Lobby of Commonwealth leaders to support LGBT rights
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation are taking action, along with a number of other organisations to lobby Commonwealth leaders to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB&T) rights, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting - which takes place at the end of this month.
In 41 of 54 Commonwealth countries homosexuality is a criminal offence. This kind of culture means people constantly live in fear, and often end up living a secret life or no life at all.
It also means that support and information isn't readily available, meaning people who are at risk from HIV face barriers to accessing prevention and treatment services. This is unacceptable, and needs to change.
We welcomed the Commonwealth’s statement in May which highlighted their commitment to human rights for all without discrimination on any grounds.
We have called on all Heads of Government representing states where same-sex sexual conduct is criminalised, to take immediate steps to repeal such legislation - in line with Commonwealth values and principles.
You can take action too by emailing Kamalesh Sharma the Commonwealth Secretary General (secretary-general@commonwealth.int) to support LGB&T rights, and by signing up to the LGF's Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia campaign http://bit.ly/rgf45Z
Thank you for your continued support.
Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive, The Lesbian & Gay Foundation
Leaders of Commonwealth countries asked to decriminalise homosexuality
Pink News, 18 October 2011
Leaders of Commonwealth countries will be asked to decriminalise homosexuality to help to stop the spread of HIV, an Australian official has said.
Forty-one of the 53 Commonwealth countries – including Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ghana – still criminalise gay sex and HIV campaigners say such laws are seriously hampering safe sex initiatives.
Leaders will meet in Perth, Australia, next week for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM).
Australian delegate Michael Kirby said today that the agenda will include a request to scrap anti-gay laws.
He told ABC Radio that HIV messages were "very difficult” to get across without removing laws against gay sex.
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who is calling on people to lobby Commonwealth leaders, said that there is a "strong possibility” that the issue will appear on the agenda.
But he added that it was "not yet a certainty” and urged people to sign apetition.
Mr Tatchell said: "We need a last-minute push to make sure this issue is advanced. It would be very helpful for people to sign this petition and get their friends to do likewise. All signatures will be sent directly to the foreign ministers of many Commonwealth countries.”
He added: "We are fairly hopeful that Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma will make an appeal for LGBT human rights during his conference speeches and that is down to a worldwide lobbying effort.
"Our chances are much better this year than at any other Commonwealthsummit.”
Please click on the link to view the original article
Australian Foreign Minister to call on Commonwealth to repeal Anti Gay Laws
Pink News, 19 October 2011
Australia’s foreign minister, Kevin Rudd, will urge Commonwealth countries to decriminalise homosexuality.
Heads of Commonwealth countries are to meet in Perth next week for the annual heads of government meeting (CHOGM).
According to the Sidney Star Observer, Mr Rudd’s spokeswoman said: "Australia is a global advocate of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
"Australia encourages all countries to decriminalise homosexuality by removing all laws imposing criminal penalties for homosexual conduct.
"Mr Rudd will be raising these matters with Commonwealth foreign ministers at CHOGM.”
Earlier this week, retired High Court judge Michael Kirby, the Australian representative on CHOGM advisory group The Eminent Persons Group, said Commonwealth countries will be asked to repeal anti-gay laws to help combat HIV rates.
The vast majority of the 54 Commonwealth countries retain colonial-era bans on homosexuality and some have been accused of persecuting LGBT people.
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who is calling on people to lobby Commonwealth leaders, said the effort was "paying off”.
He said: "The Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd has announced that he will urge the decriminalisation of homosexuality at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth next week. Great news. Very positive.
"Australia did not push for decriminalisation at the last Commonwealth summit, held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009. This is progress. As the summit host, Rudd has greatinfluence.”
Please click on the link to view the original article
Former Botswana President calls for Legislation of Homosexuality
Pink News, 19 October 2011
Festus Mogae, the former president of Botswana, has said that homosexuality should be decriminalised to help tackle HIV rates.
Speaking to the BBC’s Africa Network, Mr Mogae said that while he does not "understand” homosexuality, gays and lesbians should not be arrested.
He said: "I don’t understand it [homosexuality]. I am a heterosexual.
"I look at women. I don’t look at other men. But there are men who look at other men. These are citizens.
"To protect them and their clients from being infected [with HIV], you have to assist them to protect themselves. I don’t think by arresting them you help them.”
Mr Mogae, the head of the government-backed Aids Council, added that the government’s refusal to hand out condoms to prisoners was making the problem of HIV worse.
"If people can go to prison HIV negative and come out of it HIV positive, it means that prisons, whatever the law says, are one of the sources of infection,” he said.
Homosexuality for men and women is illegal and Botswana and gay relationships are considered taboo in a society which sees being gay as "un-African”.
Seventeen per cent of the population have HIV.