Hivos and LGBT

Despite the discrimination and hostility they face from their environment, a number of gay and bisexual men have had the courage to organise themselves. They took it upon themselves to find answers to the rapid spread of the virus, to set up prevention programmes and to organise care for people with the virus. In some cases these groups developed into professional organisations whose activities reached beyond providing care for people with HIV/Aids. Membership organisations were set up in developing countries with the objective of bringing about wide-scale gay emancipation in their countries.

In 1998, Hivos decided in association with Amnesty International to make it possible for activists from developing countries to participate in the international human rights conference of the Gay Games in Amsterdam. Their participation resulted in widespread publicity and a substantial increase in the number of activities in the field of gay emancipation in developing countries. It was the breakthrough needed to launch a true global gay emancipation movement, which until then had been dominated by Europe and the United States. It was also during this period that international gay emancipation started to appear on the agenda of national governments, including in the Netherlands.

Today…

Today the situation for gays and lesbians is still far from ideal. Globalisation has brought us many benefits but also a large number of adverse developments. A recent survey by the International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA) carried out in January 2008 showed an alarming trend towards making homosexuality an offence: in 7 countries gays can be given the death sentence and in 76 countries homosexual acts carry prison sentences. Most of these countries are in Africa and West and South Asia.

Not all countries actively prosecute homosexuals, but the fact that this legislation exists is a reflection of a culture of homophobia, hate and social exclusion of gays, lesbian, bisexuals and transgenders. Fortunately, discrimination based on sexual orientation is increasingly considered a violation of human rights and the struggle against stigmatisation and for the prosecution of anti-gay crimes is gaining ground with the support of an ever-growing number of men and women. Anti-discrimination laws have now been introduced in 49 countries. The global gay movement is growing. Hivos partner ILGA unites over 600 member organisations from all continents.

However, the increased visibility and stronger voice of the movement also leads to growing resistance in the form of religious fanaticism, nationalism and totalitarianism. These go hand in hand with conservative, fundamentalist beliefs that are diametrically opposed to self-determination and the right to be different. Examples are a coalition of religious leaders in Uganda formed to ‘eradicate the satanic rituals of homosexuals’ and several African leaders calling for the active prosecution and expulsion of gays. In many African countries homosexuality is regarded as a colonial invention. Studies have shown, however, that there were already same-sex relations in pre-colonial times.

Many Hivos partners in Asian countries report that social exclusion of gays and lesbians is a huge problem. The family tends to consider it ‘OK’ if someone is gay or lesbian, just as long as they get married and have children. Refusal leads to major conflicts and ultimately to being cast out of the family (and exclusion from the social network), resulting in a life at the margins of society.

These are but a few examples, and all the more reason for Hivos to devote its full attention to counteracting exclusion and humiliation on the grounds of sexual orientation and to promote diversity, including within the gay movement. Hivos wants to contribute to the dream of a worldwide rainbow coalition. Not every organisation has reached the same milestone or has the same freedom to openly organise, which is why we take a tailored approach. Local activists and groups determine the agenda while Hivos facilitates and makes it possible for them to achieve their agenda.

Results

Are we getting anywhere? Yes, the work done by Hivos’ partners is making a difference. There are firm results, a few noteworthy examples of which are given below.

In Costa Rica, 17 May is now a special day for gays and lesbians. This Latin American country recently signed a decree officially declaring 17 May as the National Day Against Homophobia. The national day is the result of an active lobby campaign by Hivos partner CIPAC, which for many years has been fighting for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Costa Rica.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) in Mozambique organised the first pan-African conference for lesbian women. Seventy-five women came together to discuss the growing hatred against homosexuals in Africa. In the closing statement African governments are called on to prohibit discrimination and to undertake action against the increasing violence against gays, lesbians and transgenders.

In Nepal the Supreme Court ruled against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. With Hivos’ support, the Blue Diamond Society was able to develop a project in the short term to implement lasting changes in Nepalese legislation armed with the Supreme Court’s ruling. They do this by providing training and workshops for people in the judiciary, lawyers, government staff as well as the police and armed forces. Particularly with this last group, many cases of discrimination, intimidation and violence against gay men and transgenders are known and have been reported.

Another example: LGBT groups have been formed for the first time or have been re‑established in Malawi and Zambia. Hivos supports this development, no matter how ‘green’ it may be.

To reiterate, gay rights are universal human rights. Fighting for these rights is an inherent element of emancipation and development, so Hivos fully embraces this theme and will continue to do so in the coming years.