WATCHDOG WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
Articles from Young People and Allies
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In My Own Name Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying in Schools in China LGBTI rights in the Post2015 agenda; the progress is on the way! Youth who flee their countries because of anti-LGBT persecution: Why these heroes need your help Closer to Equality: LGBTI in Asia Trans‘-Erfahrungen aus Luxemburg Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Discrimination in the context of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Eliwelton and the denial of the sexual rights of young people in Brazil La lucha contra la homofobia en Lima, la lucha contra todos
In my own name Leticia Zenevich
Many people struggle in the name of a god or of an ideology. In Brazil, transsexual persons are fighting in their names for their names. Since the eighties, transsexual people and travestis claim injustice for their right to a name, which reflects their gender. Here, this claim de-
mands a lawyer, which isn`t affordable at all. Moreover, it takes time, sometimes over a year, to reach a definitive decision. In this procedure, they have to prove, through an endless set of documents, declarations, psychological evaluations and so forth, that they are entitled to change their name. It is all highly invasive: the judge gets the power to decide over the body of the transsexual person. He looks for abstract and arbitrary signs of femininity/masculinity that are completely alien to any law definition whatsoever. Therefore, the judge looks for the existence of the signs they believe a man or a woman should bear in order to change, or not, one´s name. As so, it violates completely one`s intimacy. The right to privacy is completely surpassed by an almost fetishistic need to explore the plaintiff´s body and mind to its minimum details. In this panorama, the G8G, a group composed by young law and psychology students and lawyers that provides free legal assistance to persons that have legal problems due to gender questions, prepared a campaign named “right to identity”, where, in association with psychologists from a renowned research center, NUPSEX and the NGO Igualdade (for transsexuals and transvestites) we came together to march for the visibility of the transsexual and transvestite persons and to
march for the visibility of the transsexual and transvestite persons and to petition, in the same day, a series of demands of name change that would refrain from exposing the plaintiff´s intimacy to the traditional invasive standards usually required. The results were spectacular: with the support of a highly comprehensive and humanist judge, all the claims were decided in less than a month. 10 persons could be, for the first time in their lives, proud, and not scared, to carry their true ID´s around. But the struggle is complex and far from a more efficient answer. For now, we´re preparing a second march and a second series of petitions to be filed on May 17th. While the Congress avoids passing any legislation to alleviate this process, we continue our petition. One by one, we are starting to call justice by its name, and demanding that it calls us by ours.
#May17IDAHO Contact us 251 Bank St., 5th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1X3 Canada Telephone +1 613-562-3522 admin@youthcoalition.org www.youthcoalition.org Follow us on facebook and twitter to find out what we are up to! YouthCoalition.org
WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
Homophobic and Trans-phobic Bullying in Schools in China Liping Mian - YCSRR Alumini, Aibai Culture and Education Center
The words, such as queer, hermaphrodite, sissy, lady-boy and half-man halfwoman accompanied me from primary school to the first year in high school. This type of language violence can really affect a person’s development adversely.
Bingfeng, a 20 year old gay student from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. And he is not alone in China. Before the International Day Against Homophobia and Trans-phobia (IDAHO) in 2012, Aibai Culture & Education Center, one of the oldest Chinese LGBTI organizations that advocates equal rights for Chinese LGBTI people, conducted an online survey on homophobic and trans-phobic bully in schools across China. This survey aimed to learn the current situations of homophobic and trans-phobic bullies in schools in China and collect evidence for further advocacy and public education. Within two and half a week, 421 students from junior schools, high-schools, vocational schools and universities responded to the survey. According to this survey , 77% of the respondents have encountered at least one of 17 types of homophobic and trans-phobic bullying in schools. 10% of them were victims of direct or indirect attacks. And 7.6% of the respondents have been sexually harassed by their classmates and/or teachers. School bullying brought negative
influences to their academic performance as well as their psychological and mental health. However, after the bullying, only 33% of the respondents sought support from others, most of which are their peers. The Chinese government recognizes the right to education without any physical or mental violence to all young people under 18 years old through its constitution as well as its ratification of the Rights of the Child (CRC). However, due to the lack of practical implementation policies and mechanisms, LGBTI children and young adults cannot fully enjoy these rights. Though the government requests schools to provide sex education, which is an important part of education of adolescence, there is no consolidated curriculum for comprehensive sexuality education. Although there is some sex education textbooks, LGBTI related information is often missing, outdated, or misleading. All of these obstacles have an impact on homophobic and trans-phobic bullying in schools.
In order to address the homophobic and trans-phobic bullying in schools, Chinese LGBTI organizations have been active and progressive in taking concrete actions. For example, Aibai Culture & Education Center took the lead and organized one press release, two trainings for teachers, as well as 30 campus activities in different universities in China in 2012 after the online survey. These activities aimed to raise awareness and call for concrete actions from major media, teachers and university students to combat homophobic and trans-phobic bullying in schools. Moreover, Aibai Culture & Education Center has spent two years translating The Human Sexuality, a text book of sex education popular among the American colleges. The Chinese edition was published under the name Ren Shi Xing Xue in 2012 and promotion activities were widely organized in order to encourage teachers, who teach sexuality education in schools, to use this book for their text books. We believe that with the joint efforts from education sectors, NGOs, major media, public generals and students themselves, more and more LGBTI students could accept their education in a supportive environment free of any types of violence.
1. Survey report can be downloaded via the following link: http://www. aibai.com/booksview. php?id=19532. YouthCoalition.org
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WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
LGBTI rights in the Post-2015 agenda: Progress is on the way! Ricardo Baruch, YCSRR One of the main demands that civil society organizations and governments around the world will make for the new development agenda that is currently being shaped, is a demand that it must have a strong focus on human rights. The fight against discrimination has been a hot topic in the different consultations and forums where the Post-2015 agenda has been discussed, including the meetings of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons (HLPEP) members in London, Liberia and Bali and the specific Online Consultation on LGBTI issues within the Inequalities theme. LGBTI rights is not a stand alone right, it needs specific agreed terms to make it wider and cross-cutting. In this case, the UN system needs to adapt a “sexual rights” concept. Sexual rights has been widely used and advocated in a lot of avenues, however there is still a lot of work to do to ensure it become official UN agreed language. Many of the discussions of the HLPEP members and the NGOs participating in the different spaces for the Post-2015 route have included the respect for vulnerable groups, including sexual rights of LGBTI people, as a key area that nevertheless, is very unlikely to make it to the final report of the panel or the actual outcome of the whole process. So far, sexual rights has been included in the HLPEP meeting in Liberia. As part of the new development agenda, last December, the Glob-
al Youth Forum took place in Bali, Indonesia with more than 500 young activists from all over the world. The outcome document of the meeting called the “Bali Declaration” outlines very well how young people are keen to include LGBTI rights at the heart of development on issues related to health, education, employment, family life and civic participation. There is a strong mention to adopt sexual rights as human rights and this needs to be pushed forward in other discussions within the discussion around post-2015 process. 2013 has been a great year for LGBTI rights around the world: some countries in Europe and the Americas have approved laws that allow same-sex marriage, there is more recognition of the rights of LGBTI people by more UN agencies and the UN Secretary General, donor countries like the U.S., Norway and the Netherlands have funded civil society initiatives around the world to promote and protect the rights of LGBTI people… but is certainly not enough because countries in some regions such as Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe are still trying to shut down all the initiatives related to LGBTI rights and homophobia is still a big problem in both developed and developing countries. Last February, Youth Coalition and IGLYO organized a meeting with young representatives of LGBTI networks and NGOs around the world to discuss how our movements can engage with the new development agenda including ICPD+20 and Post2015.
As a result of the meeting, many spaces were identified and there is more awareness of how issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity can be linked with the new development agenda. Pushing for a major integration of human rights, particularly sexual rights in the development framework is definitely one of the top priorities, because it would allow that not only LGBTI people but also other marginalized groups to have access to better protection and recognition globally. The International Day against Homophobia is a good moment to remind us that the LGBTI movements around the world must build cross-cutting linkages with other movements such youth, women, sustainable development, and other human rights-based movement to unite our effort to push for sexual rights for all, especially in international discussions such as the post2015 process.
For more info on the Post 2015 Agenda check out this link: www.beyond2015.org
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WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
Youth who flee their countries because of anti- LGBT persecution: Why these heroes need your help
Ariel Shidlo - Research Institute Without Walls
In many parts of the world LGBTI youth face persecution for homophobia and trans-phobia. In some countries the persecution is so relentless that these youth decide that to survive physically and psychologically they need to flee their countries and seek safety in a new country. In New York, at the Research Institute Without Walls (riww.org) and the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights I work as a psychologist with LGBTI youth who seek asylum in the United States. I have worked with youth from over 20 countries in five continents and found a common pattern: they all report that they had to flee their country because there was no safe space for them. They suffered life-crushing persecution at home, on the streets, at school, and at work. Compared to other refugees, LGBTI refugees face a unique situation: their own families often join in their persecution. Other refugees usually have the support of their families or ethnic communities. When they arrive in the U.S., LGBTI refugees are fearful of their own ethnic communities. LGBTI youth are often relational refugees, in addition to being geographic refugees. They have escaped from abusive relationships at the hands of their families and peers. When they arrive in the U.S. they are often very cautious when making new friends and dating. Many suffer from shame and are secretive about what they have experienced. They are sometimes surprised that they are treated with dignity even though they are LGBTI. Young LGBTI refugees show a remarkable resilience and drive to create new lives. They need time and support in order to learn how to trust people and how to manage their new freedom to express their sexual orientation and gender identity. I view these LGBTI youth as heroes who can inspire all of us to keep on healing, rebuilding, and reinventing ourselves. If you are in countries that provide new homes for LGBTI refugees you can find ways to reach out to them and help them connect to the LGBTI community. Help start a peer counseling or support program in your community center and volunteer to serve as a buddy. Chances are this will be among the most satisfying things that you do.
Closer to Equality: LGBTI in Asia by Rebecca Brown The Asia-Pacific region is currently undergoing rapid societal changes, with increasing political attention and space given to the human rights and health issues facing lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. This includes increasing demand for marriage equality. New Zealand has just become the thirteenth country in the world, and the first in the Asia-Pacific region, to support same-sex marriage. Thailand has been the first country in the region to propose a civil union bill for same sex couples. The draft bill has undergone public scrutiny, was recently reviewed by the Sexual Diversity Network of Thailand (comprised of 16 NGOs and advocacy groups), and will be submitted to Parliament when it resumes in August 2013. In Viet Nam, the Ministry of Justice began openly discussing legalizing same-sex marriages in July 2012, polling public opinion on this issue while considering
amendments to prevailing marriage laws. Other bills, including one in Taiwan province of China (the first in Asia) drafted in 2003, and Nepal in 2009, are pending. Youth networks and representatives from Youth organizations in Asia have been contributing to this ongoing international dialogue through various channels, including participating in the International Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Transgender regional conference in Bangkok on 29-31 March. This conference was the largest international LGBTI meeting in Asia in history, and over 200 participants representing 150 LGBTI networks and organizations from the Asia-Pacific region attended. Youth representation at this conference gave these organizations the opportunity to learn from good practice, gain a deeper understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity issues within the regional context, and to network and explore
new partnerships. Youth activists in the region were also supported to contribute to the first ever LGBTI National Community Dialogue in Thailand, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme, the US Agency for International Development, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in the context of the Being LGBTI in Asia initiative. This meeting, attended by over 50 activists, researchers, and programme staff, reviewed challenges and support in different areas including education, community and politics, employment, and health. Youth activities in the region hope to achieve a clearer picture on how legal, social, and political environment impact on LGBTI people’s rights to education, health and well-being and how youth organizations can mainstream these issues in conducting their work. YouthCoalition.org
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WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
Trans‘-Erfahrungen aus Luxemburg TIch heiße Marc J., bin 25 Jahre, und wohne in Luxembourg. Was ich vor allem, vor meiner und am Anfang meiner Transition bemerkt habe, ist dass viele Leute mich angestarrt, einige dabei auch gelacht haben. Von einigen habe ich auch gehört, dass sie sich gegenseitig gefragt haben, was ich denn überhaupt wäre, ein Mann oder eine Frau. Ein großes Problem ist die Unkenntnis der Mediziner, Psychologen und Erzieher. Als ich 11 Jahre alt war, war ich für 3 Jahre in einem Kinderheim. Das Schlimmste für mich dort war, dass sie versucht haben aus mir ein „richtiges“ Mädchen zu machen. Es war grausam in eine Mädchenrolle gedrängt zu werden, obwohl klar zu erkennen war, dass ich mich dagegen gewehrt habe, z.B. beim Kleider- und Schuhkauf. Seit meinem 12ten Lebensjahr gehe ich regelmäßig zu Psychologen, und keiner konnte mir helfen, oder mir sagen was mit mir los ist. Eine Psychologin sagte mir, als ich ihr mitteilte dass ich mich als Junge fühle, das würde meine Aggressivität erklären, und ich sollte doch mal meine Hormonwerte überprüfen lassen, nicht dass da etwas nicht stimme. Bei einer anderen Psychologin, zu der ich 7 Jahre lang ging, habe ich habe das Thema immer wieder angesprochen, aber sie mich ebenfalls nicht verstanden. Es führte immer wieder zu der Diskussion darüber, was denn überhaupt männlich und weiblich bedeutet, und dass ich doch auch eine etwas männlichere Frau sein könnte, und alle Frauen seien sowieso verschieden. Oder wir haben darüber diskutiert, ob ich vielleicht Probleme damit habe meine vermeintliche Homosexualität zu akzeptieren. Das führte nach einigen Jahren dazu, dass ich mich nach einer Sitzung mit dieser Psychologin umbringen wollte. Ich beschloss an dem Tag das Thema “dass ich mich als Junge
fühlte“, den Begriff Transsexualität kannte ich bis dahin noch gar nicht, niemals mehr bei jemandem anzusprechen, und total aus meinem Leben zu verdrängen. Es fühlte sich an, als würde ich mich innerlich selbst töten. Ich bekam Depressionen, und Panikattacken. Ich habe deswegen auch meine Schule abgebrechen müssen, weil es für mich nicht mehr möglich war, das Haus zu verlassen. Ich nahm Antidepressiva, und erst 5 Jahre später ging es mir besser, als ich entschied das Thema wieder in mein Leben zu lassen, und ich mir Hilfe bei Transgender Luxembourg genommen habe. Sie waren die ersten Menschen die mich verstanden haben, und wo ich erstmalig das Gefühle hatte, dass jemand mich und meine Gefühle ernst nimmt. Ein weiteres großes Problem ist, das nicht vorhandene Wissen der Mediziner. Entweder kennen sie sich gar nicht mit der Thematik aus, oder wenn man jemanden findet der sich damit auskennt, dann ist dieses Wissen auch noch stellenweise falsch, oder unvollkommen. Was dazu führte, dass ich als„ Patient“ wesentlich besser informiert war, und Bescheid wusste als die meisten meiner Ärzte. Was mir in meiner Schulzeit gefehlt hat.
Marc Jung
an, um dieses Thema im Unterricht zu besprechen. Das würde einerseits dazu führen, dass ich mich hätte früher damit auseinander setzen können, und andererseits dass auch die anderen Kinder der Klasse für dieses Thema sensibilisiert werden würden, was dann vielleicht zu einem respektvolleren mit Trans‘-Personen führen könnte. Nächste Hürde: Änderung der Papiere. Eine weitere große Hürde stellt die Personenstand- und Vornamensänderung dar. In Luxembourg muss man, bevor man seine Papiere ändern kann operiert sein. Was dazu führt, dass man in Situationen kommt, wo man Zwangsgeoutet wird, wenn man noch nicht operiert ist, und man seine alten Papiere vorlegen muss, oder man eben noch mit dem Namen, den in den alten Papieren steht, angesprochen wird. Als ich dann endlich meine Personenstands- und Vornamensänderung durch hatte, hatte ich Schwierigkeiten meine Zeugnisse ändern zu lassen, weil meine ehemalige Schule anfangs meine Zeugnisse nicht ändern wollte. Nach einem langen Hin und Her, bekam ich schlussendlich doch noch meine Zeugnisse geändert.
Was mir in meiner Schulzeit gefehlt hat, ist dass das Thema Transsexualität nie angesprochen wurde, und dabei bieten sich doch viele Fächer YouthCoalition.org
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WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Discrimination in the Context of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Rashidi Williams Sexual expression is an integral aspect to effective functioning of the individual. However, across Africa, there is the rising call for the criminalization of the identities and organizing of LGBTI people from both legislative and executive arms of government. One sure area that is impacted on is the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young LGBTI people. In 2011, the Nigerian Senate passed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition (SSMP) Bill. Legislations such as Section 214 and 215 of the Nigeria Penal Code and Section 131, 132 and 133 of the Sharia Penal Code have led to the widespread homophobic attack on LGBTI people and reprisal of LGBTI human rights defenders. In 2002, Innua Yakubu a student at the Government College, Jigawa, a sharia governed state was murdered by his classmates on basis of his sexual orientation and gender identity. Under the bill being reviewed by the House of Representatives, the infusion of homophobia is notable in the name of the protection of public morality and African values. Article 4 of the SSMP bill grossly violates the Chapter IV of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution guaranteeing the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. Discriminatory and repressive laws are accounted for as factors driving HIV transmission amongst
MSM. Affected mostly within this sub-population are young people between the ages of 15-29.The freedom of association and peaceful assembly is very vital if young LGBTI people are to be reached with information and services in mitigating the impact of HIV. Article 5 shows homophobic infusion and bigotry into the legislation. This provision of the bill infringes on the right to the freedom of expression, the right to dignity of the human person as enshrined under the chapter IV of the Nigerian constitution. In totality, the bill violates right to safety and security of LGBTI persons. For full realization of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people, the need to speak and lead discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity is imperative. Homophobia affects programming for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young LGBTI people. In March 2012, an intersex man was lynched on the streets of Sapele, a city in Delta State, south-south Nigeria. In post militancy Niger-Delta, homophobia drives LGBTI people away from seeking information that could better their sexual reproductive health. There are recorded instances where non-state actors followed by extortion and blackmail have arbitrarily detained gay and trans men.
It is asserted that sexual reproductive ill health is a precursor and consequence of poverty (Family Care International, 2006). This accounts for approximately 20% of the ill health of women and 14% for men due to lack of appropriate sexual health reproductive health services (WHO 2004). LGBTI people must be free to contribute to the socioeconomic and political development of their society and communities. We urge African leaders and the Nigerian government to say NO to discrimination and say YES to diversity, the respect of African values of tolerance and hospitality towards people of different categories.
YouthCoalition.org
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WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
Eliwelton and the denial of the sexual rights of young people in Brazil Ivens Reis Reyner, YCSRR Over the past few years in Latin America, we have seen changes to the laws in some countries that have ensured the rights of LGBTI to get married or to have their gender identity recognized. This progress has led people to think that the sexual and reproductive rights of LGBTI people in the region are being respected and promoted. However, our daily experiences as young people show the opposite. At the beginning of May 2013, when we also celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, a young man, aged 22, called Eliwelton was brutally killed in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This happened after a driver insulted him for being gay, Eliwelton reacted verbally and was taken away by his friends. The driver got back in his car and ran over the young man three times. This is not an isolated incident; this is one example of many violent situations that young LGBTI face in the country and in the region. The violence that young LGBTI people face on the streets of Brazil, in cities from the north to the south of the country, has been part of our daily lives. This is the result of a culture of hate that permeates the country and that the government has not improved, but worst, neglected. In the past years, the number and quality of policies and programs to address homophobia and transphobia in Brazil have reduced or have been removed from schools. Debates about the criminalization of homophobia have taken place in the Congress, but with no progress or implementation. The
campaigns focusing on the promotion of health of LGBT young people have been cancelled and/ or are prohibited. All of these delays and inactivity have meant that young people in Brazil have not been able to fulfill their sexual and reproductive rights and that homophobia continues to harm young LGBTI people, such as Eliwelton. Brazil is signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and also the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. Both state the need to protect and promote the rights of young people to live free from coercion and violence of any kind. Brazil, as any other country committed to these agreements, must take proactive measures to eradicate homophobia and trans-phobia. This will ensure that young people will not have their rights violated; in the way that Eliwelton had his rights violated. It is not acceptable that the person responsible for the murder of Eliwelton does not take responsibility for it, as it has been the case so far. Young people in Brazil need and deserve justice for crimes committed against them. We have the right to live in a country that prevents harm, stigma or violence against young people based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We have the right to live in a country that respects us and promotes the diversity of its youth, a country that really fulfills and upholds our sexual rights.
• IDAHO was created in 2004 • May 17 is the day the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder • Nearly 80 countries continue to criminalise homosexuality • The Internation Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is celebrated in more than 100 countries! • It is a day to create awareness to homophobia and transphobia • It is a day to advocate for Sexual and Reproductive Rights for ALL
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WATCHDOG • ISSUE 12 • May 17/13
La lucha contra la homofobia en Lima, la lucha contra todos.
Gonzalo Meneses, estudiante de psicología social y activista
Vivo en la ciudad de Lima, capital del Perú, uno de los países más homofóbicos de América Latina. Cada día que pasa, veo como mis hermanxs lesbianas, gais, transexuales y bisexuales y yo sufrimos todo tipo de abusos y agresiones, como el acoso y los insultos de los transeúntes de cualquier calle. En el Perú no existe ninguna política pública contra la discriminación por orientación sexual e identidad de género; los despidos de distintos centros de trabajo cuando se enteran quiénes somos realmente, sin poder hacer nada ya que en el Perú es legal que te voten de un trabajo por no ser heterosexual; la imposibilidad de formar una familia reconocida y protegida legalmente porque en el Perú no existe ninguna forma legal que reconozca las uniones entre personas del mismo sexo; las expulsiones de nuestras casas y escuelas por lo que cada año, cientos de niñxs son expulsados de las instituciones educativas por no ser –parecer-heterosexuales; la homofobia en los discursos académicos de los colegios es constante, en las escuelas peruanas no existe un solo curso de derechos humanos, pero si tenemos un curso de religión que nos dice que somos seres pecadores e inmorales. Además, existe la homofobia en los centros de educación superior, sobre todo en las aulas de humanidades y ciencias sociales donde es abiertamente manifestada y enseñada a los estudiantes; los ataques constantes y sistemáticos de las iglesias, particularmente la católica, que históricamente ha movido viento y marea para impedirnos acceder a los derechos humanos más básicos. Por ejemplo, en el
Perú tiene firmado un concordato con el Vaticano desde los 80’s, que nos obliga a conceder una serie de beneficios económicos y sociales a la iglesia católica –con los impuestos de todxs, haciendo que tenga una profunda y enraizada influencia en todas las decisiones y políticas del estado; los asesinatos que se cometen contra nosotrxs en cada rincón del país ya que en el Perú, muere semanalmente una lesbiana, trans, gay o bisexual sólo por atreverse a serlo. Por si fuera poco, la indiferencia y desidia del estado peruano, que no conformes con haber rechazado y mantener en el olvido cualquier proyecto de ley que incluyera un avance para nuestra comunidad, por medio de la Ministra de Justicia, acaba de anunciar que nuestros derechos han sido extirpados del “Plan Nacional de Derechos Humanos 2013-2016” –que será aprobado en los siguientes días, simplemente porque somos un tema “álgido” y “controversial”, en otras palabras, no seres humanos que merezcamos derechos de ningún tipo. Es un contexto social y político frustrante, y es evidente que todo está diseñado para que no existamos. Todas las instituciones: nuestras familias, las escuelas y universidades, nuestros centros de trabajo, los hospitales, la iglesia y el estado nos dicen que somos seres enfermos, pervertidos e inmorales, que no merecemos derecho ni reconocimiento alguno, que debemos permanecer ocultos e invisibles de cualquier mirada que pueda ofenderse con nuestra existencia. Nos obligan a callar, a mentir, a agachar la cabeza, a vivir el sexo y sentir placer en lo clan-
destino, en lo oscuro, a vender nuestros cuerpos en las calles para sobrevivir, a suicidarnos, a morir. Nos levantamos cada mañana sabiendo que podemos perderlo todo sólo por no ser honestos con nosotros mismos. Nos han golpeado, insultado, agredido sexualmente, botado de nuestras casas y calles, tirado agua de «rochabús», lanzado bombas lacrimógenas y gas pimienta, sólo por atrevernos a tomarnos de la mano o a mostrarnos afecto, como cualquier ciudadano heterosexual puede hacer. Todo con la mayor impunidad y descaro. Nuestra lucha es agotadora y constante. No tiene descanso ni horizonte cercano. Es una lucha feroz y violenta, que nos interpela y compromete nuestras identidades a totalidad. Y es así porque luchamos contra nuestras propias madres y padres, contra nuestros hermanos, nuestros hijos, nuestros “amigos” y nuestros amantes, contra nuestros profesores, nuestros policías y doctores, nuestros congresistas, ministros y contra el presidente, contra nuestra propia gente y contra nosotros mismos, contra el miedo y la vergüenza que nos han ordenado encarnar, y contra el closet donde nos obligan a meternos. Luchamos contra todos y contra todo lo establecido. El enemigo está en todas partes y nos vigila con odio. Nuestra lucha no admite vacilaciones ni retrocesos. La única opción válida es volver a levantarnos con coraje, dignidad y respeto a quienes somos. El respeto que no nos tienen, la dignidad que merecemos y el coraje necesario para ser abiertamente machona o marica en este país. YouthCoalition.org
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