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commitment.
Therefore, sexual orientation is not merely a personal characteristic within an
individual. Rather, ones sexual orientation defines the group of people in which one is
likely to find the satisfying and fulfilling romantic relationships that are an essential
component of personal identity for many people. Gender identity refers to the
complex relationship between sex and gender, referring to a person's experience of
self expression in relation to social categories of masculinity or femininity. A person's
subjectively felt gender identity may be at variance with their sex or physiological
characteristics. Gender identity reflects a deeply felt and experienced sense of ones
own gender. A persons gender identity is typically consistent with the sex assigned to
them at birth. For transgender people, there is an inconsistency between their sense of
their own gender and the sex they were assigned at birth. In some cases, their
appearance and mannerisms and other outwards characteristics may conflict with
societys expectations of gender-normative behavior.
We all have a sexual orientation and a gender identity, and this shared fact means that
discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community, based on sexual orientation or gender identity, is a grave issue that the
world today faces.
Transgender is a term used to describe a wide range of identities including transsexual
people, cross-dressers, people who identify as third gender, and others whose
appearance and characteristics are perceived as gender atypical. Trans-women identify
as women who were born as males. Likewise, trans-men identify as men but were
classified female when they were born. Some transgender people seek surgery or take
hormones to bring their body into alignment with their gender identity; others do not.
Amnesty International believes that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or
gender identity, should be able to enjoy their human rights. Although the UNDHR does
not explicitly mention sexual orientation or gender identity, evolving conceptions of
international human rights law include a broad interpretation to include the rights and
the protection of the rights of LGBT people around the world.
Some say that sexual orientation and gender identity are sensitive issues. I understand.
Like many of my generation, I did not grow up talking about these issues. But I learned to
speak out because lives are at stake, and because it is our duty under the United Nations
Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to protect the rights of everyone,
everywhere.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Human Rights Council, 7 March 2012
HOMOPHOBIA
At the very heart of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, lies the
preconception we know as homophobia.
Homophobia is the hatred or fear of homosexuals which sometimes leads to acts of
violence and expressions of hostility. Homophobia is not confined to any one segment
of society, and can be found in people from all walks of life. Hate groups viciously
attack homosexuals and have especially used violent language in attempting to
persecute and intimidate these members of the LGBT community.
Activists and Support groups are now working towards helping people who are
uncertain about their sexual orientation and helping them accept their
homosexuality, if so is the case.
If people are to accept being part of the LGBT community, they must be proud of
themselves and must not be treated differently than the rest of the society. If
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation continues to grow as it has, then
fewer people would accept themselves as part of the LGBT community, even if
they were- for fear of their and the safety of their loved ones.
Gay and lifestyle. Two simple words. Yet for LGBT people, those two words, put
together, are offensive and create hurt and anger. For decades anti-gay religious
conservatives have used the term "gay lifestyle" as a missile to attack LGBT people,
their community and struggle for equality. Used by others, it reveals their ignorance
of the realities of everyday LGBT lives. We dont have lifestyles, we have lives.
Anthony Venn-Brown
covenants and of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) also make the
prosecution of homosexuality a violation of human rights, through interpreting
protection from discrimination on the basis of other status to include sexual
orientation.
OHCHR is committed to working with member states, national human rights
institutions and civil society to achieve progress towards the worldwide repeal of
laws criminalizing LGBT persons and further measures to protect people from
violence and discrimination on grounds of their sexual orientation or gender
identity. Ongoing activities include:
Providing support for the special procedures in the context of their factfinding activities and confidential communications with Government.
Providing support for the Universal Periodic Review, which provides a forum
for concerns regarding the rights of LGBT persons to be aired and for
recommendations to be developed.
International agencies involved in emergency response have begun to narrow the
protection gap. In 2015, 12 United Nations agencies, including the UN refugee
agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Program, both major humanitarian players,
issued a joint LGBT rights statement.
It reiterated that LGBT people often face violence and discrimination when seeking
refuge from persecution and in humanitarian emergencies.
The International Organization for Migration has launched a detailed training program
for all staff involved in forced displacement and humanitarian crisis settings.
The statement:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Discrimination/Joint_LGBTI_Statement_
ENG.PDF
While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot
of work to do. Too often, the issue of (LGBT) rights is exploited by those seeking to
divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. Its about
whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating
all its citizens with dignity and respect.
Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
accepted; for example, the Iranian government not only allows and recognises sex
reassignment surgery, but also subsidises the procedure for transgender citizens .
http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/06/17/landmark-un-vote-sexual-orientation
http://www.idahomophobia.net/IMG/pdf/Ignacio_Saiz_ http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/Hatecrimesandviolenceagainstlgbtpeo
ple_2009.pdf
https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/12/15/iran-discrimination-and-violence-againstsexual-minorities
HIV/AIDS relevance