This year’s Pride is one of reflection as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.
WHILE we’ve certainly come a long way since the first Pride march was born from the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and we continue, despite backlash in some countries to make progress – progress has simply not come fast enough in other parts of the world.
Sixty-eight countries still criminalise same-sex relations. Sixty-eight places where being Queer is not only unsafe: it’s illegal.
As we celebrate Pride, so many members of our global LGBT+ communities suffer in a variety of unjust, illegal, and even brutal ways all over the world.
In Chechnya, attacks against our communities began anew earlier this year. People “perceived” to be anything but straight have been incarcerated, interrogated, and sometimes even tortured.
In the Caribbean, same-sex relations are still illegal in nine countries, with hate groups regularly rallying supporters to abuse members of the LGBT+ communities.
In Brunei, the Sultan recently expanded the criminalisation of same-sex relations to be punishable by death. People can be sentenced to death by stoning, just for being who they are.
Jessica Stern Executive Director of OutRight Action International, the LGBTIQ Human Rights Organisation said: “This is egregious. But together we can and are standing up against discrimination and violence, and when do – we win.
“Think of Bhutan and Botswana, which recently struck down their anti-homosexuality laws. Think of Taiwan and Ecuador, which have become the most recent countries to legalise marriage equality. And this year, for the first, time, the World Health Organisation depathologised being transgender – which is no longer classified as a mental illness.
“Now more than ever, during World Pride, is the time to think globally. What happens in one country can directly affect what happens in another.
“Unite with us and support our critical global work during Pride month? We need you, and we are so grateful for your solidarity and your support!”
For more information about World Pride, click here:
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