Timor Lester Pride Parade 2018
Timor-Leste is considered to be a champion of human rights in the region. At the UN, the country has constantly positioned itself among countries that are anti-discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Domestically, there is an article on the Penal Code that considers crimes motivated by discriminatory sentiment on the basis of “gender” and “sexual orientation” (among other grounds) to be aggravating circumstances, which may incur greater penalties.
However, discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Timor-Leste are still common. Although there is yet to be official data to prove, we do encounter in our work many people who admit to being physically abused and kicked out of home for being LGBTI. Some say they drop out of school due to excessive bullying and some feel uncomfortable walking on the streets. Cases are often ignored due to the lack of public knowledge and understanding on the issue, including from the law enforcement and policymakers.
Following the success of “Free to be me,” the first Pride event that was organized publicly in Dili last year by Codiva, the Hatutan youth group, working together with UN Women and other partners, will organize Timor-Leste’s second LGBTI Pride this year on the theme of “acceptance,” to call for the prevention of violence and discrimination against LGBTI people, and to give hopes to those who still struggle to feel accepted in schools, at homes, and on the streets because of their differences.
