In September 2024, an important meeting was held in Mexico City, organized by MPact (Global Action for Gay Men's Health and Rights) and GATE (Global Action for Trans Equality), dedicated to combating homophobia and transphobia as a public health crisis. Vitaly Djuma, Executive Director of ECOM, participated in this meeting, along with 12 other activists representing eight global and regional LGBT organizations.
The purpose of the meeting was to continue to raise awareness of homophobia and transphobia as a serious public health threat and to develop a multi-year initiative to address the issue. Participants agreed that this initiative should address the root cause of the problem: the power system that weaponizes homophobia and transphobia and intensifies attacks on and oppression of LGBT people to maintain the patriarchal order. The direct impact of this oppression is reflected in the rise of public health problems, particularly in the area of HIV.
It is worth remembering that back in May 2023, MPact and GATE issued an open letter signed by over 100 organizations, including ECOM, which emphasized that homophobia and transphobia are a public health crisis. In countries where same-sex relations are criminalized and freedom of expression is suppressed, LGBT communities face disproportionately high rates of HIV and low treatment rates. This also impacts education, employment, access to housing and health services..
During the two-day discussions, activists developed a vision for the initiative:
By 2029, more health institutions and governments will recognize transphobia and homophobia as a public health threat. This should lead to a deeper understanding of the impact of discrimination on access to health care and the development of policies focused on the interests of the LGBT community.
The implementation of this initiative will focus on several key areas:
- Advocating for recognition of homophobia and transphobia as a public health threat by international and national organizations
- Collecting data and expanding the evidence base on the impact of homophobia and transphobia on public health
- Changing public narratives through personal stories and campaigns
- Mobilizing LGBT communities to actively participate in this fight
- Providing resources to effectively promote the initiative
Long-term goals and challenges
Initial planning covers three to four years, but participants understand that it will take much longer to achieve meaningful change.
The global strategies that begin the work must then be adapted to regional and national contexts, taking into account legal and cultural realities, as situations and responses differ even within a single region, depending on the country.
Improving access for LGBT people to a wide range of health services, education, protection and safety, and ultimately improving the overall quality of life for our communities is undoubtedly a complex and lengthy process.
Why this is important?
Institutional and societal homophobia and transphobia continue to pose a threat to LGBT people around the world. Despite recent steps towards decriminalization of same-sex relations in some countries, attacks on the rights of LGBT people, especially transgender people, are only intensifying, including in our EECA region. This further highlights the need for long-term and comprehensive work to combat systemic discrimination that threatens not only the rights of the LGBT community, but also their health and safety.
At the meeting in Mexico City, participants confirmed that the work must be inclusive and take into account an intersectional approach in order to effectively protect the interests of all groups within the LGBT community.
The work is just beginning, and there are many challenges ahead, but developing a global strategy to recognize homophobia and transphobia as a public health crisis could be an important step in creating a more just and safe society for everyone.
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