It is a month to reflect on the progress made in the recognition and protection of the human rights of LGBTIQ people, to zoom in on outstanding challenges, and raise awareness about the levels of discrimination, harassment and violence LGBTIQ communities around the world continue to face every day, even in countries with explicit legislative and policy protections in place.
Being openly gay is a big part of who I am, and I don’t want to hide it. I want to be authentically myself.
I’ve experienced physical as well as verbal abuse as a victim of ridicule and hate, and every LGBTQ+ person carries shame.
Progress is being made - since 2019, 11 countries have legalized marriage equality. Since 2017, 13 countries have removed laws criminalizing LGBTQIA+ sexuality.
Policies protecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities are also progressing. Recently, United Nations bodies have called for transgender-friendly HIV care, protection of the rights of intersex people and an end to discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in health services.
However, there is still a long way to go, and with discrimination and stigma remaining, serious health disparities and other inequalities persist.
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OIE MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01 | JUNE 2024
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