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The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is observed each year on May 17 to raise awareness and urge collective action to respond to the discrimination and violence faced by LGBTIQ+ communities worldwide. It marks the anniversary of when the World Health Organisation removed ‘homosexuality’ from the classification of diseases back in 1990. It serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality, freedom, and justice for the LGBTIQ+ community worldwide.

This year’s theme, "No One Left Behind: Equality, Freedom, and Justice For All," echoes a resounding call to action to dismantle barriers and foster inclusivity for every individual, irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Staff members at Y+ Global who are members of the LGBTIQ+ community are reflecting on the importance of this day and what this means for an effective response to HIV.

“When Uganda’s anti-LGBTIQ+ law was passed last year, this set off a chain reaction of brutalisation against the queer community in my country, Kenya, and many countries in this region,” shares

Oliver Muindi

LGBTIQ+ rights activist and HER Voice Fund Admin Support at Y+ Global

Oliver recalls how queer people had to undergo a lockdown just for their safety; some had to migrate to different locations, while law enforcement agencies practically did very little to diffuse the hate speech and call for violence against the LGBTIQ+ community.

“This movement of hate was actively led by religious leaders and political figures, who incited threats and violence not only to the queer community but to the services they accessed, such as health services and social spaces,” Oliver adds. “It resulted in a low uptake of health services as people did not feel safe accessing them at public hospitals for their life-saving drugs like antiretroviral therapy and other medication to treat sexually transmitted infections.”

Oliver Muindi

LGBTIQ+ rights activist and HER Voice Fund Admin Support at Y+ Global

In various regions of central, eastern, southern, and western Africa, anti-LGBTIQ+ laws are linked to a higher incidence of HIV among men who have sex with men, as well as other marginalised groups such as people who inject drugs, sex workers and their clients, and trans people, and their sexual partners. This trend is most evident on the African continent but is also observed in many countries worldwide, including the West.

“I remember seeing the videos from Istanbul Pride on YouTube in high school and deciding to move to Istanbul. Those Pride videos gave me hope for my future.”

Ozla Nuh

Senior Programme Officer at Y+ Global

Following the biggest pride parade in the country's history in 2014, with over 10,000 people in attendance, the Istanbul parade has been banned since 2015. According to Ozla, this is because the LGBTIQ+ community has become a scapegoat for the anti-rights movement in the country and as part of polarising politics. For instance, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of religious affairs for the government blamed homosexuality and premarital sex for the emergence of infections, including COVID-19 and HIV, which placed a target on the backs of people identifying as LGBTIQ+.

“Considering the fact Turkey remains among one of the few countries with increasing new infection rates, this rhetoric of blaming the LGBTIQ+ community puts public health in danger and prevents those disproportionately affected by HIV from seeking and accessing health services,”

Ozla Nuh

Senior Programme Officer at Y+ Global

In Malawi, this all seems too familiar to Connex, who works with the Ivy Foundation, an NGO dedicated to supporting LBIQ (lesbians, bisexuals, intersex and queer) people. “The fight for LGBTIQ+ rights and ending AIDS are two sides of the same coin,” they explained. “Marginalised communities often face a higher risk of infection because of limited access to information, testing and treatment services. We can only see results and progress by working together and forming strong allies,” they added.

“The fight for LGBTIQ+ rights and ending AIDS are two sides of the same coin. Marginalised communities often face a higher risk of infection because of limited access to information, testing and treatment services. We can only see results and progress by working together and forming strong allies.”

Connex

Ivy Foundation

It's concerning that the rights of LGBTIQ+ people and other key populations are regressing in many parts of the world due to strong influences from cultural traditions, religious beliefs, and political agendas. In 32 out of 54 African countries, there are still laws that criminalise LGBTIQ+ people. These laws and policies not only violate their human rights but also pose a significant obstacle to the global response to HIV and efforts to end AIDS by 2030.

Although, recently, there has been some progress in countries that have recently repealed anti-gay laws, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Cook Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Singapore, more than 30% of countries still criminalise LGBTIQ+ people. There is still an urgent need for the governments of these countries to work with, not against, communities most vulnerable to HIV.

Any threat towards the LGBTQI+ community is a threat to human rights and represents a significant setback in our efforts to improve health, particularly in the HIV response. Governments must recognise the critical role they play in creating an inclusive and equitable society, as well as in addressing and preventing violence, stigma, and discrimination against the LGBTIQ+ community.

Y+ Global remains committed to protecting the voices of all young people, especially those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We offer a platform where their issues, concerns, and needs can be shared and amplified globally, and we will continue to collaborate with others to end stigma, discrimination, and violence and to increase access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services for young people living with and affected by HIV.