LGBT+ Rights Have Had Many Steps Forward. But Why Does It Suddenly Seem Like They’re Taking Steps Backwards?
November 7, 2019“The United Nations has been working with Member States to reject discrimination and criminalization based on homophobia and transphobia. While the denial of human rights for LGBT persons persists throughout the world today, over 30 countries have decriminalized homosexuality in the past 20 years. Today, under the leadership of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, there is no doubt that the U.N. is making progress toward the global inclusion of LGBT rights in our basic human rights,” write the ‘American Psychological Association’.
This is a huge step forward considering where we were and where we now are. Same-sex relations used to be criminalized in almost all countries not so long ago. But the fact remains that there are still countries where it is criminalized, such as Uganda, where a law punishing gay people with life imprisonment was struck down. There is no doubt there is a long way to go until it is decriminalized worldwide, until the day where it will only be a dark part of human history.
Another important win, achieved in even more recent years is that of the fight of accepting same-sex couples into society with the same normality as heterosexual couples have for so many centuries.
“A large percentage of the world’s nations have either legalized same-sex marriage, permitted gay marriage in certain parts of the country, allows civil unions between individuals of the same sex, or actively restricts gay marriage,” states ‘World Population Review’ and also reveals that the number of these nations have now reached eighty-eight worldwide. But again, there are still nations where same-sex marriage is not only not accepted, but criminalized. Nigeria is such an example where people who commit to same-sex marriage or civil unions are punishable by 14 years in jail.
“It is believed that 20 percent of the world’s population is gay – that means as many as one in every five faces isolation and discrimination, purely because of whom they love. It seems outrageous to think that compassion, love and tolerance could ever come under such massive attack,” states Richard Branson in his article ‘An awful step backwards for gay rights'.
And he is absolutely right. Compassion and acceptance towards the LGBT+ community are only met halfway. We live in a confusing time. In a time where same-sex marriage is legal and at the same time it is legal to be fired because of one's sexual orientation.
"In 29 states, a person can be fired for their gender identity and sexual orientation," Human Rights Council press secretary Charlotte Clymer told the 'BBC'. "It's not about religious freedom, it's about pushing LGBT people out of the public square.
“The fact that you can get married on Sunday and fired on Monday for being LGBTQ, I believe, presents a pretty massive problem for our community and for society," she said.
At a first look, it may seem that this is a problem mostly occurring currently in the US, with the big debate over the Civil Rights Act. But It looks like in Europe this back and forth in LGBT+ rights has become something of a trend. One nation after the other reverse laws once voted to protect the LGBT+ community.
“Several countries in Europe are for the first time "moving backwards" on their policies over equality and laws in the LGBT community, a new report has found.
“The report, conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in Europe, found that regression was specifically seen in countries revoking existing laws and policies.”
The report provides examples such as Bulgaria where the right for trans people to change their names and gender markers in official documents has been reversed. Another example is that of Serbia and Kosovo where the governments have failed to “renew action plans on gender equality” the report said.
At the same time, there have been reports of over 19 deaths of trans people in the US alone in 2019 as a result of homophobic hate crimes. Professionals are being fired because of their sexual orientation. LGBT+ activists are being arrested and news report a nation planing to impose the death penalty on homosexuals. A new study has shown that 38% of LGBT+ students are more likely to report depression. And of course, as mentioned above, let’s not forget the big issue in the USA right now concerning the Civil Rights Act where it is currently being debated whether professionals are protected against workplace discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
There is no doubt that LGBT+ rights have come a long way in the past decades. There is also no doubt that the fight is not over. What needs to be done is for the LGBT+ community to keep making steps forward and keep winning fights up until the day where we will be able to say with certainty that Human Rights are LGBT+ Rights. And for that, we need more LGBT+ activists.
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