April 20th, 2012
News from Asia and the Pacific: This Week at ILGA-Asia – 20 April 2012
NEWS:
ASIA
Saudi Arabia: Schools ‘ban tomboys and gays’ (SAUDI ARABIA)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reportedly banned gays and tomboys from its schools citing efforts to tackle the two ‘phenomena.’
Nearly one in five gay people in Taiwan have attempted suicide (TAIWAN [CHINESE TAIPEI])
Survey of nearly 3,000 gay people in Taiwan finds that 18% have attempted suicide and 30% have considered it.
ISTScare: Taiwanese laws should not require surgery to change sex (TAIWAN [CHINESE TAIPEI])
Based on standards and recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the US Department of State announced that beginning June 10, 2010, a valid certification from a medical physician will be sufficient to have the passport gender changed, with sex reassignment surgery (sex-change surgery) no longer a prerequisite. For Americans born overseas, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad can also be amended with the new gender.
Hong Kong University Vice-Chancellor: Save transgender research at HKU. Employ Sam Winter beyond 60 (HONG KONG)
For twelve years Associate Professor Sam Winter of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has been working in rights and health for transgender people. There are transphobic people at HKU , as anywhere else. So his work in this area has benefited from the fact that he had ‘tenure to 60’ (that is, security of employment until 60).
The 100 Most Influential People in the World (INDIA)
They are the people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world. Meet the breakouts, pioneers, moguls, leaders and icons who make up this year’s TIME 100.
‘Woman’ set to become a man after 19 years (INDONESIA)
Muhammad Prawirodijoyo, who was considered to be a woman for 19 years due to a rare genital abnormality, is slated for surgery on Thursday.
Cleric Accused of Molesting 11 Boys Questioned by Police for Six Hours (INDONESIA)
A popular Muslim cleric was questioned by the police on Monday about claims by 11 young men that he molested them years ago.
Gay activist Moves to the next Step of Selection (INDONESIA)
Gay activist Dede Oetomo has made it to the latest screening phase for members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
They are the wind beneath their own wings (INDIA)
While some transgenders have managed to make it against all odds, most continue to face discrimination and stigma when it comes to getting jobs or houses for rent. “Livelihood opportunities for transgenders needs a serious debate,” says Magdelene Jeyaratham, Director, Centre of Counselling.
Transgenders make a mark in SHGs (INDIA)
Integrating into society at large and finding a job continues to be a challenge for transgenders in the city, but they have not given up. Instead, they have begun finding self-sustaining, innovative ways of earning a livelihood.
An ongoing battle against discrimination (INDIA)
Participants share success stories, reflect on struggles at Transgender Day celebrations.
Book launched, activist felicitated (INDIA)
It was a day of celebration and reflection, as hundreds of transgenders gathered to observe Transgenders Day on Sunday.
Anjali Gopalan of Naz India, one of the 100 most influential people in the world: Time Magazine (INDIA)
Anjali Gopalan, of Naz Foundation India Trust,has been a champion of LGBT issues in India and has stewarded the case against Section 377 of IPC (to decriminalise homosexuality) for 10 long years.
Fighting for gay Rights Across Southeast Asia (CAMBODIA)
My first few weeks on the project coincided with Cambodia hosting the ASEAN (Association of South East Nations) Conference. This is a fledging regional body of the ten member states with three pillars: economic integration; political security and socio-cultural of the 10 member states. The conferences are also an opportunity for civil society organisations to meet and interface with heads of government. LGBT NGOs from across SE Asia attended a Civil Society Conference called the ASEAN People’s Forum in Phnom Penh.
MP says ‘No’ to LGBT PM (MALAYSIA)
KUALA LUMPUR: No lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender should be allowed to become the prime minister of Malaysia, said independent Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim today.
Miss Gay Philippines titlist against transgender women in Miss Universe (PHILIPPINES)
A HOMOSEXUAL beauty queen opposed the Miss Universe Organization’s decision to allow transgender women in the prestigious beauty pageant.
WORLD
Changing Times: Members of transgender community tell their history in media and pop culture (WORLD)
Before Jenna Talackova, there was Chaz Bono; before him, Brandon Teena; and, back in the 1950s, Christine Jorgensen. Transgender people have had a long, loud struggle in the media, from Jerry Springer’s earliest ratings-bait drama productions to Donald Trump deciding recently to ban a transgender pageant hopeful — only to have the organization overturn the ban and institute a policy of acceptance.
April 10th, 2012
ILGA Asia News April 2012
News from Asia and the Pacific: This Week at ILGA-Asia – 05 April 2012
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Dear Members of Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting – TCJM
We hope this email finds you well! It’s time to give you a heads up on what’s happening on http://www.ilga.org. This weekly newsletter is sent to approximately 4,000 LBGTI and allied organizations in the world.
To post an article on ilga.org, update your group’s page, add pictures and a logo on ILGA’s directory, apply to become a member of ILGA or renew your membership fees, please log in using nigel.a.collett@gmail.com, the email we have for the person acting as contact between ILGA and your group Nigel Collett .
Below are some of the organizations in our directory and articles uploaded on our website.
GROUPS:
1. Changing Attitude Australia
3. Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship
4. Church of God — Apostolic Old Catholic Church, Catholic Diocese of One Spirit
5. Emerging Queer API Religion Scholars
NEWS:
Asia and the Pacific
“A war against me, inside and outside”: Security forces, denials, and emos in Iraq (IRAQ)
In the Iraqi media, Sawt al-Iraq and Al-Mada both reported on Friday, March 23, that “security sources” are suggesting there will be a lull in attacks on emos until the Arab League Summit in Baghdad, scheduled for this week, ends. The sources also said, though, that girls will be targeted when the attacks resume.
Inclusion of SOGI Issues and Rights in the ACSC/APF and in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (CAMBODIA)
The second convening of the ASEAN Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) People’s Caucus at Phnom Penh, Cambodia was not only to celebrate diversity but more so, to remind the governments and members of civil society that the recognition, promotion and protection of LGBTIQ rights are still long overdue.
UN gives Iran human rights investigator second year (IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
The United Nations renewed the mandate of its human rights investigator for Iran on Thursday, but Russia and China voted against the resolution that expressed “serious concerns” about a country said to have the highest per capita execution rate in the world.
Iran’s Speaker of the Parliament calls Homosexuality an “animalistic behavior” (IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
In a March 17 speech that was reported by the semi-official FarsNews, Dr. Mohammad Javad Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) dismissed the Western criticism of Iran’s human rights record and said, “One of the human rights violations that Iran is accused of is the criminalization of homosexuality… Homosexuality is animalistic and we have no place for it in our value system. We are not ashamed of rejecting homosexuality nor are we bashful of stating that our value system is not compatible with this animalistic behavior.”
Blue Diamond Society Launches Nationwide Television Program
(NEPAL)
Honorable Sunil Babu Pant is hosting a new TV show every week(Saturday) at 9:30pm on Nepal’s national television, “Nepal Television”. The repeat telecast of this program can be viewed every Tuesday at 3pm.
Sunil Babu Pant Deactivates Facebook Account in Protest (NEPAL)
On March 22nd, I wrote an open letter to one of the most powerful businessmen the world has ever known, Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of facebook, the world’s most popular website. My request was simple: allow people who do not identify as male or female equal opportunity to express themselves by adding an “other” option under sex on facebook profiles.
Gay, deaf and mute: ‘no less than the trees and the stars they have a right to be here’ (PHILIPPINES)
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons with disabilities (LGBT PWDs) experience double discrimination in their daily life. Because of the many challenges they face, they have come to be known as the “marginalized within the marginalized” sector of society. “We are considered abnormal by people…They mock us when we try to communicate,” according to a deaf gay participant at the recent “Deaf Talks: A Forum for Deaf LGBT’s on Human Rights and HIV.”
Advocates Hail “Landslide Support” for Senate Marriage Equality Inquiry (AUSTRALIA)
Advocates say at least 45,000 Australians have sent submissions to a Senate inquiry into a Bill allowing same-sex marriages, making it the most strongly supported Bill in the nation’s history.
Progressive Muslims Launch Gay-Friendly, Women-Led Mosques In Attempt To Reform American Islam (UNITED STATES)
At first, the devout Muslims who gathered in a Washington, D.C., conference center seemed like they could have come from any mosque. There were women in headscarves and bearded men who quoted the Quran. But something was different. While mingling over hors d’oeuvres, they discussed how to change Islam’s future. A woman spoke about fighting terrorism; she had married outside the Islamic faith, which is forbidden for a Muslim woman.
World
Women-Loving-Women in Africa and Asia (WORLD)
This report is the result of the work of an amazing group of women from Asia and Africa who came together to research into the conditions of women in same-sex relations in their countries. The report is edited by Saskia E. Wieringa.
The March 2012 update reveals a total of 816 reported killings of trans people in 55 countries worldwide from January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2011. The update shows an exponential increase in reported killings of trans people over the last four years. In 2008, 141 cases were reported, in 2009 213 cases, in 2010 214 cases, and in 2011 a shocking number of 248. These are mainly the reported cases that could be found through Internet research and cooperation with trans organizations and activists.
New Issue of the Equal Rights Review Published by ERT (WORLD)
The Equal Rights Trust published Volume Eight of The Equal Rights Review (ERR), an interdisciplinary biannual journal intended as a forum for the exchange of legal, philosophical, sociological and other ideas and practical insights for those who are promoting equality. This issue contains a special section on equality in education, as well as an interview on the same issue with David Ruebain, Chief Executive of the Equality Challenge Unit, UK, and Marcelo Paixão, Professor of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
North America
Sign on to Say NO to safeguarding “traditional values” over women’s human rights! (UNITED STATES)
Call for endorsement – Say NO to safeguarding “traditional values” over women’s human rights. Sign on to the Statement of Feminist and Women’s organizations on the safeguarding of traditional values at the 56th Session of the Un Commission on the Status of Women.
Mitt Romney’s PAC Funded Anti-Gay Marriage Group Under The Radar (UNITED STATES)
In 2008, Mitt Romney’s political action committee made a $10,000 donation to the National Organization of Marriage at a time when the anti-gay rights organization was seeking repeal of a California law legalizing marriage equality.
TOOLS for CHANGE:
Gay Rights Are Human Rights: Advancing LGBT Protections At The UN (WORLD)
At the United Nations Human Rights Council March 2012 meeting in Geneva, an expert panel was convened to discuss the first-ever UN report focused on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity: “Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity,” ( A.HRC.19.41.)
The Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) have developed this toolkit to help shine an international spotlight on human rights violations related to sexual and reproductive health and rights in your country through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the United Nations.
Send your news and announcements to JJ Josef at jcjosef@ilga.org. We would also appreciate it if you can help us enrich our directory by sending us a list of LGBTI groups in the Asia-Pacific region.
See you next week for another edition of News from Asia and the Pacific.
Thank you,
ILGA Communications Team Asia
July 26th, 2011
International Gay and Lesbian Association finally wins UN accreditation
The group, which is one of the oldest international organisations fighting for gay rights, has been trying to gain recognition at the UN for years.
Yesterday, countries voted 30-16 to grant the group consultative status to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
ILGA gained consultative status in 1993 but lost it a year later.
Co-secretary general Renato Sabbadini said: “This is a historic day for our organisation, which heals a 17-year-old wound and we want to thank all, really all UN Members who voted in our favour.”
Countries which voted in favour: India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary.
Countries which voted against: Iraq, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Ghana.
Abstentions: Guatemala, Mauritius, Philipines, Rwanda, Bahamas, Ivory Coast
Source: PinkNews.co.uk
July 24th, 2011
ILGA News Update for Asia
ASIA
Gays Warn On Aussie Refugee Deal (MALAYSIA)
Gay activists have warned of dire consequences if the proposed refugee swap deal between Australia and Malaysia goes ahead.
US Prods Pakistan LGBT Debate (PAKISTAN)
The US Embassy’s hosting of Pakistan’s first lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) ‘Pride Celebration’ has spurred a debate in the virtual world, where it is safest to air views on the taboo subject. Most people learnt of the celebration organised on June 26 through a statement posted in the ‘press releases’ section of the US Embassy website.
Nepal’s oldest school starts sexual revolution (NEPAL)
Nepal’s oldest modern school that ushered in a revolution in education in the 20th century is now poised to bring in more sweeping social changes with the acceptance of a 13-year-old student, who was thrown out of a village school for being a transgender.
China State TV Defends Gays (CHINA)
In a surprise move, China’s state TV, CCTV, has defended the nation’s LGBT community against remarks made by bigoted actress Lü Liping.
Moral panic over transgender men and women is symptomatic of the Gulf’s problem with shifting gender roles.
The gay community in Hong Kong is waging the same battle for the right to get married that is being waged in other cities. Here however the
stakes may be considerably higher, as gay couples fight for the right for vital social services. Steven Chen reports.
HK Relents On Gay Partner Visas
Immigration authorities in the Chinese territory have agreed to issue family visas to partners of those working in the SAR.
Don’t Be Gay In Burma (BURMA)
A man stabbed 72 times bought on his own death because he was gay, so say the Burmese authorities.
Baguio mulls declaring 8 gay couples ‘unwelcome’ (PHILIPPINES)
Some members of the legislative body mull declaring the couples who took part in the mass gay wedding ceremonies last week as persona non grata or unwelcome in the country’s Summer Capital.
National LGBT Conference (PHILIPPINES)
Lesbian Activism Project Inc. (LeAP!), in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, successfully organized the National
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference in Island Cove, Cavite, Philippines on June 3-5, 2011. Under the theme “Forging Unity Towards the Recognition of LGBT Human Rights in the Philippines”, forty-six (46) representatives of LGBT groups from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the National Capital Region attended the conference.
What we don’t understand about same sex marriage (PHILIPPINES)
For many of us, lobbying for same sex marriage is definitely taxing without the legislative lingo. And like the Anti-Discrimination Bill that has not gained yet its inclusion, lobbying without the lingo may take forever. The truth is we don’t even have any law protecting LGBT from suffering because of hate and prejudice when they apply for jobs or when they are persecuted on the basis of their being an LGBT person.
LGBT hate crimes on the rise (PHILIPPINES)
Probing LGBT Hate crimes in the Philippines
May 13th, 2011
ILGA need help, please fill in ILGA Asia Questionnaire
As the largest LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) association in the world, ILGA would like to hear your opinion and views on the current state of LGBTI
struggle in your region and ILGA Asia’s role in it, in order to improve its performance. ILGA-Asia is the regional body of ILGA in Asia and is currently still in development. This form is specially meant for LGBTI groups and organizations in Asia – both members and non-members are welcome to fill in this form.
We would be grateful if you can spare some of your valuable time and fill the questionnaire by click the link :https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P69DGXT
Yours sincerely
ILGA Asia Board
