By Azmina Dhrodia, 14 May 2015, 13:06 UTC
Around
the world, people face violent attacks and threats simply because of who they
are or who they have sex with. But some brave activists are still standing up
for their rights. To mark the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia
and Biphobia (IDAHOT) on 17 May, we celebrate the courageous activism of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people worldwide.
1.
Pushing to end hate crimes in Greece
In
Greece, LGBTI rights organizations tell us violent attacks on the grounds of
sexual orientation and gender identity have more than doubled over the last
year. In August 2014, Kostas and Zabi, a Greek-Pakistani gay couple, were
brutally beaten up in a homophobic and racist attack in central Athens.
“I
think they could tell we are a couple, and they targeted us because of that and
Zabi’s skin colour,” says Kostas (above). “Last thing I saw was Zabi being
thrown on the pavement. My head and upper body was inside a trash-bin that they
had overturned. A few seconds later they broke my leg in three places.” Zabi
was then attacked again in March 2015.
On
this international day of action, activists from Greece and around the world
are using the hashtag #KostasZabi to send support to the couple on social
media, and to tell the Greek government to end hate crimes and stand against
homophobia and racism. Greek activists, including Kostas and Zabi, will
organize a ‘kiss-in’ in front of Parliament to highlight their case and the
situation for LGBTI people in the country.
2. Ending homophobic violence in Cameroon
In
Cameroon same-sex sexual conduct is punishable by up to five years in prison
and a fine, and LGBTI people suffer violence, police harassment and even arrest
and detention.
In
2013, Eric Lembembe, director of a Cameroon AIDS charity, was murdered for his
work defending LGBTI people . Two years later, his killers have still not been
brought to justice. This July, activists will brave the hostile atmosphere in
the country to organise two days of action in his memory. They will call for
justice for Eric, and for an end to homophobic violence against LGBTI people
and those who defend them.
In
2011, Stéphane, a 36-year old gay man, was dragged away from his house by a
group of men, stripped, beaten and tortured for hours. Four years later, the
men who attacked him have not faced justice. But that has not stopped Stéphane.
“Today my fight is so that my younger brothers or my friends don’t suffer
discrimination like this,” he tells us. “I am alive today and I want to be an
example, a living example. I will keep telling my story for as long as I can.”
3.
Standing up for LGBTI rights in Tajikistan
Across
Central Asia, homophobia and transphobia is on the rise. Police blackmail gay
men, threatening to ‘out’ them to family and colleagues unless they agree to
pay a bribe. Lesbian women face violence and abuse from within their families,
and may be forced to marry against their will.
One
example is Komil, a gay man from Tajikistan who was kidnapped, tortured, beaten
and humiliated by police, and was eventually forced to flee the country. “Can
you understand spending your whole life hiding that you are gay just to stay
alive?” he tells us. “I am not a politician. I am a simple person who just
wants a tiny piece of his own happiness. That is all.” With the help of his
friends, he is rebuilding his life, and now speaks out for LGBTI rights in the
region.
4.
Celebrating EuroPride in Latvia
Latvia
will be the first post-Soviet country to host EuroPride – a Europe-wide event
dedicated to promoting LGBTI rights. In 2015, the event also celebrates a
decade since Riga held its first Pride event: when 70 activists marched for
their rights in spite of threats of violence and hostility from several
thousand protestors.
Organizers
of EuroPride hope to use this opportunity to draw global attention to the state
of LGBTI rights in the region. They’ll also march in solidarity with people in
countries like Russia, where authorities refuse applications to hold Pride
events and where LGBTI activists organising peaceful street events are
frequently attacked, with little protection from the police.
5.
Campaigning for transgender rights in Norway
John
Jeanette Remø Solstad is a 65-year-old transgender Norwegian woman who wants to
change her legal gender from ‘male’ to ‘female’. But the government says she
can’t – unless she has compulsory medical treatment, including surgery which
will leave her sterile. It also requires a psychiatric diagnosis, as
transgender people are considered ‘mentally ill’. John Jeanette refuses to put
herself through this, and has campaigned alongside Amnesty supporters to change
the law.
In
April 2015, an expert group appointed by the Norwegian government stated that
the current practice is a violation of fundamental human rights, and stressed
the need for change. "this is everything I have dreamt of and hoped for,”
she told us. “It was worth the fight. It took a long time, but when the results
of our work finally came, it felt great.” The Norwegian government now has the
opportunity to implement the recommendation and change these discriminatory
laws.
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