the UK to be questioned over Intersex Genital Mutilations at the 72nd Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). UN-CRC recognises IGM as a 'harmful practice' (like FGM) and as'violence against children', has recently reprimanded Ireland,France, Chile and Switzerland, and only last week questioned Nepal over IGM practices.
UK government bodies, while admitting to the harm done by IGM practices, are quick to actively shield IGM perpetrators from human rights criticism by simply declaring the ongoing practice in the UK a thing of the past:
“Until recently [intersex people] would usually undergo genital surgery at a young age to given them characteristics which are clearly either male or female. Medical professionals are now more likely to advise waiting until the child is older and able to provide informed consent to surgery, because of the implications surgery can have on future health and function.” - House of Commons, Women and Equalities Committee (2016).
On the other hand, the “Society for Endocrinology UK guidance on the initial evaluation of an infant or an adolescent with a suspected disorder of sex development (Revised 2015)” generally advocates early unnecessary surgeries as legitimate, framing the human rights issues involved as mere “controversies”: Read more via STOP IGM
Australia: Victoria budgets $30 million to support LGBTI citizens
Victorian budget statement is a big win for LGBTI people, with the state’s government investing in several services and facilities.
Confirming Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement last week, $15 million will be set aside for an LGBTI Pride Centre, which will showcase queer art and history, co-locate LGBTI advisory, health and support services, and feature community spaces which will provide a safe environment for LGBTI Victorians to meet and socialise.
The $29 million package also includes $4 million for a grants program to strengthen the sustainability of LGBTI community organisations and to support LGBTI community leaders who help Victorians live free from discrimination. Read more via Same Same
Digital Pride: The first online, global Pride festival
The LGBTI Pride movement is going fully online for the first time with a new global event – Digital Pride.
Created by Gay Star News, the Digital Pride festival was the first Pride anyone, anywhere in the world can join in – all they need is a smartphone, computer or tablet.
Live-streamed video discussions on topics ranging from identity and isolation to international LGBTI rights. Celebrities, politicians, activists and YouTube stars will be joining in with video messages and the world’s leading social media channels will help amplify the message of LGBTI love.
Scott Nunn, Gay Star News director, said: ‘For a lot of people going to a Pride is not an option. They could risk their lives by trying to be open and proud about who they are. ‘The LGBTI community connects digitally more than any other way and we have used our power online to accelerate change around the world. Read more and check out the discussions via Gay Star News
Hong Kong: To host the gay Olympics? ‘the Gay Games needs to come here because we need to improve LGBT rights’
As Hong Kong eyes up hosting the 2022 “gay Olympics”, the international federation behind the global sports event says it could ultimately choose the Asian city in a bid to shine a light on its poor same-sex rights record.
Hong Kong was listed this week as one of 17 other cities in the running to host the Gay Games, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Tel Aviv and Cape Town - but the territory could be the first and only Asian city to be nominated to host the competition.
The Gay Games was first hosted by San Francisco in 1982 and since then has gone on to become the largest international sport and cultural gathering for athletes, musicians and artists. Read more
Netherlands: The silent gay witch hunt of 1730
In 1730, the people of the Netherlands (then sometimes called the Dutch Republic) lost their damn minds, killing dozens of gay men. Nothing like it had yet happened in Europe, and nothing like it would happen again until the Nazis.
The Utrecht sodomy trials (Utrechtse sodomieprocessen) were a large-scale persecution of homosexuals that took place in the Dutch Republic, starting in the city of Utrecht in 1730. Over the following year, the persecution of "sodomites" spread to the rest of the nation, leading to some 250 to 300 trials, often ending in a death sentence. Read more via Daily Xtra
UK: School pupils produce films to take on homophobic bullying
Pupils across Wales have been producing anti-homophobic films as part of a project tackling bullying in schools. Figures released by equality charity Stonewall, found over half to young gay people experience homophobic bullying and 40 per cent of those bullied have attempted, or thought about attempting, to end their own lives.
Now schools across Wales are producing a series of eight short films dealing with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender bullying as part of a project run by the Iris Prize Festival. Among those taking part in project are pupils from Aberdare Community School, who chose to focus on bisexuality in their film.
All the films are available to watch for free on Youtube and pupils at the school hope their feature will help others learn more about homophobic discrimination.