The International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) was marked around the world yesterday with a “Global Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities” and the release of the Human Rights Campaign’s ‘Global Equality Report’. The report highlights that 75 countries currently criminalise same-sex relationships and notes that already in 2016, 100 transgender and gender diverse people have been murdered across the globe. This number if the highest in the first four months of the year since 2008. It also highlights that in up to ten countries around the world, same-sex conduct is punishable by death. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Somalia. Activism and advocacy is silences in a number of countries and alongside Russia’s well-known “anti-propaganda” law, Governments in Nigeria and Lithuania have also passed similar laws. The Human Rights Campaign also recognised the day by launching a video series celebrating LGBTI global innovators around the world and sharing some of their stories. The videos include the story of a woman who runs a LGBTI organisation in Russia and a Ugandan LGBTI sex worker activist.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 18th May 2016 - 8:57am