The world is seeing hard-won progress in protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people – but there is still a long road ahead.
To spotlight the advances and challenges, the theme of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia this year is: “No one left behind: Equality, freedom and justice for all.”
Among the recent advances: Social and legal norms have shifted away from criminalizing LGBTQIA+ people and towards safeguarding their rights. Since 2019, 11 countries have legalized marriage equality. Since 2017, 13 countries have removed laws criminalizing LGBTQIA+ sexuality.
Further, policies protecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities are gaining ground at every level. In recent months, United Nations bodies have called for transgender-friendly HIV care, protection of the rights of intersex people and an end to discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in health services.
These shifts have empowered LGBTQIA+ people and spurred health systems to improve access to sensitive and stigma-free care.
Yet despite the progress, discrimination and stigma remain, leading to serious health disparities and other inequities. Dozens of countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships. In some places, LGBTQIA+ people could face the death penalty because of their identity, leaving them highly vulnerable to rights violations and with limited access to health services. And many political leaders are using polarizing policies and harmful rhetoric.
All of this leaves LGBTQIA+ people more likely to be forced to confront poverty, violence and other forms of marginalization. In times of humanitarian emergencies, such as climate crises, the inequities deepen. The consequences can be life threatening, leading to struggles to obtain shelter and disaster relief due to discrimination and neglect.
UNFPA stands for the rights and choices of everyone, everywhere. Leaving no one behind means prioritizing the rights and inclusion of all people, as the world navigates unprecedented challenges and strives for a peaceful, prosperous future. “Human rights are inherent to all human beings,” UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem has said, “and these rights are guaranteed for every person, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.”
In honor of the international day, UNFPA is calling for the integration of LGBTQI+ rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights in global humanitarian and climate-resilience policies.
Amid escalating humanitarian crises around the world, countries must work to safeguard the right to health of LGBTQIA+ people by including them in disaster-response planning, incorporating their concerns into protective measures, and recognizing their unique sexual and reproductive health needs.
