Iranian gays increasingly fleeing their country

According to The Washington Post, about 300 gay people have fled Iran since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became president and particularly after June's crackdown. Many of them have reportedly joined the 2,000 Iranian dissidents and political refugees in secular Turkey, where homosexuality is tolerated. Refugees in Turkey are dispersed throughout various smaller cities as they seek permanent asylum through the UN in countries such as the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Others experiencing pressure from the Iranian government are student groups, journalists, human rights activists, and artists.

To Enlighten: HIV infections increasing among homosexuals

I do not desire to comment on this issue as I think its so abominable, however I do seek to enlighten so thought I would share.

Reportedly, in countries where laws criminalize gay and lesbian relationships, HIV infections are on the rise and sufferers aren't seeking help (can you blame them?). "It is unacceptable" that 85 countries still have laws criminalizing same sex relations among adults, including seven that impose the death penalty for homosexual practices, stated Michel Sidibe, the head of UNAIDS. Sidibe said he was "very scared" because bad laws are being introduced by countries (he did mention the proposed Ugandan law) making it impossible for these at risk groups to have access to services. "You also have a growing conservatism which is making me very scared." Read more here.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Africa 'stepping backward on human rights'

In keeping up with this anti-gay "wave of hate" (Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's words, which are incredibly accurate) that seems to have taken over Africa, I thought I would post on Archbishop Tutu's call for politicians and the clergy to end this current of anti-gay hate that has swept over Africa. Archbishop Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, declared proposed anti-gay measures in Uganda and other African countries (among of which are Malawi, Senegal and Kenya) as "terribly backward steps for human rights". 

Archbishop Tutu in The Washington Post, "Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God's family. And of course they are part of the African family. But a wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent. People are again being denied their fundamental rights and freedoms.. Politicians who profit from exploiting this hate, from fanning it, must not be tempted by this easy way to profit from fear and misunderstanding. And my fellow clerics, of all faiths, must stand up for the principles of universal dignity and fellowship. Exclusion is never the way forward on our shared paths to freedom and justice." Read the rest here.

I have to say that I found Archbishop's speech/statement powerful and inspiring, and I can only hope that it is truly heard and carried forth.

A Couple's Story of Being Gay in Uganda

In following the anti-homosexuality bill introduced to Parliament in Uganda, I thought I would provide you with an article I read in TIME today on 'Being Gay in Uganda: One Couple's Story'.

UN rights experts urge Uganda to redouble efforts to shelve anti-homosexuality bill

In November 2009, I reported on a new bill that was being presented before the Ugandan Parliament proposing a death penalty for homosexuality and "serial offenders" and a life sentence for "touching a person with homosexual intent".

Today, at the United Nations in Geneva, a media statement, entitled Uganda: last chance to shelve Anti-Homosexuality Bill should not be missed, warn UN human rights experts, was released. "With its third and final reading imminent before the Ugandan Parliament, two UN Special Rapporteurs voiced their deep concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which, if adopted, would have an extremely damaging impact on the important and legitimate work of human rights defenders in the country, and would curtail fundamental freedoms."

Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, stressed, "The Bill would not only violate the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ugandan people, but would also criminalize the legitimate activities of men and women, as well as national and international organizations, who strive for the respect for equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The independent experts, UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, and the UN Special Rapporteur on health, Anand Grover, "urge Parliamentarians to refrain from adopting this draconian Bill". Read more here. 

The Right to Express Your Sexuality

A new bill before the Ugandan parliament, which proposes a death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and “serial offenders”, demonstrates that many nations still impose harsh penalties for public expressions of homosexuality. A sentence of life imprisonment will be imposed for touching a person with homosexual intent. Membership in gay organizations, advocacy of gay human rights and the provision of condoms or safer sex advice to gay people will result in seven years jail for “promoting” homosexuality. Failing to report violators to the police within 24 hours would incur three years behind bars. The new legislation will also apply to Ugandans who commit these "crimes" while living abroad, even in countries where such behavior is not a criminal offense.

Only a handful of nations (the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK) ensure full equality and protection under the law for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) persons. No international human-rights convention that provides for the sexual rights as human rights and equality of the LGBT community exists, a fact that prevents more progressive nations from bringing pressure to bear on the African and Islamic states where homophobia is enshrined as law.

Stand up for LGBT rights!

Read more here.