“The UN stands with you, (and) millions of people around the world support you,” he said. It is also a reminder to activists that they are not alone. Ĭharles Radcliffe, chief of Global Issues and Intergovernmental Affairs for the UN Human Rights Office, said the video captures some of the strength and spirit that LGBT activists and allies bring to their work, and the sheer diversity of causes that help make up the movement globally. The film has been released to help celebrate the International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia on. The new film is called ‘Why we fight’ and it features LGBT rights activists from across the world holding up signs stating why they have joined the fight against discrimination.
We must challenge prejudice wherever we are.”Īlso today, The UN Free and Equal campaign has launched a new weapon in its continued fight against discrimination of LGBT people. “They are our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our friends and colleagues. “It is unacceptable that LGBTI people face violence and discrimination just because of who they are and who they love,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. Recalling that on this day 26 years ago on this date the World Health Organization ( WHO) declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder – ending the myth that being gay is a disorder or something that requires a ‘cure’ – the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS) underlined that many LGBTI people continue to face enormous daily challenges, sometimes living in fear, in isolation and out of reach of life-saving health services. Yet, many millions of LGBTI individuals around the world continue to face widespread stigma and discrimination, and many suffer violence and oppression,” she warned. “There is growing recognition worldwide that same-sex sexual orientation and diverse gender identity and expression are not mental or physical disorders. “Research has shown conclusively that LGBT individuals show higher than expected rates of psychiatric disorders, but once their rights and equality are recognized these rates begin to drop,” said the Administrator of the UN Development Programme, Helen Clark. According to the UN, the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts in gay or bisexual males is about four times that of comparable heterosexual males.
This year’s focus is on raising awareness of the mental health and well-being LGBTI people. It is celebrated in many countries and, as in previous years, many UN agencies and UN country offices will be taking part in events to mark the Day. The International Day was created by grass roots movements in 2004 as a moment to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people internationally.