Today marks 25 years since the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from it’s official register of diseases.
To note the annual passing of this important historical rights achievement IDAHO Day was launched ten years ago.
Since then International Day Against Homophobia has broadened it’s acronym to include people who are transgender or bisexual as well.
Today around the world IDAHOBIT Day will be celebrated in many countries. While there have been many improvements in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people the changes are not universal.
Here is Australia there are still many challenges to be faced in the areas of LGBTIQ+ mental health and marriage equality. Transgender people still face alarming levels of discimination and social isolation. While around the world many countries still have harsh laws that severely discriminate.
Today beyondblue has highlighted that research has shown LGBTI Australians are far more likely to be psychologically distressed than non-LGBTI Australians.
A study of LGB Australians found one in five is currently experiencing depression, more than triple the rate of their heterosexual peers.
The organisation’s Acting CEO Susan Anderson highlighted the increased work beyondblue has contrinuted to LGBTIQ mental health in the last year.
These include the first national study into the mental health of people who are transgender and the ‘Stop, Think, Respect’ campaign against discrimination. Ms Anderson said the organisation would be working closely with the Safe School Coalition to help highlight the growing importance of IDAHOBIT Day.
Q-Life, the suicide prevention campaign is releasing a series of short films to highlight the mental health realities of LGBTIQ+ people and showcase a number of positive stories about people’s journeys regarding sexuality, and associated mental health.
On the local front Living Proud is running a social media campaign to encourage people to declare how they will commit to helping improve LGBTIQ rights and recognition in the year ahead.
From a global perspective though there are still many countries with harsh laws against LGBTIQ+ people including the death penalty. Of the 130 countries that informally mark IDAHOBIT Day, homosexual acts are illegal in 37 of them.
Jessica Stern, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission highlighted today that while many countries have come a long way in providing equality for gay, lesbian and bisexual people, there were still many counties that maintained harsh laws against their LGBTI citizens.
“While in many respects it seems to be ‘the best of times’ for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community in an increasing number of countries, progress is not universal. There is abundant evidence that large parts of the world still hold to anachronistic views of same-sex relationships and gender non-conformity as unnatural, a sin and a threat to ‘traditional’ families.
“We celebrate the repeal of discriminatory laws and the addition of protections against bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity in countries across the globe; at the same time, we can’t ignore the fact that same-sex relations are illegal and sometimes severely punished in more than 76 countries. Repugnant laws like these threaten our basic human rights—access to housing, school, medical care, and livelihood. And even where discriminatory laws are lifted, attitudes can take longer to evolve.”
Stern said that while in many countries progress against government authorities and religious leaders may not appear visible in the short term there are many underground movements led by brave individuals.
“I am not saying that progress in the near-term is necessarily visible or even possible everywhere. What I am saying is that even in the most dangerous countries, in many cases, LGBTI movements are alive and growing. In virtually every country, there are courageous individuals who are standing up and saying ‘I have rights.’ Where this kind of powerful movement exists – no matter how small – it can move forward and empower people to join the struggle to overcome intimidation, prejudice and hate.”
One country that has returned to the headlines this week for its stance against homosexuality in Gambia. Earlier this week VICE reported that President Yahya Jammeh had delivered a speech threatening to slit the throats of gay men.
“If you do it [in Gambia] I will slit your throat.”, President Jammeah reportedly declared.
“If you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it.”
Last year the country passed a law which punished homosexuality with life imprisonment. Since then dozens of gay men have been imprisoned in the African nation. Previously the President has claimed that homosexuality would bring about the end of the world.
Alongside Gambia harsh laws have recently been introduced in both Uganda and Nigeria. While there are also reguarl reports of gay men being stoned to death or thrown from buildings in areas controled by Islamic State.
Russia also has been widely criticised for it’s anti-gay propoganda laws which limit discussion about sexuality. Since their introduction the country has seen a marked increase in homophobic violence and anti-gay behaviour.
The United Nations has also made a statement in support of IDAHOBIT Day releasing a new video featuring Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
In a seprate blog post the Secretary General said he believed in leading by example.
“At the UN, I have implemented a policy change to extend to same-sex spouses of UN staff the same benefits as heterosexual spouses, including health insurance coverage. The new policy means that the UN now honours the marriage of any same-sex couple wed in a country where same-sex marriages are legal.
“I am proud to champion the cause of equality not just for UN staff, but for all members of our human family and I will continue to fight against transphobia and homophobia globally. All people, without exception, should be free to live a life of dignity no matter who they are or whom they love.
“Millions of people around the world are observing the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia this Sunday, 17 May.
“To mark the Day, the UN human rights office has released a short video called “Faces” as part of its UN Free & Equal campaign. The video, in which I was proud to take part, celebrates the contributions that LGBTI people make to families and local communities everywhere.
“I encourage you to watch the video, share it with your networks and spread the word to help make your world freer and more equal.”
Image: Stock Image – YayMicro/yelloj
