Website GN

APCOM GB : AIDS 2012 Plenaries Announced

2012-01-30T23:21:00.001+07:00

Please see attached the press release issued by IAS. The plenary line-up is announced.

AIDS2012_Press_Release_Plenary_Jan2012.pdf

Call for Abstracts AIDS-2012, Washington D.C

2012-01-30T23:20:00.001+07:00

Dear Network Colleagues,

*PLEASE FORWARD THROUGH YOUR NATIONAL NETWORKS*

This is a reminder to encourage you to submit your abstract proposals and scholarship applications for AIDS-2012: the 19th International Aids Conference, Washington D.C, U.S.A scheduled for July 22-27.

Abstract Information: http://www.aids2012.org/abstracts.aspx
Scholarship Information: http://www.aids2012.org/Default.aspx?pageId=376

As with previously IAC's do let me know if your abstract is accepted and/or you have successfully secured a scholarship.
If you will be attending, I can assist in connecting you with fellow LGBT and MSM advocates who will also be attending.

Looking forward to hearing of your progress.

Regards,
Laurindo

Ban homophobia in Africa: Ban Ki-Moon

2012-01-30T05:35:00.004+07:00

Sekjen PBB Ban Ki-moon, dalam pidatonya pada pembukaan KTT Uni Afrika kemarin, mendesak pemerintah2 Afrika agar menghormati hak2 LGBTI. Di Afrika beberapa tahun terakhir ini ada gelombang homofobia resmi yang didukung oleh beberapa pemerintah.

At the opening of an African Union (AU) summit this morning, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon told assembled leaders to respect LGBT people’s human rights. The AFP says:

“One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” Ban said.

“It prompted governments to treat people as second class citizens or even criminals,” he added. …

“Confronting these discriminations is a challenge, but we must not give up on the ideas of the universal declaration” of human rights, Ban told the summit.

Ban has shown more nerve over the years than I’d have thought possible at the beginning. Good for him.

(Un?)freedom tower: The HQ project

All this took place amid the inauguration of the African Union’s posh new headquarters in Addis Ababa — and that blingy building suggests why neither Ban’s admonitions, nor David Cameron’s threats, nor all the pious efforts of those who want to squeeze humanitarian aid in the name of human rights, may in the end amount to much. The elaborate complex, a glossy imitation of the UN building towering over one of Africa’s poorest cities, cost between $120 million and $200 million (US), and was entirely constructed by China. China Daily quotes ”Zeng Huacheng, a special councilor to the AU headquarters project from China’s Ministry of Commerce”:

“The accessible height of the main office building is 99.9 meters, in reference to the founding date of the AU and the rise of the continent,” Zeng said. “The panoramic view of the conference center is like two hands holding each other, signifying the strengthening friendship between China and Africa.”

Asia Times goes into more detail:

In the thin air of Ethiopia’s low-slung, mostly ramshackle capital, a glittering tower complex is erupting from a warren of corrugated tin roof shacks that many locals call home. …

Though the CSCEC [China State Construction Engineering Corporation] describes its efforts there as “aiding” the African Union, make no mistake, it is building the facility wholesale. Stern-faced Chinese foreman command ever-smiling Ethiopian laborers who are working round the clock to finish the project at breakneck speed for its planned January 2012 inauguration. …

In anticipation of a hoped-for visit to Addis Ababa by President Hu Jintao for the new AU’s debut, [a Gabonese Diplomat] stated: “We cannot thank China and it’s leaders enough for it …”

As China scours the continent for resources virtually unchallenged, this “gift” to the people of Africa will certainly come with strings attached. In a recent meeting with a high-ranking CSCEC official, Erastus Mwencha, a seasoned Kenyan diplomat who holds the deputy chair of the African Union Commission that oversees the project, hailed it in a recent press statement as a “permanent signature on African soil”.

When Asia Times Online visited the present AU headquarters hugging hilly Roosevelt Street, a representative of its Conflict Management Division lamented the depth of Chinese involvement both in Ethiopia and across the entire region. Africa’s sudden anti-democratic partner is engaged in a slew of road rehabilitation and construction endeavors in many parts of the country.

We are unbuilding socialism: The complex under construction

As I’ve pointed out here, Chinese aid for Africa — of which the new HQ is merely the biggest symbol — comes with few political conditions, certainly not rights-related ones. What accompanies it are economic expectations: that the continent will provide endless, cheap raw materials for China’s boom, as well as new markets for Chinese exports. That’s no good news for ordinary Africans, who’ll find their economies shunted every more firmly into a neocolonial niche of underdevelopment. But the elites who control the African Union’s governments will turn a profit.

As if in an emblem of this relationship, there weren’t even many African raw materials inserted into the building: Save them for export to Beijing! ”Even the furnishings were imported from China and paid for by the Chinese government,” a Ugandan blogger says sourly. China Daily puts the best face on this:

To ensure construction quality, only the best materials were used and furniture was specifically designed and ordered.

“Details such as the height of a table and the color of a carpet were all discussed with representatives from the AU,” Zeng said.

The lack of political conditions doesn’t mean, though, that Africa’s integration into the Chinese co-unprosperity sphere comes without political consequences. That Ugandan blogger’s comments suggest how neocolonial dependency fosters both patriarchal power structures and cultural protectionism:

Where is the pride in us as Africans having this luxurious new home? Where I come from, and I believe many African men come from similar backgrounds, you are not considered a real man unless you have built your own house which you will call your home. Its only then that you can marry your wife and its only then that you are respected by everyone in the village. …

Yes, indeed, it’s a reflection of a new Africa … An Africa without a culture, without a moral campus, an Africa without any pride, an Africa that can’t build their own home, an Africa that thrives on begging for food, for money and now for a home. An Africa that is shameful and disgraceful. An Africa that is empty and without a future, an Africa that is everyday selling its soul to powers foreign …

So congratulations to Ban Ki-Moon for speaking out. A glance at the balance sheets, however, shows there’s a long way to go.

Ecuador to close "Ex-Gay" Clinics AND names Lesbian to Lead Health Ministry

2012-01-26T07:56:00.002+07:00

In a Stunning Turnaround, Ecuador Pledges to Close "Ex-Gay" Torture Clinics and Names Lesbian to Lead Ministry of Health
AllOut.org mobilized thousands in Latin America to spur unheard of "people-powered" victory

January 24, 2011

New York, NY--After hundreds of thousands signed petitions denouncing abusive gay "cure" clinics in Ecuador, and months of closed door negotiations between Ecuadorian human rights defenders and the Health Ministry, the Ecuadorian government just announced a commitment to investigate - and shut down where appropriate - clinics that purportedly work to "cure" people of their sexual orientation.

Global campaigns launched last fall by AllOut.org, Change.org and CredoAction rallied over 250,000 around in the world in support of demands by local activists that the Ecuadorian government take action against these often abusive, violent, and illegal "clinics." Almost 65,000 signed AllOut.org's letter to Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, the only international campaign also run in Spanish and Portuguese, attracting thousands of signers from across Latin America. More on the campaign here:

http://allout.org/ecuadorclinics

The welcome news also dovetails with another encouraging announcement - the appointment of an out and open lesbian as Ecuador's new Minister of Health by President Rafael Correa. AllOut.org has reason to be optimistic that the Ecuadorian government will follow through on its commitment : the new Health Minister, Carina Vance Mafla, led the charge for years against these quack "clinics" as a feminist and LGBT rights leader in Ecuador.

"Credit for this victory goes to the long-term on the ground work led by courageous LGBT and women's rights activists in Ecuador, and to people around the world who helped elevate this national scandal to global prominence," said AllOut.org Co-Founder Andre Banks. "We are proud to share in this inspiring victory for LGBT equality, and extend our congratulations to Ecuador's new Health Minister, whose commitment to the rights, respect and health of women and LGBT people is well known."

BACKGROUND:

Ecuador: Lesbian who led fight against 'gay conversion' clinics appointed to Presidential Cabinet
http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2012/01/ecuador-lesbian-who-led-fight-against.html#.Tx3ey2NSTn0

Lesbians Escape From Ecuador's “Ex-Gay” Torture Centers
www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/10/07/Lesbians_Escape_From_Ecuadors_ExGay_Torture_Centers

Ecuador Minister of Health: Close fake "clinics" that torture LGBT in order to "cure" them
www.change.org/petitions/fiscal-general-del-estado-close-fake-clinics-that-torture-lgbt-in-order-to-cure-them

En Ecuador, gays denuncian clínicas para cambiar su orientación sexual (Spanish)
m.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/gays-denuncian-clnicas-ilegales-para-cambiar-su-orientacin-sexual/8424560

New analysis: Failure to address pandemic among MSM imperils goal of ‘AIDS-free generation’

2012-01-22T14:42:00.001+07:00

New Analysis: Failure to Address Pandemic Among Gay Men and Other Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Imperils Goal of “AIDS-Free Generation”http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

NEW REPORT CALLS FOR URGENT REFORMS BY DONORS, MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS, AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS

Download Reports in PDF format below

Full Report

Executive Summary

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Cub Barrett, Program Communications Manager
(212) 806-1602

NEW YORK, January 18, 2012—Funding to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS consistently fails to reach programs designed to control the disease among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a new analysis released Wednesday by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and the Center for Public Health and Human Rights (CPHHR) at Johns Hopkins University. The report finds that resources dedicated to addressing the epidemic among MSM are grossly insufficient, and that funding intended for this population is often diverted away from MSM-related services.

Despite Obama Administration leadership in setting bold new targets to tackle global AIDS and highlight the human rights of MSM and other sexual minorities, U.S. government aid intended to prevent and treat HIV infection among MSM continues to encounter obstacles throughout the world.

The new report, “Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation for Gay Men and Other MSM,” provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of HIV-related funding and programming for this population. Focusing on eight countries, the report finds that national governments have failed to adequately tackle the epidemic among MSM. The findings are especially dire in countries that criminalize MSM. In those settings, governments spend fewer resources on HIV-related health services for MSM, do less to track and understand the epidemic, and are more likely to repurpose donor funds intended to fight the epidemic among MSM.

International efforts such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have made great strides against the global epidemic, including more recent efforts to reach MSM. Yet these and other donors typically fail to collect and analyze basic information about the epidemic among MSM. In settings where MSM are persecuted, this lack of data is often used to justify under-funding and marginalization.

“These data show an astonishing lack of support for MSM populations around the world, but most especially in countries where MSM are criminalized and persecuted,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “Gay men and other MSM pioneered the global response to HIV in developed countries and have contributed significantly to the development of programs globally. However, they have been mostly excluded from these very services and programs in the developing world. This report lays out concrete steps that donors and national governments should take without delay to address the pandemic among MSM.”

The report examines the progress and shortcomings of PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the UNGASS reporting system, managed by UNAIDS, and draws on data collected from on-the-ground researchers in eight countries: China, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Viet Nam. Using a standardized evaluation tool, civil society consultants studied the funding and implementation of MSM-related programming. Each consultant uncovered a range of issues related to funding allocations and service delivery, providing an in-depth view of the challenges facing MSM and their access to HIV treatment, care, and prevention services.

Among their findings:

With few exceptions, MSM are deprioritized and marginalized by HIV programs regardless of epidemic type or disease burden. For example, this analysis found that in Guyana, funding for MSM programs dropped 96% between initial proposal and final budget.
Epidemiological surveillance of MSM in many countries is woefully inadequate to determine the true burden of HIV among MSM. This makes it much more difficult for international monitors, including UNGASS, to assess the needs of MSM in each country, and further complicates allocation and monitoring by donors.
In countries where homosexuality is criminalized, such as Nigeria and Ethiopia, many MSM forgo seeking medical care out of fear of government-sanctioned punishment. Despite billions of dollars in funding for HIV programs, both countries continue to make international headlines for persecution and violence against MSM.
Efforts to streamline donor bureaucracy are being undertaken without consideration of their impact on vulnerable populations. Consolidated funding streams, broad health systems investments, and reduced reporting requirements may ultimately undercut efforts to direct money to more effective interventions.

In addition to the eight country reports, the overall report also includes recommendations for national governments, PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and UNGASS.

“For the first time, we have specific data to help us understand why MSM are omitted from national HIV/AIDS surveillance systems and are subsequently excluded from HIV/AIDS services in countries that rely on foreign assistance from international donors,” said Stefan Baral, associate director of the CPHHR at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “As an international community, we must take these data and work with donors and governments to better address the needs of gay men and other MSM throughout the world. We will never create an ‘AIDS-free generation’ if we don’t get the epidemic under control among MSM.”

Read this release on the web: http://www.amfar.org/hill/article.aspx?id=10652
About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $325 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.

About the Center for Public Health and Human Rights at Johns Hopkins University
The Center for Public Health and Human Rights at Johns Hopkins focuses on using the scientific tools of public health to address the health and rights of populations in need. The Center is active in Asia, Africa, and the Former Soviet Union and works with sexual minorities, people who use drugs, and refugees and displaced communities in conflict.

Liputan Bedah Buku Fiqh Seksualitas

2012-01-12T20:12:00.003+07:00

Homoseksual, bukan Liwath. Itulah salah satu topik kontroversial dalam buku Fiqh Seksualitas. Buku tersebut karya tiga pemikir Islam: K.H. Husein Muhammad, Siti Musdah Mulia, dan K.H. Marzuki Wahid. GN sukses menggelar bedah buku (11/01/2011) dan dihadiri sekitar 50 peserta. Acara berlangsung mulai pukul 19.36 – 22.00 wib, dengan pembicara K.H. Husein Muhammad, pembahas Pendeta Ester, dan moderator Ahmad Zainul Hamdi.

Moderator membuka dengan pernyataan,”Ini hal baru bagi Kiai Husein karena berani menyinggung isu homoseksualitas, setelah sebelumnya berkutat di isu gender, seksualitas, dan kesehatan. Dan bagi teman-teman di GN, ini kesempatan langka untuk mempertanyakan keresahan tentang homoseksualitas langsung pada kiai.”

Selanjutnya Kiai Husein angkat bicara,”Buku ini lahir karena permintaan PKBI Jakarta untuk menerbitkan buku Fiqh Seksualitas. Tidak spesifik homoseksualitas, tapi seksualitas secara keseluruhan. Lalu saya, Ibu Musdah Mulia, dan Kiai Marzuki Wahid menyusun pemikiran seksualitas menurut Islam yang diwujudkan dalam buku ini.”

Secara terperinci, Kiai memaparkan bab per bab isi buku. Bahwa seksualitas tidak identik hubungan seksual, tapi sangat kompleks. Bicara seksualitas adalah bicara kehidupan, sebab seksualitas adalah eksistensi manusia itu sendiri. Buku ini terbagi lima bagian:

Bagian Pertama: Konsep Dasar Seksualitas
- Pentingnya Hak-Hak Seksual
- Seks, Seksualitas, Orientasi dan Perilaku Seksual
- Makna Fiqh Seksualitas

Bagian Kedua: Paradigma Islam dalam Memahami Seksualitas
- Tauhid Pembebasan Islam
- Prinsip Penghormatan Manusia
- Kesetaraan-Keadilan Relasi

Bagian Ketiga: Mendiskusikan Kontroversi Isu Seksualitas dalam Perspektif Islam
- Perempuan sebagai Sumber ‘Fitnah’?
- Aurat Perempuan
- Hak Menikmati Seksualitas
- Khitan Perempuan
- Masturbasi dan Onani
- Homoseksual

Bagian Keempat: Seksualitas yang Bermanfaat
- Fiqh yang Berkeadilan
- Seksualitas yang Maslahat
- Hak-hak Seksualitas

Bagian Kelima: Kesimpulan
- Simpulan dan Refleksi

Diskusi kian menarik kala Kiai Husein bicara homoseksualitas. Beliau menegaskan: homoseksual, bukan liwath. “Liwath” atau “Luthi” merujuk relasi seksual yang pernah dilakukan kaum Nabi Luth. Imam al-Thabari menyebut kaum Nabi Luth sebagai Sodom, masyarakat yang berperilaku Sodomi. Liwath (Sodomi) adalah perilaku seksual yang menyasar ke anus (dubur), bukan ke vagina. Liwath (Sodomi) bisa dilakukan oleh kaum homoseksual, heteroseksual, atau biseksual. Sedangkan homoseksual adalah orientasi seksual kepada sejenis.*) Oleh karena itu, tidak sepatutnya memperlakukan kaum homoseksual sama dengan kaum Sodomi, baik secara sosial maupun hukum (hal. 95). Beliau juga menyebut beberapa istilah dalam literatur Islam, yakni Mukhannats, Mutarajjilah, dan Khunsa**).

Dengan semangat, Pendeta Ester menanggapi buku Fiqh Seksualitas:
Isinya sangat maju dan berani, terutama lahir dari pemikir Islam yang progresif.
Peraturan yang dibuat agama menunjukkan fungsi seksual (konstruksi) dan tidak memihak perempuan. Perempuan hanya jadi obyek laki-laki. Yang perlu dipertanyakan lebih lanjut adalah konsep seksualitas yang dilekatkan pada tubuh perempuan.
Kelebihan buku ini adalah berani mengkonstruksi hukum Islam dengan perspektif baru.
Pendekatan al-Qur’an dan Hadist pada konteksnya. Artinya, berpijak pada realitas kehidupan manusia, bukan ruang hampa.

Bagian paling menarik pada Tauhid Pembebasan Islam, Prinsip Penghormatan Kemanusiaan, dan Pendekatan Hak Asasi Manusia. Sumber kejahatan manusia adalah cara berpikir esensialis, melihat eksistensi manusia sebatas laki-laki dan perempuan (heteronormatif), di luar itu tak ada. Perlu dipertanyakan tentang konsep pernikahan, mengapa untuk pernikahan laki-laki dan perempuan saja perlu dukungan seluruh sistem Negara? Ideologi agama adalah konstruksi. Tidak bersifat tetap, tapi bisa diinterpretasi ulang.

Sesi selanjutnya adalah tanya-jawab. Tiga pertanyaan dilontarkan peserta:
Abid: untuk menjawab keresahan teman-teman LGBT, menurut kiai, homoseksual dosa atau tidak?
Eman: tadi diutarakan kalau Sodomi dilarang karena dilakukan dengan kekerasan. Bagaimana kalau Sodomi (anal) dilakukan dengan cinta dan kasih-sayang?
Khanis: dalam Islam, apakah ada cerita tentang perempuan butchie atau femme?

Kiai Husein menjawab dengan lugas, bahwa wacana homoseksualitas sangat kompleks. Ini terkait sejarah panjang peradaban manusia. Perlu dilihat bahwa konstruksi patriarki dan heteronormatif sudah ada sejak zaman Yunani. Dan untuk memahami, harus membaca banyak literatur dan kritis menginterpretasikan. Cerita tentang perempuan lesbi memang minim dalam al-Qur’an dan Hadist. Ini karena kitab suci ditulis dalam kerangka berpikir patriarki dan heteronormatif. Dalam cerita Abu Nawas bisa ditemukan penggambaran homoseksualitas.

Pendeta Ester menarik kesimpulan bahwa istilah homoseksual memang tidak ada dalam agama Kristen, tapi perilaku itu ada. Contohnya kisah Daud dan Yonathan. Selain itu, agama adalah konstruksi. Perlu berpikir kritis menyikapinya. Agama untuk kepentingan manusia, bukan sebaliknya, manusia untuk agama.

Sebagai penutup, Dede Oetomo angkat bicara,”Diskusi dua bulanan malam ini paling luar biasa di antara diskusi sebelumnya. Terima kasih buat Kiai Husein dan Pendeta Ester. Saya menambahkan sedikit saja. Bahwa manusia semakin beranjak ke arah pemahaman pada realitas. Di luar negeri ada Irsyad Mandji. Dia seorang perempuan, lesbian, feminis, dan masih Islam. Ada juga perempuan yang ingin punya anak, tapi tidak ingin berpasangan atau menikah. Ini artinya, yang berkembang bukan hanya LGBTI, tapi juga sisi-sisi lain. Buku ini sebetulnya tawaran. Bahwa nanti akan dikritik, didebat, ditulis ulang, itu sudah biasa. Pun, resiko Bu Musdah dan Kiai Husein dikucilkan, pastilah ada. Saya saja belum bisa bicara di Muhammadiyah. Tapi, yang penting adalah menjaga para sekutu dengan baik.”

Di akhir acara, moderator membagikan 6 buku ke peserta, memberikan sertifikat pada Kiai Husein dan Pendeta Ester, lalu foto bersama. (Antok Serean GN)

*) Orientasi seksual adalah kapasitas yang dimiliki setiap manusia berkaitan dengan ketertarikan emosi, rasa sayang, dan hubungan seksual. Orientasi seksual bersifat kodrati, tidak dapat diubah. Tak seorang pun dapat memilih untuk dilahirkan dengan orientasi seksual tertentu (hal. 16).

**) Mukhannats: [bahasa Arab] seorang berjenis kelamin-biologis laki-laki yang sifat, tingkah laku, dan gaya bicaranya menyerupai perempuan, serta mempunyai ketertarikan seksual kepada laki-laki. Mutarajjilah: [bahasa Arab] seorang berjenis kelamin-biologis perempuan yang sifat, tingkah laku, dan gaya bicaranya menyerupai laki-laki, serta mempunyai ketertarikan seksual kepada perempuan. Khuntsa: [bahasa Arab] seseorang yang mempunyai dua alat kelamin biologis: penis dan vagina. Pada umumnya, salah satu organ tersebut tidak berkembang atau tidak berfungsi (glossary).

Elton John Siapkan Buku tentang AIDS

2012-01-11T16:55:00.002+07:00

Penyanyi pop asal Inggris, Elton John, berencana meluncurkan buku tentang kampanye melawan AIDS. Seperti diberitakan kantor berita Reuters, dalam buku itu John akan bercerita tentang epidemi AIDS berdasarkan pengalaman hidupnya. "Salah satunya tentang pertemanan John dengan penyanyi Freddie Mercury yang meninggal karena AIDS di usia 45 tahun pada 1991 lalu," tulis Reuters.

Menurut penerbit Hodder & Stoughton, John memilih menulis cerita pribadinya tentang AIDS karena dia ingin orang memahami apa yang dialami pasien AIDS selama sakit. Selain Freddy, John akan memasukkan kisah Ryan White, bocah laki-laki yang meninggal karena AIDS, dalam bukunya. Pada saat White meninggal, John berdiri di sampingnya. Kala itu usia White masih 18 tahun.

Sekitar 20 tahun lalu, John juga mendirikan Elton John AIDS Foundation yang bergerak mengumpulkan dana untuk memerangi penyakit tersebut. Melalui yayasan itu, John menggalang dana dengan tema "LOVE IS THE CURE: Ending the Global AIDS Epidemic".http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

John berpendapat AIDS bukanlah penyakit yang hanya dapat disembuhkan oleh vaksin. "Pasien AIDS bisa bertahan hidup dengan perubahan hati dan pikiran orang sekitarnya, sehingga mereka bisa mendapat kasih sayang," kata John.

Ide penerbitan buku ini muncul seiring dengan naiknya jumlah pasien AIDS sebesar 17 persen selama kurun waktu 2001-2010. Pada 2001, jumlah orang yang terinfeksi virus ini sekitar 28,6 juta. Sedangkan, pada 2010, jumlahnya mencapai 34 juta orang. "Dengan buku ini, saya berharap pandangan orang terhadap pasien AIDS berubah jadi lebih baik," ujarnya.

Sumber: Tempo.co

International Day Against HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA - Initiative for IDAHO 2012

2012-01-11T16:49:00.002+07:00

International Day Against HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA

Initiative for IDAHO 2012

Dear all,

I'm sure many of you are about to reflect on their plans for the next International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia,

Last year, activists from 90 countries participated in the global mobilization (see the annual report from last May), with their diversity, creativity and energy, and May 17th 2012 will no doubt be once again a landmark for the global mobilization which will be as diverse as the sexual and gender diversity we all want to celebrate !

As you know, the IDAHO Committee tirelessly promotes this diversity and tries to give it as much visibility and publicity as we can.

Most of you also know that every year, we also actively promote the collaboration of organizations over a specific theme. For May 17th 2012, it emerged from several consultations and discussions with activists from all continents that the issue of homo/transphobic school bullying constitutes an issue over which such a collaboration can bring added value.

Since then, an international working group has been working on a set of ideas and proposals that are detailed in the concept note, which we invite you to read and give us your feedback on.

We also are always very keen on hearing about other plans and projects, whether collective or individual, so please do send us any information you have, even in very draft format.

Looking forward to an exciting International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2012 !!

Warm wishes

The IDAHO Committee team

Penderita HIV/AIDS ditanggung Jamsostek tapi bagaimana dengan kerahasiaan?

2012-01-10T22:11:00.006+07:00

Terhitung sejak tanggal 1 Desember 2011, PT Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja (Jamsostek) memberlakukan pemberian santunan senilai Rp 2 juta kepada anggota keluarga yang meninggal dari peserta Jamsostek.

Perusahaan asuransi milik negara (BUMN) itu memberikan jaminan kepada peserta Jamsostek yang mengidap penyakit HIV/AIDS.

“Sudah terbit aturan baru berlaku mulai 1 Desember 2011, tentang biaya pemakaman kepada anggota keluarga peserta Jamsostek yang meninggal,”ujar Kepala PT. Jamsostek Cabang NTT, Ainul Kholid, kepada Pos Kupang pada sosialisasi Jamsostek dan penyerahan santunan kepada tiga ahli waris peserta Jamsostek, Sabtu (17/12/2011) di Aula Efata Ruteng.

Dikatakannya inovasi yang dilakukan oleh PT.Jamsostek untuk meringankan beban pekerja, baik sama aktif f bekerja maupun pada saat meninggal.

PT Jamsostek juga menyediakan bantuan kesehatan kepada anggota Jamsostek yang mengikuti program jaminan kesehatan.

Bentuk bantuan yang diberikan antara lain penyakit jantung sebesar Rp 80 juta/tahun, penderita kanker Rp 25 juta/tahun, untuk penderita HIV/AIDS Rp 10 juta/tahun dan untuk penderita gagal ginjal yang melakukan cuci darah Rp 400.000/kunjungan dan setiap minggu 3 kali kunjungan atau melakukan cuci darah.

“PT Jamsostek terus memperhatikan kebutuhan pekerja. Invovasi ini diharapkan bisa meringankan beban yang ditanggung pekerja ketika mereka mengalami kedukaan atau sakit,” ujar Kholid.

Namun program itu belum sepenuhnya berjalan dengan baik. Kepala Divisi Pelayanan Jaminan Pemeliharaan Kesehatan Jamsostek Mas’ud Muhammad mengatakan, jamsostek khusus ODHA masih menunggu persetujuan kenaikan upah minimum pembayaran iuran Jamsostek.

"Perubahan kedelapan PP 14, di mana selling weighted Rp 1 juta menjadi 2 kali PTKP. Upah naik, PTKP jadi naik, tapi kalau rupiah mutlak, itu bisa ditinjau secara berkala. Kemarin kita udah rapat dengan LKS Tripnas, Tripartit Nasional. Dan mereka sudah setuju, tinggal pemerintah sekarang. Kalau itu sudah disetujui, dan jalan. Tapi ada persyaratan khusus dan umum. Perusahaan harus tertib, harus sudah ikut JPK selama setahun. Kalau semua udah ikut 1 tahun, semua bisa ikut."

Mas’ud menambahkan setiap ODHA yang terdaftar menjadi anggota Jaminan Pemeliharaan Kesehatan (JPK) otomatis mendapatkan fasilitas asuransi khusus pengobatan AIDS. Peserta akan mendapatkan pembiayaan sebesar Rp 10 sampai 20 juta pertahun. Jumlah tersebut akan terus bertambah mengikuti standar kebutuhan pemeliharaan kesehatan ODHA di rumah sakit.

Agar dana tersebut cair, si pekerja harus mendapatkan surat rekomendasi sebagai ODHA dari perusahaan tempat ia bekerja. Itulah yang menjadi masalah. Diskriminasi terhadap pekerja ODHA masih ada, seperti yang pernah dialami Dhani.

"Gue HIV Positif waktu kerja jadi security, di Tangerang tahun 2007. Sudah kerja di situ, gue positif di situ. Dan akhirnya gue bicara jujur, dan nggak tau ini stigma atau nggak. Yang jelas gue diberhentikan. Diminta untuk berobat dulu sampai gue pulih, setelah itu silahkan mau coba masuk lagi, silahkan coba. Tapi udah pernah gue jalanin, posisinya nggak ada. Gue mau masuk ke situ lagi posisinya nggak ada."

(Dari berbagai sumber)

Alan Chambers: 99.9% have not experienced a change in their orientation

2012-01-10T11:50:00.000+07:00

As noted Friday, President of Exodus International, Alan Chambers, spoke that evening as a part of a panel discussion at the annual conference of the Gay Christian Network. Audio of the panel is now up at GCN (Part 1, part 2). During part 2, about 5:30 into the file, Alan Chambers is asked, I think by GCN Executive Director Justin Lee, about the way Exodus and member ministries describe the work they do. Specifically, Lee asked about the slogan “change is possible.” Chambers responds by discussing his views of sexual orientation change, saying

The majority of people that I have met, and I would say the majority meaning 99.9% of them have not experienced a change in their orientation or have gotten to a place where they could say that they could never be tempted or are not tempted in some way or experience some level of same-sex attraction. I think there is a gender issue there, there are some women who have challenged me and said that my orientation or my attractions have changed completely. Those have been few and far between. The vast majority of people that I know will experience some level of same-sex attraction.

There was also some discussion of change meaning a change of viewpoint and behavior but the consensus was that Chambers was giving an honest appraisal of the aspect of sexuality that involves essential attractions. As one who once defended sexual reorientation change efforts, I have to agree with Chambers’ assessment. Credible reports of change are rare and do come more often from women than men.

Now, I wonder. Will this news be reported by Christian media, or become part of the evangelical blackout?

Source: http://wthrockmorton.com/2012/01/09/alan-chambers-99-9-have-not-experienced-a-change-in-their-orientation/

New Book: Imagining Gay Paradise

2012-01-06T09:52:00.001+07:00

Imagining Gay Paradise

Bali, Bangkok, and Cyber-Singapore

Gary L. Atkins

January 2012 336 pp.

Hardback ISBN 978-988-8083-23-7 HK$395 / US$50.00

Paperback ISBN 978-988-8083-24-4 HK$195 / US$25.00

Market Rights: Worldwide except Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam & the Philippines

http://www.hkupress.org/book/9789888083237.htm

http://www.hkupress.org/book/9789888083244.htm

"The author demonstrates the interrelatedness of the parallel worlds of 'other' and this magically real world of the Mystery in the lives and achievements of the men whose stories he tells. The writing is so propulsive and authoritative, yet full of poetry and depth, that anyone reading the book will take away something of value." — Grant Hayter-Menzies, author of The Empress and Mrs. Conger

- Depicts gay paradises in Southeast Asia and the men who created them.

- Studies the obstacles gay men have faced in securing a voice as citizens, how they used images of paradise in Bali, Bangkok, and Singapore to create a sense of refuge, construct homes, and dissent from typical notions of manhood and masculinity.

- Examines the pursuit of sexual justice, the ideologies of manhood they challenged, and the geographic and online spaces they created.

Gary L. Atkins is a professor of communication at Seattle University in the United States.

We are very interested in your comments and suggestions on this service. Please feel free to e-mail us at upweb@hku.hk. If you would prefer not to receive occasional e-mails from Hong Kong University Press announcing our publications or events, please send a message "unsubscribe" to us at upweb@hku.hk and we will remove your name from our list. 如閣下不欲再收到有關本社書籍或活動的電郵，請發 "取消電郵訂閱" 致 upweb@hku.hk.

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Bedah Buku: FIQH SEKSUALITAS

2012-01-05T11:38:00.001+07:00

Apakah Seks Merupakan Sesuatu yang Tabu dalam Islam?
Apakah Seksualitas Perempuan Merupakan Sumber Fitnah Sehingga Perlu Dikhitan?
Apakah Homoseksualitas Terterima dalam Islam?

Temukan Jawabannya dalam Bedah Buku

FIQH SEKSUALITAS:
RISALAH ISLAM UNTUK PEMENUHAN HAK-HAK SEKSUALITAS

NARASUMBER:
K.H. Husein Muhammad (Penulis Buku)
Pdt. Ester Mariani Ga (Pendeta Feminis)

Tempat : GNCC, Kantor GAYa NUSANTARA, Jl. Mojo Kidul I/11A Surabaya
Hari/Tanggal : Rabu, 11 Januari 2012
Pukul : 19.00-21.30 WIB.

Kerja bareng:
GAYa NUSANTARA - PKBI - FSI

Austria Extends Incitement-to-Hatred-Law to Sexual Orientation

2011-12-31T06:06:00.002+07:00

RKL’s application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made an impact. From 1 January 2012 after long struggle also lesbians, gays and bisexuals will be protected against incitement to hatred. The conservative coalition partner, ÖVP, however also connected this progress to pinprick. The price for extending the offence was it´s castration.

Up to now the Austrian Criminal Code has protected against incitement to hatred only ethnic and religious groups. Who denounced Mohammed as child molester got convicted. To write in a paper or to say in TV, for instance, that homosexuals should be detained or executed however was no offence.
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Rechtskomitee LAMBDA (RKL) took action against this lack of protection and supported an application of eight lesbians and gays to the Constitutional Court (see http://www.rklambda.at/dokumente/news_2011/News-en_PA-110311-E-Constitutional_Court.pdf). Before that, in spring 2010, the federal government had introduced a bill into federal parliament extending the offence to sexual orientation. But conservative MP’s exerted vigorousa opposition and the project failed.

The Constitutional Court in December 2010 declared the application inadmissible. Noone, the 13 judges said, has the right to complain against privileges of another group (VfGH 15.12.2010, G 68, 69/10). So lesbians, gays and bisexuals even lack the right to complain against their lack of protection.

The eight plaintiffs then, supported by RKL, in August 2011, applied to the European Court of Human Rights. And just two months later, in October 2011, federal parliament voted for the extension of the incitement-to-hatred law to sexual orientation.

Pinprick again and again

Like in 2002 with infamous Art. 209 and in 2009 with registered partnership applications to the European Court of Human Rights made an impact. Also anti-discrimination legislation for the workplace we got only due to an EU-directive.
And it is not only in this respect that history repeats. 2002 infamous Art. 209 has been repealed but substituted in part with a new (gender-neutral) offence (Art. 207b). 2009 registered partnership has been enacted but only with more than 60 differences to marriage.

Like back then also this time the incitred-to-hatred offence has been extended to sexual orientation (as to age, disability and sex) but at the same time the level of protection has been watered down.

The federal government bill even had proposed to make the protection more effective and this proposal even passed the federal parliament´s justice committee. The offence should protect not only groups but also their members. It was intended in future not only to outlaw to propagate „don’t buy from Jews“ but also „don’t buy from this one as he is a jew“.

In the last moment however, in the final plenary vote, the governing coalition parties (social-democrat SPÖ and christian-conservative ÖVP) surprisingly massively watered down the law. They not only dropped the improvements already passed by the justice committee but even lowered protection down below the current level.

Incitement to hatred legalized to a large degree

Up to now incitement to hatred and calling names have been an offence if committed „in public“, what means recognizable for around 10 people. From 1 January 2012 the offence requires „broad public“, which is a mass of (uncounted) people. This is fulfilled if someone agitates in the internet or in a broadcast, but not in a pub´s backroom and not even in a mass event if the public is not admitted to it.

This not enough, the offence has been watered down even more. As of 1 January perpetrators can only be prosecuted if it can be established that he/she acted with the intent to slur the group of homosexuals, Christians, jews, muslims etc. Incitement to hatred or calling names in a broad public do not suffice.

Finally slurring (of a protected group) on it´s own has been totally decriminalized.
So it will continue to be an offence to propagate „don’t buy from Jews“ but it will still be no offence to say „don’t buy from this one as he is a Jew“. Furthermore, different than up to now, incitement to hatred against jews, christians, muslims etc. will be decriminalized as of 1 January 2012, if it takes place in small or medium sized events, or even in closed mass events. And perpetrators will be offered the opportunity to escape prosecution for inciting to hatred or calling whole groups names (in a way violating human dignity) by alleging that they did not intend to slur all homosexuals or jews but (for instance) just acted out of frustration over some unpleasant experience and had not meant what they said.

Finally mockery and slurring of christians, jews, muslims etc. (as a group) will be decriminalized totally from 1 January 2012; even if the mockery or the slurring violate human dignity and even if committed in a broadcast, in the internet or in a mass event open to the general public.

„Is this how credible combat of hate preachers does look like?“, asks RKL-president and counsel of the applicants before the ECHR Dr. Helmut Graupner.

Rechtskomitee LAMBDA (RKL), founded in 1991, on a supra-partisan and denominational level is working for the implementation of human rights for homo- and bisexual men and women. In its honorary board it convenes as prominent members as former Prime Minister Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer, President of Federal Parliament Mag. Barbara Prammer, former Minister of Justice Mag. Karin Gastinger, the Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peter Schieder, Federal Ombudsman Mag. Terezija Stoisits, Senator Marco Schreuder, former Director of Public Security Dr. Erik Buxbaum, the former President of National Judges Association Dr. Barbara Helige, the Chairwoman of the National Judges Association’s Working Party on Fundamental Rights Dr. Mia Wittmann-Tiwald, the Vice-President of the Vienna Bar-Association Dr. Elisabeth Rech, the former President of D.A.S.-legal expenses insurance company Dr. Franz Kronsteiner, the President of Weisser Ring Dr. Udo Jesionek, the Secretary General of Amnesty International Austria Mag. Heinz Patzelt, the Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Board of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hannes Tretter, and the well-known human-rights experts Dr. Lilian Hofmeister and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Manfred Nowak, the constitutional law professors Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Brünner, Univ-Prof. Dr. Bernd-Christian Funk, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heinz Mayer and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ewald Wiederin, famous child- and adolescent psychiatrist Univ.-Prof. Dr. Max Friedrich and the Vienna Child- and Youth-Ombudspersons DSA Monika Pinterits and Dr. Anton Schmid, sexologists Univ.-Prof. Dr. Josef Christian Aigner, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rotraud Perner and Univ.-Lekt. Mag. Johannes Wahala, Life-Ball-Organisor Gery Keszler and many more. October 2nd, 2006, RKL’s 15 years anniversary has been celebrated in historic Ceremonial Act “Against Sexual http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif Apartheid” in the lower chamber of Austrian federal parliament. This first honouring of an lgbt organisation in the plenary session hall of a national parliament worldwide took place in attendance of over 500 guests including highest representatives from thejudiciary, administration and politics (http://www.rklambda.at/festakt/index.htm). Since 2010 RKL is a member of the Fundamental Rights Platform of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (www.fra.europa.eu).
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Press release on the incitement-to-hatred (and anti-discrimination) case (Dietz et. al. v Austria) before the ECHR: http://www.rklambda.at/dokumente/news_2011/News-en_PA-110311-E-Constitutional_Court.pdf

More information: Rechtskomitee LAMBDA, (+43 1 876 30 61, +43 676 309 47 37), office@RKLambda.at; www.RKLambda.at

World news in 2011

2011-12-29T17:45:00.001+07:00

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=35410
Extended for the online edition of Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times

There was a lot of push and pull, as everything happened from Belgium getting its first gay prime minister to U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's historic pro-LGBT speech to the anti-gay actions of several African nations:

—Leader killed: David Kato, an openly gay human-rights activist and advocacy officer at Sexual Minorities Uganda, was attacked in his home in Mukono, Uganda, on Jan. 26, and died on his way to the hospital. Sidney Nsubuga Enoch was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison Nov. 10.

—Violence on the rise: A report, "The Impact of the Earthquake, and Relief and Recovery Programs on Haitian LGBT People," asserted that violence and discrimination against LGBT people has increased since the January 2010 earthquake. Perhaps most shocking, conservative religious leaders in Haiti blamed LGBT people for the earthquake, leading to increased stigma and violence.

—Happy anniversary: This year marked the 10th anniversary that the Netherlands became the first nation in the world to let same-sex couples marry. Now same-sex marriage is legal in 12 nations, and the Netherlands has seen nearly 15,000 same-sex marriages.

—Uganda's bill: Uganda considered an anti-gay measure that would inflict the death penalty on those found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality." After much global outrage, Parliament adjourned in May 2011 without voting on the bill. The government voted to reopen debate on the bill later in the year.

—Showing Pride: Dozens of people ( including Chicago gay-rights activist Andy Thayer ) were arrested for participating in a banned gay-pride event in Moscow. As authorities arrested individuals, things became even more chaotic as an ultra-Orthodox group, described as skinheads, gathered in anticipation of the event and attacked the activists.

—I declare: The United Nations issued a declaration on HIV and AIDS. The declaration was the first General Assembly statement on AIDS to explicitly include men who have sex with men, breaking a pervasive silence about this population.

—And then there's fraud: Many followed the "saga" of the Syrian woman behind the blog "A Gay Girl in Damascus," who was supposedly kidnapped—but it turned out that it was all a fraud. Tom MacMaster—a 40-year-old U.S. man from Georgia working on his master's degree at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland—had been writing the blog for years under the pseudonym "Amina Arraf." He later apologized on the blog.

—Do the rights thing: In a groundbreaking achievement for upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The resolution, presented by South Africa along with Brazil and 39 additional co-sponsors from all regions of the world, was passed by a vote of 23 in favor, 19 against and three abstentions.

—Bad boy, what you gonna do?: Jamaican reggae singer Buju Banton—whom gay-rights groups have vilified because of his anti-gay songs—was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a Florida cocaine deal. Banton is mostly known among gay-rights groups for his song "Boom Bye Bye," the lyrics for which are apparently a fantasy of murdering LGBT people. In 2006, Banton was acquitted on charges that he had participated in the assault of gay men in Jamaica.

—Pulling back: The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organization ( aka IGLYO ) on July 28 canceled plans to hold its December annual conference in Israel after being criticized by Palestinian LGBT activists and some of its own member groups.

—He's a survivor: Rudolf Brazda, believed to be the oldest known gay survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, died Aug. 3 at the age of 98. Brazda was one of thousands of gay men deported to concentration camps during World War II. The Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler viewed homosexuality as an aberration and a threat to the Aryan race. More than 50,000 homosexuals were convicted as criminals during the Nazi reign.

—Rescue me: In Norway, married lesbian couple Hege Dalen and Toril Hansen helped rescue 40 people during Anders Breivik's recent shooting rampage at a youth camp on Utoya Island. Dalen and Hansen drove the boat to the island, picked up individuals from the water and transported them to the opposite shore to the mainland.

—Layton passes: In Canada, the Right Honourable Jack Layton, MP, died of cancer at age 61. An ally of the LGBT community, Layton—who guided the New Democrat party tinto being Parliament's dominant opposiion party—was a vigorous supporter of HIV/AIDS activism in the early years of the pandemic. In 2005, many credited Layton for the success of Canada's national same-sex marriage bill when he was the only party leader to request supporting votes.

—Taking a break: The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico voted to cut ties with the U.S. Presbyterian Church over the issue of gay ministers. Despite a 139-year history and a network of ministries spanning the United States-Mexico border, the Mexican denomination made the decision after the U.S. church voted in May to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy.

—German reign: Openly gay Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit was elected to a third term. Wowereit, 57, was first elected in 2001. He came out during a convention of the Berlin Social Democratic Party, saying, "I'm gay, and that is good the way it is."

—The rights stuff: In a speech to the United Nationals Human Rights Council that pro-LGBT advocates have called extraordinary, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for the fight for LGBT rights to be a foreign-policy priority. "Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights," said Clinton. "It is a violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave.

—Ogola dies: Dr. Margaret Ogola, renowned Kenyan author and medical director of Cottolengo HIV and AIDS Hospice, passed away. At the World Congress of Families II in Geneva ( 1999 ) , Ogola received the WCF Familias Award for Humanitarian Service. Besides her service at the Cottolengo Hospice, Ogola was vice president of Family Life Counseling in Kenya, which works to improve the condition of Kenyan women.

—Stepping down: In Russia, gay-rights activist Nikolay Alekseyev stepped down as head of Moscow Pride. Alekseyev, 34—the author of two books on gay rights in the U.S. Library of Congress—has fought homophobia for years and has endured slander and even kidnapping. Nikolai Baev, who succeeds Alekseyev, said the reason he left "is totally personal. He just decided to change his activity and lifestyle, and he has a full right to this."

—Pioneer: In Denmark, gay-rights pioneer Axel Axgil died at the age of 96. Axgil ( born Axel Lundahl-Madsen ) co-founded LGBT Danmark in 1948, making it one of the oldest gay-rights groups in Europe. On Oct. 1, 1989, he and his partner Eigil—who died in 1995—were among 11 couples to exchange vows as Denmark became the first country to allow gays to enter civil unions.

—Rio, grand: In Brazil, a top appellate court has ruled that two women can be legally married, making it the highest court to uphold a same-sex marriage. In June, a state court judge ruled that two men could legally alter their civil union into a marriage. In May, the country's Supreme Court ruled that civil-unions could be recognized but did not recognize full marriages.

—Good night and Goodluck: Nigeria's Senate voted to criminalize same-sex marriage, LGBT advocacy groups and even same-sex public displays of affection. Under the proposed law, couples who marry could face up to 14 years each in prison; witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be sentenced to 10 years. The House of Representatives now must pass the law and President Goodluck Jonathan must sign it before it can be enacted.

—Donation, qualification: In the United Kingdom, gay men can now donate blood. A lifetime ban was imposed in the 1980s as a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. However, following a review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs, men who have not had oral or anal sex ( with or without a condom ) within a year will be able to donate if they meet certain other qualifications.

—Conflagration condemnation: Members of the pro-LGBT groups Sangama and the Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum condemned the Delhi government in India for not putting fire-safety systems in place that, they contend, led to the deaths of 15 hijras ( transgender individuals ) in a fire Nov. 20.

—Mayor development: Hobsons Bay, Australia, has the world's first intersex mayor. Tony Briffa won the position in the city, which is just outside of Melbourne. "I am excited about the future of our community and look forward to serving the city with enthusiasm and pride," he said.

—World premier: French-speaking Socialist Elio di Rupo became the first out gay leader in the European Union, having been elected the premier of Belgium. Di Rupo, 60, is the mayor of the city of Mons and is a former chemistry professor. Di Rupo—who sports a bowtie and floppy hair, and who swears by abdominal crunches—came out in the late 1990s when questioned by journalists.

—Czech, please: Former Czech President Vaclav Havel died at age 75. Havel—a playwright-turned-political activist who spent four and a half years in prison for opposing Czechslovakia's Communist government— was also an ally of the LGBT community. He was reportedly pleased when the Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies passed a domestic-partnership law several years ago.

Map Hilversum, Belanda Hilversum, Belanda Transgender dalam Masyarakat Islam

2011-12-29T06:06:00.003+07:00

Oleh Jean van de Kok (Foto: Struggle for life)

Iran masuk media internasional karena pemerintah negara Islam Syiah itu menyediakan dana khusus untuk operasi kaum transgender. Menurut para ulama Iran, Allah tidak menganggap transgender dosa. Indonesia adalah negara berpenduduk Islam terbesar di dunia. Pengalaman kelompok transgendernya berbeda.

Hartoyo, aktivis Lesbian, Gay, Biseksual dan Transgender LGBT Indonesia, mengkritik sikap Iran ini. Baginya yang terjadi adalah negara memaksa para transgender untuk dioperasi, menjadi wanita atau pria. “Negara masuk ranah pribadi, rakyatnya dipaksa memilih jenis kelamin laki-laki atau perempuan,” demikian Hartoyo.

Ada unsur paksaan, karena tidak semua waria mau ganti kelamin. Hartoyo menganggap ini pelanggaran hak asasi manusia.

Menyalahi kodrat
“Sebenarnya kami diterima secara kultural dalam masyarakat, tapi posisi kami semakin hari semakin rentan oleh ulah polisi moral yang dengan doktrin agama mereka melakukan tindakan kekerasan terhadap komunitas waria,” demikian Luluk Azyra yang aktif dalam Sanggar Waria Remaja.

Ia setuju dengan kritik terhadap negara yang mewajibkan ganti kelamin, ini adalah pelanggaran hak asasi yang bersangkutan.

Seharusnya Islam toleran terhadap transgender. Tapi dengan penafsiran yang berbeda dan salah, serta fundamentalisme yang semakin tinggi, teman-teman waria semakin dianggap salah karena menyalahi kodrat. Mereka harus dibinasakan.

“Itulah ucapan-ucapan kasar yang digembar-gemborkan oleh ormas-ormas Islam fundamentalis, padahal Islam adalah agama yang melindungi kami,” demikian Luluk.

Show off
Di Indonesia tidak ada dana khusus pemerintah, jadi tidak ada paksaan. Memang kalau dibandingkan dengan kaum gay atau lesbian, waria lebih bisa diterima masyarakat di Indonesia. “Mereka lebih show off,” tutur Hartoyo. Namun para transgender paling didiskriminasi, karena penampilannya tidak bisa menutupi identitasnya.

“Kalau gay masih bisa menutup diri dengan penampilan seperti laki-laki, para transgender terbuka, mereka sering mendapat diskriminasi. Padahal di Indonesia kita jumpai keragaman seksualitas, gay, lesbian dan transgender diakui keberadaannya dalam masyarakat tradisional, misalnya Bugis, yang mengenal fenomena bissu.

Bissu
Sirtjo Koolhof adalah peneliti Belanda yang mendalami posisi kaum bissu dalam masyarakat Bugis. “Bissu adalah semacam imam. Mereka laki-laki yang berperan sebagai wanita. Tugas mereka penting dalam masyarakat tradisional Bugis. Mereka bertanggung jawab atas harta pusaka para raja Bugis.”

Para bissu menjadi perantara antara surga dan dunia. Mereka memiliki posisi terhormat. Itulah sebabnya para transgender dalam masyarakat Bugis menamakan diri mereka bissu, padahal mereka tidak memiliki jabatan ritual ini.

Dengan posisi terhormat para bissu, tidaklah berarti mereka bebas diskriminasi. Para pejabat agama dan pemerintah kadang kala mengadakan razzia di kalangan para bissu kalau mereka merasa didesak oleh kelompok agama, yang menganggap transgender melanggar moral.

Dimanfaatkan parpol
Sesepuh pergerakan LGBT Indonesia, Dédé Oetomo, melihat sikap kalangan Islam terhadap transgender di Indonesia lebih bervariasi. Ada pesantren waria, pengajian waria, tapi ada juga transgender yang dimanfaatkan oleh partai politik untuk berkampanye.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

“Waria diterima terbatas, dalam praktek sehari-hari sikap ini berarti asalkan jangan anak sendiri yang transgender,” demikian Dédé.

“Kalau ormas fundamentalis berkuasa dan Indonesia bukan negara bhineka lagi, karena dijadikan seperti negara Arab, maka saya khawatir kami akan dibumihanguskan dan tidak ada lagi,” ujar Luluk Azyra dari Sanggar Waria Remaja.

“Diskriminasi dan kekerasan akan dilegalkan,” jelasnya lagi. Karena itu dia bertekad berjuang menentangnya.

Source: http://www.rnw.nl/bahasa-indonesia/article/transgender-dalam-masyarakat-islam?mid=565859

Mass. roaster debuts ’gay coffee’

2011-12-28T16:06:00.001+07:00

WILLIAMSBURG - The coffee might not be gay, and the consumers are likely coffee lovers of every persuasion, but the message of this campy new brand is clear: Gay culture and gay history are splashing onto the coffee scene.

Five fledgling blends make up the new brand. There are dark roasts such as "Red Hanky Roast" and "Second Date," dark and medium blends like "Weekend Pass" and "Good Morning Mary" and a medium roast called "Stone Butch Breakfast Blend."

From the young blonde sailor on "Weekend Pass" to the woman carrying moving boxes on "Second Date," each blend sports humorously crafted artwork on the front to reflect its catchy moniker.

This kitschy concept comes from Elbow Room Coffee owner Melissa Krueger. Together with a handful of friends, Krueger says Gay Coffee started as a casual conversation over a cup of you-know-what. The discussion centered around how gay and lesbian culture has seemingly entered the mainstream in many areas.

"The ’aha’ moment came when we were talking about same-sex marriage and a friend commented on how gay culture is now seen everywhere. She said, ’Why I bet this coffee is even gay.’ It was a joke of course, but it got me thinking," she said.

Krueger thought it would be interesting to market a line of coffee with a gay theme, poking fun at stereotypes and cliches within the gay and lesbian community. She worried, however, that some people "wouldn’t get it" and that is where friend Daniel Rivers came in.

Rivers, a visiting lecturer in the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College, encouraged Krueger to keep the camp on the front while putting cultural and historical facts on the back.

"And that was it. That took it from being just funny, to putting information into places where it normally wouldn’t be," Krueger said.

Rivers did a little research and penned the educational bits on each blend. A longtime advocate of social justice and civil rights, Krueger said she had always wanted to market a product that had the potential to "make a difference."

"It’s fun, it’s educational and 1 percent of our profits are donated to the National Lesbian Gay Bisexual Task Force," she said. The task force helps to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT legislation.

But it’s not only about history, humor and social justice. Once consumers are drawn in by the marketing, Krueger hopes they will stay for the most important part, the taste.

"I roast everything here," she said of her Williamsburg shop, located a few feet off Route 9. "I have a 25-pound barrel roaster but I only roast eight to 12 pounds at a time. I could do more, but think that ratio of heat and air makes the coffee taste better," she said.

After debuting Gay Coffee at the Castro Street Fair in San Francisco on Oct. 2, she returned home and scrambled to put together an online store before the holidays. Gay Coffee took off.

"Initially I saw it as a small niche product, but the turnover has been quicker than I expected," Krueger said. So quick in fact, that Gay Coffee has already gone international. Krueger is not only sending orders throughout the U.S., but is shipping to Canada, Iceland and countries in Europe.

"I have to say I was pretty surprised when an order came in from Reykjavik!"

Locally, the brand can be purchased at Broadside Books in Northampton and Cup and Top in Florence, as well as directly from Elbow Room Coffee in Williamsburg. According to Krueger, she may add a few more blends to her repertoire.

"I would like to include some more multicultural labels and some that include the trans community. There are two or three more planned and we are always open to ideas from people," she said.

"This industry takes itself so seriously, that it is fun do a little play on branding. Obviously, coffee can’t be gay, and you don’t have to be gay to drink it. But I think there is a lot of room to put Gay Coffee on the shelves with other fair trade, organic artisan coffees," Krueger said.

Pengadilan Sahkan Siti Maemunah sebagai Lelaki

2011-12-28T09:15:00.003+07:00

Permohonan penggantian status kelamin Siti Maemunah, 19 tahun, menjadi laki-laki akhirnya dikabulkan Hakim Pengadilan Negeri Semarang. Dalam sidang yang digelar Selasa 27 Desember 2011, Hakim Ifa Sudewi mengatakan permohonan bisa dikabulkan karena berdasarkan bukti-bukti Siti Maemunah memang seorang laki-laki.

“Sesuai dengan bukti administrasi, hasil pemeriksaan medis, serta keterangan saksi ahli, permohonan dapat dikabulkan,” kata Ifa.

Selanjutnya, Maemunah yang kini berganti nama menjadi Mohammad Prawiradirjoyo diharuskan mengajukan pengurusan administrasi status jenis kelamin. Sebab ia harus mengubah jenis kelamin mulai dari kartu tanda penduduk, ijazah, hingga kartu keluarga.

Sebelumnya, orang tua Siti Maemunah memang memperlakukan anaknya yang kelima ini sebagai seorang perempuan. Sebab, saat itu, tak muncul penis seperti laki-laki. Pada saat yang sama, orang tuanya memang berobsesi punya anak perempuan.

Siti Maemunah pun mondok di pondok pesantren dengan bertempat tinggal bersama dengan para santri putri. Seluruh dokumen Prawiradirjoyo seperti akta kelahiran, KK, KTP, hingga ijazah, tercatat sebagai perempuan. Padahal ia merasakan adanya kejanggalan saat menjelang remaja, seperti tidak nyaman sebagai perempuan, serta tak adanya buah dada layaknya seorang perempuan. Dalam perkembangannya, saat remaja penis tersebut bisa muncul jika dipakai untuk jongkok.

Dalam pemeriksaan medis oleh tim Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Diponegoro Semarang dan Rumah Sakit Umum Pusat Dr. Kariadi Semarang diketahui bahwa remaja kelahiran 12 Januari 1992 ini memang berstatus laki-laki.

Kromosomnya 46 XY sebagaimana laki-laki normal. Hormon testosterannya di atas rata-rata kaum hawa, yakni 1.36. Hormon testosteron kaum hawa hanya 0.1-0.9. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifAtas dasar itulah, Siti mengajukan permohonan ganti kelamin yang diajukan pada 26 Oktober 2011. Pihak keluarga dan ahli medis didatangkan. Semua setuju Siti adalah lelaki.

Prawiradirjoyo yang hadir dalam sidang tampak biasa-biasa saja. Sepertinya ia sudah tahu dan yakin bahwa permohonannya pasti dikabulkan. "Hemm, gimana ya. Biasa saja. Pokoknya sekarang lega karena statusnya lebih jelas," kata Prawiradirjoyo.

Sumber: Tempo.co
Foto: Jawa Pos

Obama kirim ucapan selamat ke pasangan Matt Katz dan Aaron Lafrenz

2011-12-27T12:42:00.003+07:00

Pasangan gay di Brooklyn, New York terkejut menerima ucapan selamat atas pernikahan mereka enam bulan lalu. Keterkejutan mereka bertambah saat mengetahui ucapan itu berasal dari Presiden Amerika Serikat, Barack Obama.

Gedung Putih sendiri telah mengkonfirmasi bahwa benar mereka mengirimkan ucapan selamat pada pasangan Matt Katz dan Aaron Lafrenz. Dilansir dari ABC News Selasa 20 Desember 2011, pasangan ini mengikat janji sehidup-semati pada 23 Juli 2011 di rumah keluarga Katz atau sehari sebelum pernikahan gay dilegalkan di New York, untuk kemudian diresmikan lagi keesokan harinya.

"Saya benar-benar bingung saat menerima ucapan itu," kata Katz, yang mengaku dirinya bukan aktivis politik atau tergabung dalam kelompok pejuang hak kaum gay. "Namun Arlene tiba-tiba memanggil saya dan mengatakan bahwa itu semua perbuatannya."

Ternyata dengan mengatasnamakan Katz dan Lafrenz, seorang teman bernama Arlene Winstock sempat mengirim surat ke Gedung Putih dan meminta dikirimi ucapan selamat setelah mendengar Gedung Putih akan memenuhi permintaan kaum gay sebagai bagian pengesahan dari UU Pernikahan Homoseksual New York. Weinstock berasumsi bahwa permintaannya tidak terpenuhi karena tak kunjung ada kabar dari Gedung Putih.

"Awalnya kami mengira kalau ucapan ini adalah lelucon. Namun surat ini punya segel kepresidenan, dan asalnya dari Obama dan Michelle. Kami akan memajangnya," kata Katz, yang bersama pasangannya termasuk pasangan gay pertama yang meresmikan hubungan mereka ke jenjang pernikahan di negara bagian New York.

Berikut isi ucapan selamat Obama pada Katz dan Lafrenz yang dibubuhi tanda tangannya:

"Selamat kepada kalian berdua untuk kesempatan istimewa ini. Michelle dan saya berharap pernikahan kalian diberkati cinta, tawa, dan kegembiraan.

Penyatuan kalian menandai awal persatuan seumur hidup yang akan selalu kalian bagi dalam kebahagiaan kalian bersama.

Saya mendoakan yang terbaik seiring dengan dimulainya perjalanan kalian mengarungi hidup bersama, dan saya harap hubungan kalian akan semakin kuat dari tahun ke tahun."

John Smid, Former 'Ex-Gay' Leader, Says He Is Gay And Changing Sexual Orientation Is Impossible

2011-12-27T11:19:00.002+07:00

The former director of the ex-gay Christian ministry Love in Action has now come forward saying not only that he is gay, but that it is impossible to change one's sexual orientation.In an appearance on Chris Matthews' "Hardball" program earlier this week, Smid -- who was previously considered one of the foremost leaders of "reparative" or "ex-gay" therapy -- expressed sentiments about sexual orientation that, by all accounts, were a far cry from his earlier beliefs.

"For me, I am married, I've been married for 22 years, I love my wife dearly, we have an amazing relationship," said Smid, who resigned as Love In Action's executive director in 2008. "But at the same time, I do experience homosexuality...it's a part of my history, it's a part of the life that I live."As the Memphis Flyer is reporting, Smid previously issued an apology to former Love in Action clients last year, and credits Morgan Jon Fox, the openly gay director of the new documentary "This Is What Love in Action Looks Like" for helping to shift his mindset.

"We taught very heavily [at Love in Action] that any homosexual choices were against God's will, and they were sinful and wrong. We were very straightforward about that," Smid is quoted as saying. He now runs Grace Rivers, a monthly Christian fellowship group for "those who call themselves gay and want to seek a relationship with God in a place where they're free to do that."Watch Smid's "Hardball" appearance, along with other videos about so-called "reparative" or "conversion" therapy, below:

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/john-smid-former-ex-gay-minister-sexual-orientation-_n_1022417.html?mid=5633

Pramugari Transeksual di Maskapai Thailand

2011-12-23T21:22:00.000+07:00

Sebuah terobosan dalam menarik penumpang dan wisatawan untuk datang ke Thailand diterapkan secara cerdas oleh maskapai PC Air dengan mempekerjakan empat pramugari transgender, dimana salah seorangnya merupakan mantan ratu kecantikan transgender. Peter Chan, CEO PC Air menyatakan, dirinya terinspirasi akan persamaan hak untuk memberikan posisi bagi kalangan 'seks ketiga'. Dirinya juga tidak berkeberatan selama para transgender itu memenuhi prasyarat pekerjaan yang berlaku dalam dunia penerbangan.Adapun keempat pramugari transgender yang baru saja menjalani penerbangan perdananya adalah Chayathisa Nakmai, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, Nathatai Sukkaset, dan Phuntakarn Sringern.Sebagai salah satu negara dengan penduduk transeksual terbanyak di dunia, para dokter bedah di Thailand telah merintis teknik-teknik yang cepat dan lebih murah terkait dengan operasi transeksual.Toleransi masyarakat Thailand terhadap kalangan transgender yang dikenal dengan sebutan katoeys memang cukup besar. Tak heran, di sejumlah tempat umum, banyak tersedia toilet untuk mereka.

OHCHR SOGI report available online!

2011-12-16T06:23:00.001+07:00

The OHCHR report on sexual orientation and gender identity issues is now available in English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic (other languages to follow).

It may be accessed at:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/19session/reports.htm
(document number A/HRC/19/41)

or directly through the following links:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/19session/A.HRC.19.41_English.pdf
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/19session/A.HRC.19.41_Spanish.pdf
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/19session/A.HRC.19.41_Russian.pdf
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/19session/A.HRC.19.41_Arabic.pdf

We will distribute materials shortly to assist with media responses

Tony Briffa Of Australia's City Of Hobsons Bay Becomes World's First Intersex Mayor

2011-12-12T11:38:00.002+07:00

Tony Briffa has become the world's first openly intersex mayor.

As Care2.com is reporting, Briffa won the position in the City of Hobsons Bay, which is situated just outside of Melbourne, Australia.

"I am excited about the future of our community and look forward to serving the city with enthusiasm and pride," he said.

As his website, Briffa.org, notes, Briffa is a "genuine independent councillor (i.e. not a member of a political party)" and his focus is on "representing our diverse community, community groups and local businesses, protecting our environment, and working to ensure future generations of local residents can enjoy our unique character and amenity."

According to GayNewsNetwork.com.au, Briffa was born with both male and female physical attributes as a result of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). Doctors agreed to assign him a female gender even though his genetic makeup is male and he was not told about being intersex until years later.

Today Tony says he considers himself neither male nor female, though he uses male pronouns.

He writes on his website: "I feel very comfortable having accepted my true nature. I am not male or female, but both. I am grateful for the years I lived as a woman and the insight and experiences it gave me. I am still 'Antoinette' and have now also incorporated and accepted my male ('Anthony' or 'Tony') side. I feel whole. I'll continue to live as Tony but I feel I am now at a point in my life where I can celebrate being different."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/10/tony-briffa-intersex-mayor_n_1140840.html?ref=gay-voices&mid=54

Seminar "HIV dan AIDS....Deteksi Dini, Pengobatan, dan Pencegahan

2011-12-09T10:52:00.003+07:00

GN turut berpartisipasi sebagai peserta dalam seminar "HIV dan AIDS....Deteksi Dini, Pengobatan, dan Pencegahan" dalam rangka kegiatan "Kimia Farma Peduli HIV dan AIDS" di Hotel Bumi Surabaya 8 Desember 2011.

Produsen obat terkemuka asal Indonesia, PT Kimia Farma, mengklaim telah berhasil menciptakan obat untuk mengatasi virus HIV/AIDS yang diberi nama ARV. Kimia Farma menyebut, dengan obat tersebut pasien ODHA (orang dengan HIV/AIDS) berangsur-angsur akan merasakan keadaan yang lebih baik.

“Obat ini menurunkan angka kematian juga untuk menekan pasien masuk rumah sakit. Pemulihan kekebalan tubuh dan supresi viral load serta penurunan resiko penularan pada orang lain,” kata Direktur Utama PT Kimia Farma, Sjamsul Arifin, usai Seminar HIV/AIDS “Deteksi Dini, Pengobatan dan Pencegahan” di Hotel Bumi Surabaya, Kamis (8/12/2011).

Ia menjelaskan, ARV merupakan kombinasi obat yang diakui keberadaannya sejak tahun 1996. Saat ini, paparnya, penggunaan obat ARV diseluruh dunia terus ditingkatkan. Agar pengidap HIV/AIDS dapat segera tertolong, pihaknya terus meningkatkan upaya peningkatan ketersediaan obat, harga obat, serta jumlah layanan yang merata serta peningkatan ketrampilan petugas kesehatan dalam penggunaan.

Selebihnya, PT Kimia Farma juga menyebut telah mampu melakukan deteksi dini terhadap pengidap HIV/AIDS dengan cara murah dan cepat. “Kuncinya adalah memberikan penyuluhan kepada semua masyarakat, untuk menghilangkan stigma kalau HIV adalah penyakit kutukan yang sulit diobati,” tegas Sjamsul.

Statement Regarding U.S. President Barak Obama's Memo and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Address

2011-12-08T07:12:00.001+07:00

Statement from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in response to U.S. President Barak Obama's Memo and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s address regarding LGBT Human Rights.

Media Contact:
Roberta Sklar, Press Secretary, IGLHRC
+1-917-704-6358; rsklar@iglhrc.org

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) notes with pleasure the U.S. Presidential Memorandum regarding "International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons" as well as the accompanying speech by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Geneva today.

Jessica Stern, Acting Executive Director, said,
"The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has called upon the US government to integrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights into its foreign policy for many years, and so we are deeply gratified by today's historic development. Under the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Clinton, we now see a strategic approach to LGBT human rights and the most affirming LGBT rights foreign policy in the nation's history.

The 'Presidential Memorandum' and speech by Secretary Clinton make clear that LGBT rights are not a mere afterthought but a carefully considered component of US foreign policy. Because of the distinct needs of LGBT people globally, such a nuanced approach is crucial.

Significantly, neither the Presidential Memo nor Secretary Clinton's speech said that LGBT rights would become a condition for foreign assistance. Their message, initially misinterpreted in online discussions and by the media, stated clearly that, 'agencies involved with foreign aid…shall enhance their ongoing efforts to…build respect for the human rights of LGBT persons' (emphasis added). To be clear, there were no indications of tying aid to conditions or of cutting aid.

However, the work is not yet done. In her address, Secretary Clinton issued a simple but profound statement, 'Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.' We hope these words will ring loud and clear in towns and cities across the United States and villages and communities around the world."

APCASO e-newsletter no. 3

2011-12-03T11:19:00.002+07:00

Download APCASO's e-newsletter no. 3 here.

http://www.mediafire.com/?vv2mmoblfdmrd17

MSM and the Global Fund: Where Do We Go From Here?

2011-12-02T10:10:00.003+07:00

(December 1, 2011) - Last week, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced that it will cancel its eleventh round of funding due to the failure of donor governments to live up to their commitments. The Global Fund has been central to the global AIDS response since its inception, and the collapse of sustained commitment would deal a catastrophic blow to those affected by HIV around the world. For communities of men who have sex with men (MSM), the loss of a fully-functional Global Fund would be especially devastating.

HIV has taken a brutal toll on MSM from the time the epidemic was first identified among gay men living in the United States. After 30 years and the loss of countless lives worldwide, the virus continues to ravage our communities, with infection rates surpassing 20% among MSM in urban centers from Bangkok to Mexico City. Despite the clear need for intervention, recent research suggests that fewer than 50% of MSM worldwide can easily access HIV testing or free condoms, and only one third can easily access HIV treatment. Scale up of tailored services for MSM is urgently needed if we are to have any chance of heading off this crisis.

Most governments have done little to address these issues. Only 25% of countries made an effort to report levels of HIV prevention spending for MSM to the United Nations in 2010. In the few countries that did track this spending, an average of less than 2% of national HIV prevention budgets was dedicated to MSM. Making matters worse, more than 70 governments around the world have laws that criminalize homosexuality, forcing MSM underground and away from lifesaving services.

Amid a global response bogged down by stigma, discrimination, and lack of political will, the Global Fund has been at the forefront of developing effective funding responses to fight HIV among MSM and other key affected populations. In 2009, the Global Fund Board approved a new landmark Strategy in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The adoption of the “SOGI Strategy” was followed by important increases in key population representation on Country Coordinating Mechanisms, the proportion of funded proposals focusing on care and support related to these populations, and the proportion of funded proposals focusing on Community Systems Strengthening related to these populations.

Central to the success of the Global Fund’s work with MSM and other key populations has been the creation of a funding pool dedicated exclusively to most-at-risk populations (MARPs). Established in Round 10, the MARPs funding pool awarded $47 million to programs for MSM, people who use drugs, sex workers and transgender people. With so many national responses intent on underfunding programs for local MSM – indeed, many are actively sabotaging them – dedicated financial support from a multilateral like the Global Fund is fundamental to an effective MSM response.

The cancellation of Round Eleven not only means fewer people living with HIV receiving treatment and care services, it means a weakened global mandate to take a targeted, evidence-informed and rights-based approach to fighting AIDS. Said more bluntly, the failure of donor governments to honor their funding commitment in the fight against AIDS is equivalent to insisting that a three-legged table can stand just fine with only two legs. There is absolutely no question that a focus on key populations and human rights is essential to any effective AIDS response – a truth recently reiterated by institutions such as the World Bank and Johns Hopkins University – yet so few leaders have the political courage to act on this knowledge. This must be the focus of our advocacy, now more than ever.

We are now at a crucial moment in the AIDS response. We have new evidence that the end of the global pandemic may be within reach, if only we make the right decisions about funding and implementation. U.S. President Barack Obama today exercised bold leadership in his commitment to “end the pandemic, once and for all,” announcing a new commitment to reaching 6 million people with anti-retroviral treatment by the end of 2013. Now we must push for him and other leaders to honor their commitments, and in doing so, to recognize that targeted, evidence-informed, rights-based approaches to the epidemic are non-negotiable.

Call to Action:

As we move forward at this critical juncture, there are a number of steps MSM advocates in all countries can take to help ensure that the response for MSM is fully and appropriately funded.

Mere months ago, in June 2011, all UN Member States pledged to uphold the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: Intensifying our Efforts to Eliminate HIV/AIDS. Hold your governments accountable to fulfilling their promises as enshrined in the Political Declaration, including:

1. Fully funding the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: Member states have affirmed UNAIDS’ estimate that $24 billion is required in annual global expenditure on HIV in low- and middle-income countries [88]; have committed to providing funds in a sustained a predictable manner to the Global Fund [92]; have recognized the Global Fund as a pivotal mechanism for achieving universal access and encouraged all Member States to provide “the highest level of support for the Global Fund” [95];

2. Effectively reaching key populations, including men who have sex with men: Member States have recognized that HIV prevention strategies inadequately focus on populations that epidemiological evidence shows are at higher risk, specifically men who have sex with men [29]: and have committed to ensuring that national HIV prevention strategies comprehensively target key affected populations, to ensuring data collection on these populations are strengthened, and to ensuring that services are accessible [61];

3. Respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights in the HIV response: Member States have committed to creating enabling legal, social and policy frameworks in each national context to reduce stigma and promote access to services [77]; have committed to reviewing laws and policies that adversely affect successful and equitable delivery of HIV services [78]; and committed to having national HIV and AIDS strategies that promote and protect human rights [80].
In addition to advocating for your government to follow through on its commitments to the Political Declaration, advocate for the Global Fund to hold an emergency donor conference – as soon as possible, and certainly before the next International AIDS Conference taking place July 2012 – and work to ensure that donor governments use this meeting as a clear venue to re-commit their pledges.

Now is the time to get serious about matching the response to the epidemic; we can no longer allow squeamish and bigoted bureaucrats to use all manner of excuses to continue to ignore us. None of this will change if we allow ourselves to be convinced that “it just isn’t the right time” for us to fight for our health and our human rights. Now is exactly the right time. We must work together to re-open the door to changing the course of the HIV pandemic, putting the world back on a path toward ending AIDS.

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is an expanding network of AIDS organizations, MSM networks, and advocates committed to ensuring robust coverage of and equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services tailored to the needs of gay men and other MSM. Guided by a Steering Committee of 20 members from 18 countries situated mainly in the Global South, and with administrative and fiscal support from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), the MSMGF works to promote MSM health and human rights worldwide through advocacy, information exchange, knowledge production, networking, and capacity building.

SIGN ON to a Global Call to Action: 200 Days to Save the Global Fund

2011-12-02T10:04:00.003+07:00

Today is World AIDS Day, and the start for a Call to Action: it is unacceptable that funding for new programs would only come available in 2014, as decided by the Board at its last Board Meeting, we are demanding the Global Fund and its Board to mobilise the necessary resources and create a new funding opportunity for 2012.

PLEASE SIGN ON TO THE CALL TO ACTION BELOW, you can send your reply to jw@icssupport.org, and please also put up the Call to Action on your websites.

Thanks, Jacqueline

CALL TO ACTION

The cancellation by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria of all new programming until 2014 is unacceptable. This decision will cost lives and cripple international efforts to deliver on health-related goals, breaking promises made to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, and punishing the Global Fund's success of the last ten years.

People living with HIV and their supporters, as well as communities affected by TB or malaria, are extremely concerned about the damage under-funding of the Global Fund is causing. We therefore demand that:

• The Global Fund Board and Secretariat mobilise the resources necessary to scale-up the response to the three diseases through a new funding opportunity for 2012, estimated at US$2 billion.

• Donors to the Global Fund – particularly governments –urgently deliver on the commitments they made to meet health goals and to fund the Global Fund at its Replenishment Meeting in 2010.

• The Global Fund hold an emergency donor conferenceand issue a new call for proposals before the International AIDS Conference in July 2012 to fully fund the scale-up of programmes that will fundamentally changing the course of these threeepidemics, and put the world on the path towards ending AIDS.

This is 200 days from 1 January. 200 days to save the Global Fund.

We cannot wait until 2014 for the Global Fund to support further scale-up of programmes and life-saving treatment. We urgently call on the Global Fund to meet the timeline above and for donors and affected countries to ensure that interventions with the highest impact on the three epidemics are supported.

The clock is ticking.Millions of lives are at stake.

Signed so far by:
AIDS & Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), Namibia & South Africa
Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Uganda
Health GAP, USA
International Civil Society Support, The Netherlands
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, UK
Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, USA
World AIDS Campaign, South Africa

World AIDS Day: Campaign to end criminalization of HIV launches new online tool on HIV laws and policies

2011-12-02T09:54:00.005+07:00

London, 1st December 2011 – On World AIDS Day, the campaign to end the use of criminal laws to criminalize the transmission of HIV, and in some cases exposure to HIV, is launching an online tool to help people living with HIV, campaigners and activists around the world to find out more about laws and policies which may affect them directly. The tool is also to help policy makers learn more about the impact of such legislation and can be found at www.hivandthelaw.com.

The Criminalize Hate Not HIV campaign has been launched by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to counter the alarming international trend in recent years towards the criminalization of HIV transmission, and argues for an evidence-based approach to HIV prevention that does not increase the stigma surrounding HIV and protects the human rights of people living with HIV.

Kevin Osborne, Senior Adviser on HIV at IPPF, said: “The last decade has seen the criminal law become part of national responses to HIV and to promoting public health; yet the criminal law is a blunt instrument for HIV prevention. All current evidence points towards criminalization hampering an effective response to HIV prevention, and towards criminal laws being ineffective in protecting the most vulnerable from infection. Criminalize Hate Not HIV is concerned that these laws increase stigma and discourage health seeking behaviour.”

In a new report by Anand Grover, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, released to the General Assembly in August 2011, wrote: “Realization of the right to health requires the removal of barriers that interfere with individual decision-making on health-related issues and with access to health services, education and information ... In cases where a barrier is created by a criminal law or other legal restriction, it is the obligation of the State to remove it.”

Although difficult to know exactly, 41 countries – 20 per cent of the countries in the world – have laws under which HIV transmission or exposure has been prosecuted under either general criminal or public health laws or HIV specific legislation. In terms of HIV specific laws, 63 countries have criminal provisions relating to HIV transmission or exposure in at least one jurisdiction – 27 in Africa, 13 in Asia, 11 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 9 in Europe and 2 in Oceania and 1 in North America. Of these, 17 countries have prosecuted individuals for HIV transmission or exposure under HIV specific laws.

A much anticipated report from the Global Commission on HIV and the Law is expected to be published in December. The commission has documented evidence of the nature and impact of using the law in the HIV response and will showcase some of the human rights abuses that people living with HIV have faced.

Tewodros Melesse, Director General of IPPF, said: “HIV does not discriminate; so neither should the law. All people - regardless of race, gender, HIV status, age, sexual orientation or religion – share the same human rights and the same responsibilities.

“It is our view that the punitive nature of laws used to criminalize HIV transmission breaches the human rights of people living with HIV. We greatly look forward to the Global Commission’s report, in anticipation that it will categorically support the view that human rights must be respected and that the criminalization of HIV transmission is a violation of human rights that must end.

“Legal changes, such as anti-discrimination laws and confidentiality laws, have strengthened the response to HIV prevention, but there is no evidence that the criminalization of HIV transmission can be used as a prevention tool, in fact these are bad laws that do the opposite. Governments should recognize this and remove these laws from the statute book. We are asking:

· Governments to redouble their prevention efforts and focus on what really does work

· Policy makers and journalists not to sensationalize the lives of people living with HIV but rather involve them and let them tell their story

· People living with HIV to inform themselves of their rights and know what the law says and how it could affect them

· The wider community to share responsibility for actions that may lead to the transmission of HIV and other STIs

· Everyone to know their HIV status.”

Resources

NEW ONLINE TOOL ON HIV LAWS, POLICIES AND CAMPAIGNING (to be launched 1 December 2011): www.hivandthelaw.com.

Verdict on a Virus: a publication from the IPPF for anyone who wants to know more about the criminalization of HIV transmission or exposure and the related health, human rights and legal implications: www.ippf.org/en/Resources/Guides-toolkits/Verdict+on+a+virus.htm

Verdict on a Virus: an 11 minute policy and perspective film from the UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sucK-RcoRfI

Criminalize Hate Not HIV film: A 2 minute film available in 23 languages www.youtube.com/IPPFHIV

Behind Bars: an international collection of interviews from several countries exposes the effect criminal laws on HIV transmission are having on people’s working and private lives: www.ippf.org/en/What-we-do/AIDS+and+HIV/Behind+bars.htm

The Criminalization of HIV Factsheet: www.ippf.org/en/Resources/Reports-reviews/The+criminalisation+of+HIV.htm

Right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. United Nations General Assembly A/66/254, 3 August 2011. Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. http://www.un.org/en/ga/third/66/documentslist.shtml

Crisis looms as Global Fund forced to cut back on Aids, malaria and TB grants

2011-11-25T12:33:00.002+07:00

The Global Fund to fight Aids, TB and Malaria says it is unable to hand out new grants to countries for disease-fighting programmes because of an acute shortage of money, but will support "essential needs"

In what must be seen as a serious setback in the progress made against the major infectious diseases in poor countries, a Board meeting of the Global Fund to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria in Accra, Ghana, has effectively cancelled its next round of grant-making.

The Fund has been staring at a financial black hole ever since its big replenishment meeting in New York a year ago failed to deliver the sums it hoped for. It wanted $20 billion. It got $11.7 billion. That was in spite of exhortations to donors to pledge money from UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who warned that the stakes were high and that lives would be lost if pressure on the big killer diseases was not maintained.

"If we lose the ground we have gained, we will be back to square one – all that effort and investment, lost. The decisions you make here today will determine the outcome."

It once seemed unthinkable that the money would not continue to stream into programmes to treat people with Aids, TB and malaria and to prevent others becoming infected. But that is what is happening. There is no doubt that people who could have been spared will instead fall ill and die as a result of the drying up of funds. There is also a Damoclean sword hanging over the heads of people who are alive and well thanks to drug treatment for their HIV infection. The Global Fund - together with Pepfar (the President's emergency plan for Aids relief) has been the main source of money to pay for drugs. Those who start the combination treatments to prevent HIV causing Aids must stay on the drugs for life. If they stop, there is a danger the virus will become resistant to the drugs they are on.

The Global Fund's Board is buying time by telling governments not to put in new applications for funding for round 11, which is supposed to provide money for 2011 to 2013. It is offering a "transitional funding mechanism", which will allow countries to ask for money to cover essential needs. In recognition of the danger of stopping HIV treatment, this should allow countries to continue to supply drugs to people who are already taking them.

But, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in her recent address, the need now is to step up the fight against HIV by providing more drugs - not less. Scientific studies showed this year that treatment makes people with HIV less infectious. Failure to keep rolling out the drugs to more and more people will waste an opportunity to deliver what she and others have hopefully termed "an Aids-free generation".

This is Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer, executive director of Médecins Sans Frontières' Access Campaign:

"There's a shocking incongruence between both the new HIV science and political promises on one hand, and the funding reality that is now hitting the ground on the other. Donors are really pulling the rug out from under people living with HIV/AIDS at precisely the time when we need to move full steam ahead and get life-saving treatment to more people. All governments must chip in to the effort to curb HIV, but especially those with the capacity to really make a difference must urgently step up and support a new funding opportunity for countries by the Global Fund."

The Fund itself is putting a positive gloss on events, talking of focusing efforts where they are most needed. But its executive director, Michel Kazatchkine, acknowledges that the situation is grave:

"It is deeply worrisome that inadvertently, the millions of people fighting with deadly diseases are in danger of paying the price for the global financial crisis. There are millions of people dependent on Global Fund resources to stay alive and healthy, and the Global Fund will redouble its efforts to increase the available funding to continue to scale up HIV, TB and malaria interventions."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2011/nov/23/aids-tuberculosis

Iran Publishes a Legal and Religious Guide on Trans People

2011-11-22T09:06:00.002+07:00

The most outspoken advocate for the Trangender community in Iran has published a new book on Legal and Religious rules governing Iranian transgender community. The book, "Sex Change, From Legal and Islamic Jurisprudence Perspective" is authored by a Shiitte Clergyman, Hojatol-Islam Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Karimi Nia, who is the Research Director of the Law and Islamic Jurisprudence Center at the Qum Seminary, the most prestigious religious school in Shitte Islam.

The 480 page book is mostly based on Dr. Kariminia's research for his PhD thesis on religious rulings on transgenders in Shiitte Islam. Dr. Kariminia is one of the most outspoken advocates for transgender community in Iran, who has used his religious and academic status to educate fellow Shiitte clergymen about concept of transgender and their rights.

The book documents 250 questions and answers between various Shitte clergymen and their followers on various aspects of transgender's status in Islam. As Mr. Kariminia says, the first religious Fatwa on sex change was issued some 45 years ago by the late Ayatolllah Khomieni, who as the leader of Iran in 1985 issued a Fatwa (religious ruling), legalizing the sex reassignment procedure. According to the book, so far, 10 high-ranking Shiittee Clergymen issued similar fatwas in support of sex reassignment surgery. These fatwas allowed the Iranian government- including the Justice Department, The Legal Medicine Organization, and the State Welfare Organization- to recognize and support transgender community through the sex-reassignment process.

Dr Kariminia's research indicates that the first documented case of sex-reassignment in Iran took place some 81 years ago, back in 1927, when a doctor by the name of Khalatbari performed a surgery on an 18-year-old man. "The surgery was successful and the patient adopted a female name "Kobra", at the end of the process."

The author of the book argues that in Shiitte Islam, "undergoing sex reassignment surgery" is not a religious requirement for transgender individuals, but if they feel that they have to go through this process, "there is nothing in Islam that bans it." The book discusses in great detail the legal and religious rights of transgender individuals, in relation to their spouse, their siblings, their parents and their children. Issues such as inheritance, child custody, and marriage for transgenders is fully in this book.

Given the structure of the Shiitte Islam, the findings of this book can be used as a valuable advocacy tool in other countries with sizable Shiite population, including Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Kuwait.

The Book is available in Persian and can be ordered from its publisher, "The Jurisprudence Center of Pure Imams" (http://markazfeqhi.com/)

More information about this book is available online at these websites;
http://www.tebyan.net/index.aspx?pid=123608
http://babolelm.blogfa.com/post-40.aspx

Kuliah psikologi sosial di GNCC

2011-11-21T17:01:00.003+07:00

Salah satu sesi dari kuliah "Psikologi Sosial II" (kelas pararel/KPA) dari mahasiswa-mahasiswi Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Surabaya (Ubaya) hari ini Senin 21 November 2011 dilaksanakan di GNCC. Kuliah yang dipandu oleh Khanis Suvianita ini membahas tentang Keragaman Gender dan Seksualitas dengan menampilkan Antok Serean, Erick Yusufanni, Yohanes Angle dan Sofy.

Psychology association in the Philippines: Nondiscrimination policy

2011-11-21T08:13:00.002+07:00

Hi everyone!

My name is Eric from Manila and I'm new here on the mailing list. At the suggestion of Ron Schlittler of the APA LGBT Concerns Office in Washington DC, I'd like to share this bit of good cheer -- a statement against anti-LGBT discrimination recently adopted by the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP). The PAP is the national association of Filipino psychologists, psychology researchers, and professionals in the Philippines.

A quick backstory: The statement came about after a media incident in February 2011 when a Filipino clinical psychologist went on national television, promoting conversion therapy. In an interview, she said that LGBT people could "change their lifestyle and their sexuality if they wanted to". She also asserted that there are gay people who went to therapy, became heterosexual, and now lead "happy family lives".

We called PAP's attention to these misleading, offensive, and dangerous claims, and after a bit of back and forth, they agreed to a policy statement. This was put together by Prof Jay Yacat (also at the University of the Philippines) and myself, with input from the APA LGBT Concerns office and feedback from LGBT and non-LGBT Filipino psychology colleagues. The policy was finally approved on 8 Oct 2011 and is also on the PAP website .

Our next step is to disseminate to all PAP members and make sure it becomes a standard for Filipino psychologists to aspire to. I've also talked to the editor of the Philippine Journal of Psychology (our flagship journal) about publishing this in their next issue. I'm also working on an external dissemination strategy -- including sharing the news with the Filipino LGBT activist community and eventually translating the statement into Tagalog.
I'm just glad that we have a starting point to get Philippine psychology and Filipino psychologists on board as allies in advocating for LGBT rights and welfare. Please feel free to share the statement below. I would also love to get feedback on it, as well as suggestions from advocates about how to leverage it and keep the ball rolling!

cheers from Manila,
Eric

Eric Julian Manalastas
Junior faculty member
Dept of Psychology
University of the Philippines Diliman

* * *

Statement of the Psychological Association of the Philippines on Non-Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
Approved 8 October 2011
http://www.pap.org.ph/?ctr=page&action=resources

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Filipinos continue to experience stigma, prejudice and discrimination in Philippine society. This stigma is manifested in actions such as: bullying, teasing and harassment of LGBT children and adolescents in families, schools and communities; media portrayal of LGBTs as frivolous, untrustworthy and even dangerous or predatory; denying transgender Filipinos entry into commercial establishments; pigeonholing LGBT Filipinos into particularly limited roles and occupations; or curtailing their rights to participate in the political sphere.

LGBT Filipinos often confront social pressures to hide, suppress or even attempt to change their identities and expressions as conditions for their social acceptance and enjoyment of rights. Although many LGBTs learn to cope with this social stigma, these experiences can cause serious psychological distress, including immediate consequences such as fear, sadness, alienation, anger and internalized stigma (Hatzenbuehler, 2009; Meyer, 2003). This anti-LGBT prejudice and discrimination tend to be based on a rhetoric of moral condemnation and are fueled by ignorance or unfounded beliefs associating these gender expressions and sexual orientations with psychopathology or maladjustment.

However, decades of scientific research have led mental health professional organizations worldwide to conclude that lesbian, gay and bisexual orientations are normal variants of human sexuality. These include: the American Psychiatric Association in 1973, the American Psychological Association in 1975, British Psychological Society, the Colombian Society of Psychology, Psychological Society of South Africa, the Australian Psychological Society, and the International Network on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology, among others.

The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) aligns itself with the global initiatives to remove the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with diverse sexualities and to promote the wellbeing of LGBT people. Moreover, the PAP Code of Ethics (2010) is clear in its stance against discrimination. Filipino psychologists are called upon to recognize the unique worth and inherent dignity of all human beings; and to respect the diversity among persons and peoples (Principle I, a and b). This means that Filipino psychologists should not discriminate against or demean persons based on actual or perceived differences in characteristics including gender identity and sexual orientation (Ethical Standard III-A and C; V-B.8).

In order to eliminate stigma, prejudice, discrimination and violence against LGBTs, the PAP resolves to support efforts to:

• oppose all public and private discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression;

• repeal discriminatory laws and policies, and support the passage of legislation at the local and national levels that protect the rights and promote the welfare of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions;

• eliminate all forms of prejudice and discrimination against LGBTs in teaching, research, psychological interventions, assessment and other psychological programs;

• encourage psychological research that addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT Filipinos and their families and communities;

• disseminate and apply accurate and evidence-based information about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to design interventions that foster mental health and wellbeing of LGBT Filipinos.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (1973). Position statement on homosexuality and civil rights. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 497.

Anton, B.S. (2009). Proceedings of the American Psychological Association for the legislative year 2008: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives, February 22-24, 2008, Washington, DC, and August 13 and 17, 2008, Boston, MA, and minutes of the February, June, August, and December 2008 meetings of the Board of Directors. American Psychologist, 64, 372- 453.

Conger, J.J. (1975). Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Incorporated, for the year 1974: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives. American Psychologist, 30, 620-651.

Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2009). How does sexual minority stigma “get under the skin”? A psychological mediation framework. Psychological Bulletin, 135, 707-730.

International Network for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology (2001). Sexual orientation and mental health: Toward global perspectives on practice and policy. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/international-meeting.pdf

Meyer, I. H. (2003).Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674-697.

Psychological Association of the Philippines Scientific and Professional Ethics Committee. (2010). Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 43, 195-217.

Hong Kong film festival sheds light on gay Asia

2011-11-19T14:51:00.001+07:00

The Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (HKLGFF) opens
Friday, offering new work from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and throwing
a light on the challenges sexual minorities face around Asia.

With more than 30 full-length and short films on offer over two weeks,
organisers said the festival promised new insight into what it is like to
be gay in some of the world's most repressive societies.

Two weeks after Malaysian police effectively outlawed an annual gay rights
event, HKLGFF organiser Joe Lam said Malaysia's first "queer film",
entitled "In the Bottle", would be one of the festival's highlights.

Vietnam's first gay film, "Lost in Paradise", and Thailand's first lesbian
film, "Yes Or No", were chosen to open the event as a way of showcasing
the work of little-known Asian filmmakers, he said.

"It's quite good to see these countries starting to do gay movies. For
their first movies they're not bad, so we decided to show them on the
opening night," he told AFP.

"It shows they are changing and the world is changing, even in Muslim
countries."

Homosexuality remains a taboo subject in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where
sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Last month, members of the conservative opposition Islamic party PAS
called for a November concert by British superstar Elton John to be banned
on grounds that the openly gay singer promotes "hedonism" and would
corrupt Muslims.

Two Malaysian states are considering passing laws that could punish gay
Muslims and gay rights supporters with prison sentences.

Last year a gay and lesbian film festival in Indonesia, the world's most
populous Muslim-majority country, went ahead despite protests from
hardline Islamist groups who threatened to attack participating cinemas.

Homosexuals face severe corporal punishment under Islamic by-laws in some
parts of Indonesia.

Lam said that by highlighting the work of gay and lesbian artists from
countries like Malaysia, the festival illustrated minority cultures that
are forced underground.

"It's good for the community, so that people know they exist," he said.

The HKLGFF is in its 22nd year and Lam said it had never experienced
significant problems, even though local mainstream media and Cantonese
celebrities generally shunned the event.

"If the famous celebrities don't come, the mainstream media aren't
interested," he said.

"The entertainment industry in Hong Kong is quite backward. Even though we
know some gay actors who haven't come out, they don't want to come," he
said.

Trans Day of Remembrance: Advancing the Human Rights of Trans People across the Globe

2011-11-19T14:50:00.001+07:00

“The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) today honors the memory of the many trans men and women whom we have lost across the globe. From Latin America, to the Middle East, from Africa to Asia discrimination, ignorance, transphobia and violence have unduly taken the lives of innocent trans men and women who sought to live with dignity and respect. In remembering their lives and their sacrifice, we also honor the courageous work activists and allies around the world do each day to advance the human rights of all trans people.”

Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director, IGLHRC

Focus on Latin America

In recent years there has been a growing campaign to recognize the citizenship of trans people in Latin America. Red Latinamericana y del Caribe de Personas Trans (REDLACTRANS), a regional network of trans activists from Latin America and the Caribbean, is one of the leaders of this effort. IGLHRC, with an office and regional director located in Argentina, works closely with REDLACTRANS. Over the past year, activists from the region organized with a diverse set of issues and actions including job training initiatives, establishment of work cooperatives and, above all, campaigning for legal recognition of gender identity. Through REDLACTRANS member organizations, this work spread in the region to Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In Argentina, a bill for the recognition of gender identity is currently being debated in Congress.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) together with REDLACTRANS and Heartland Alliance was able to support all these regional advocacy initiatives at the Organization of the American States (OAS). Last June these organizations held a meeting in San Salvador with trans representatives from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama with the purpose of evaluating advocacy for the legal recognition of gender identity in the region.

To learn more about our advocacy at the Organization of American States and for an update about or work on trans issues in Africa, Indonesia and Turkey, visit our blog: http://iglhrc.wordpress.com

Trans Day of Remembrance: Focus on Indonesia

2011-11-19T14:48:00.000+07:00

“The killings of transgender people, involving Indonesian law enforcement are poorly or never investigated. More often they are put into the freezer by the state, and left unresolved.”

Grace Poore, IGLHRC, Regional Coordinator, Asia and Pacific Islands

Indonesian waria (transgender) activist Elly Susana was killed in 2007. To date, there has been no justice for her. Elly Susana’s story is told in Courage Unfolds, a video produced by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission to reveal the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT people in Asia and their efforts to fight for equality, safety and decriminalization. Elly Susana’s death, which occurred during an alleged raid by public order officers (Saptol PP), was widely covered by media.

In January 2010, Arus Pelangi, a national advocacy organization for LGBT human rights, attempted yet again to revive the investigation into Elly’s death. They asked the Indonesia National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to convene all parties involved in the case, including Satpol PP. Although Satpol PP is implicated in Elly’s death, they chose not to come to the Komnas HAM meeting. According to King Oey of Arus Pelangi, “Their official position has always been that they did not raid any place on that particular date.”

Central Jakarta police in whose jurisdiction the case falls have also failed in their duty to investigate Elly’s death with any seriousness.

King Oey says, “They sent a low ranking officer to the meeting convened by Komnas HAM. And he said that the police cannot proceed if witnesses don’t come forward although Arus Pelangi already brought forward three witnesses who provided testimonies about the raid by the public order officers that led to Elly’s death.”

Despite significant obstacles, Indonesian LGBT activists persist in their concern for the human rights of Trans people. In 2011, Komnas Perempuan (Indonesian National Commission of Women) finally recognized waria as female. In observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance, LGBT activists in Indonesia will hold a photo exhibit on violence against trans people.

Source: http://iglhrc.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/trans-day-of-remembrance-focus-on-indonesia/

New Gender Marker Law Near Reality in Kyrgrzstan

2011-11-14T11:20:00.001+07:00

The Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan is about to make a breakthrough in transgender rights that puts it ahead of many Western countries.

By Trudy Ring

The Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan is about to make a breakthrough in transgender rights that puts it ahead of many Western countries, with a new law allowing transgender people to change their name and gender marker on official documents without proof of medical intervention.

The move has been approved by 13 of the nation’s government ministries and awaits the prime minister’s signature to go into effect, according to the Global Fund for Women. It is the result of much effort by the Kyrgyzstan LGBT rights group Labrys, a Global Fund grantee.

Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, has historically required a formal document to be issued by a medical institution for name and gender marker changes, but there were problems because there is no such process for medical professionals to follow, and the government has not created such a document.

“Our job was to develop legislation that would allow transgender people to be able to change their name and gender marker without any kind of medical interventions if they do not wish to do so,” said Labrys founder Anna Kirey. “When we started it was almost impossible to think that we would be able to cooperate with people at high levels in government. It took a lot of work, but seeing that cooperation is possible makes me very inspired.”

Read more here.

"Working Together to Protect Our Transgender Community" Video

2011-11-13T10:16:00.001+07:00

In honor of those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, we are launching the FREE international video release of "Working Together to Protect Our Transgender Community" to kick off Transgender Awareness Week and honor Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20, 2011).

This ground-breaking solution based educational video is targeted toward law enforcement agencies/officers, and highlights "best practices" of law enforcement polices, so that they may be freely shared with other agencies who may not have any written procedure policy or trainings concerning this sect of our population. Featuring officers of the law and other allies of our trans community.

Brief background: Van Ness Recovery House, the sponsor of the video is one of the few transitional recovery homes in California that cater specifically to the LGBT community. Kathy Watts, the Executive Director, approached us, Sun & Moon Vision Productions (SMVP), to produce this video a few years ago, after hearing one too many stories of discrimination/abuse of her transgender residents.

We jumped on the project, only to hit barricade after barricade of red tape and politics. Long story short, with cooperation from officers of the law, agencies and other allies of our trans community we were able to document "best practices" of law enforcement policies. It is only because of the courage of these officers, members and allies of the LGBT community, to stand together and put themselves on the front line of advocacy and education (on-camera no less!) that we were able to break ground on this project.

As film crew, we found that we are just barely scratching the surface, as most law enforcement agencies do not have any policies specific to the transgender community, nor enforcement of regulation, or even want spend time on this issue. It is our hope that this video can be shared and utilized to start the dialogue and initiate action. As you know, it will take a team effort to get this resource out there. So whether you work to enforce the laws, change the laws, or perhaps even walk on the "wrong" side of the law, we invite you to partner with us in our humanitarian vision of justice and equality for ALL.

Note that at this time, we unfortunately do not have funding for language transcriptions/video subtitles, so if you know of potential sponsors or funding sources, let us know :)

Please please please help spread the word, forward this email, share on Facebook, and let us know what your feedback is after you watch the video :) THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Here's the link: http://www.sunandmoonvision.org/working_together.html

Constitutional Court: Same-Sex Couples are Family

2011-11-13T07:53:00.001+07:00

Rechtskomitee LAMBDA calls on the government to allow reason to prevail

In a decision delivered yesterday the Austrian Constitutional Court ceased hyphen-discrimination of registered partners. Also same-sex couples enjoy the constitutional protection of the family. Disadvantageous treatment of registered versus married couples require particularly serious reasons. Separation as an end in itself (on principle) is inadmissible. Rechtskomitee LAMBDA (RKL), Austria’s LGBT civil rights organisation, now calls on the federal government to allow reason to prevail and repeal all the differences between registered partners and spouses.

Austrian legislation explicitly stipulates a hyphen for a double-name acquired by marriage. There is no such provision for registered partners. The Minister of Interior therefore insisted that double-names of married partners have to be connected by a hyphen, while double-names of registered partners must not be connected by a hyphen. The result is permanent mandatory outing. Who has a double name including a hyphen is heterosexual and married. Who has a double-name without a hyphen is homosexual and a registered partner. A judge involved in the drafting of the partnership-law called this distinction as the “pink triangle of the law of names”.

Jörg Eipper-Kaiser registered his partnership as the first couple in the Styrian capital Graz. He acquired the name of his partner and wanted to use his right to carry a double-name (combining the joint name and his former name). The City of Graz ordered that he can do so, but only without a hyphen.

First branding of a social group since 1939

Before the introduction of registered partnership the last branding of a social group by names had been ordered by the “Second Executive Order to Implement the Act on Changing Family Names and Fore Names”. This was 1939. Then jews had been branded by the obligatory forenames “Israel” and “Sara” …

In addition, under Austrian law, so far only bigamists could have double-names without a hyphen. So double-name without a hyphen even carried a criminal connotation.

Jörg Eipper Kaiser, represented by RKL-president Dr. Helmut Graupner, applied for a double-name connected with a hyphen and carried his case, which had been supported also by the Styrian NGO Rosa Lila PantherInnen, up to the Constitutional Court.

Separation on principle is inadmissible

The Constitutional Court decided, that also registered partners, as married partners, connect their double-names by a hyphen. Also same-sex couples, the 13 judges said, do enjoy the constitutional protection of the family (par 21). Disadvantageous treatment of registered versus married couples require particularly serious reasons (par 21f). And the Court emphasized that separation as an end in itself (on principle) is inadmissible (par. 23).

Furthermore the Court followed the applicant also on another difference between marriage and registered partnership. It issued proceedings to strike down the provision that registered partners may opt for a double-name only at registration, while married partners can do so also anytime after marriage.

„Given this ground-breaking judgment we are calling upon the federal government to finally allow reason to prevail“, says Dr. Helmut Graupner, president of Austria’s LGBT civil rights organisation Rechtskomitee LAMBDA (RKL) and counsel of Mr. Eipper Kaiser, “If they continue prohibiting marriage, they should at least ultimately repeal the other still prevailing 59 differences between registered partnership and marriage”.

Rechtskomitee LAMBDA (RKL), founded in 1991, on a supra-partisan and denominational level is working for the implementation of human rights for homo- and bisexual men and women. In its honorary board it convenes as prominent members as former Prime Minister Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer, President of Federal Parliament Mag. Barbara Prammer, former Minister of Justice Mag. Karin Gastinger, the Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peter Schieder, Federal Ombudsman Mag. Terezija Stoisits, Senator Marco Schreuder, former Director of Public Security Dr. Erik Buxbaum, the former President of National Judges Association Dr. Barbara Helige, the Chairwoman of the National Judges Association’s Working Party on Fundamental Rights Dr. Mia Wittmann-Tiwald, the Vice-President of the Vienna Bar-Association Dr. Elisabeth Rech, the former President of D.A.S.-legal expenses insurance company Dr. Franz Kronsteiner, the President of Weisser Ring Dr. Udo Jesionek, the Secretary General of Amnesty International Austria Mag. Heinz Patzelt, the Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Board of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hannes Tretter, and the well-known human-rights experts Dr. Lilian Hofmeister and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Manfred Nowak, the constitutional law professors Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Brünner, Univ-Prof. Dr. Bernd-Christian Funk, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heinz Mayer and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ewald Wiederin, famous child- and adolescent psychiatrist Univ.-Prof. Dr. Max Friedrich and the Vienna Child- and Youth-Ombudspersons DSA Monika Pinterits and Dr. Anton Schmid, sexologists Univ.-Prof. Dr. Josef Christian Aigner, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rotraud Perner and Univ.-Lekt. Mag. Johannes Wahala, Life-Ball-Organisor Gery Keszler and many more. October 2nd, 2006, RKL’s 15 years anniversary has been celebrated in historic Ceremonial Act “Against Sexual Apartheid” in the lower chamber of Austrian federal parliament. This first honouring of an lgbt organisation in the plenary session hall of a national parliament worldwide took place in attendance of over 500 guests including highest representatives from the judiciary, administration and politics (http://www.RKLambda.at/festakt/index.htm). Since 2010 RKL is a member of the Fundamental Rights Platform of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (www.fra.europa.eu).

More information: Rechtskomitee LAMBDA, (++43/1/876 30 61), office@RKLambda.at; www.RKLambda.at

Pelatihan Seksualitas, Gender, Kesehatan serta Hak Seksual & Reproduksi, Surabaya, 9-14 Januari 2012

2011-11-10T21:52:00.002+07:00

Kami atas nama Yayasan Mitra Inti dan Forum Seksualitas Indonesia mengingatkan bahwa kesempatan mendaftarkan diri untuk mengikuti Pelatihan Seksualitas, Gender, Kesehatan serta Hak Seksual & Reproduksi yang akan diadakan di Surabaya dari tgl 9 s/d 14 Januari 2012. Yang masih ditunggu adalah pendaftaran terutama dari kalangan LGBTIQ. Silakan download dan pelajari kerangka acuan (TOR) dan segera mengirimkan formulir pendaftaran bersama rekomendasi dari pimpinan lembaga, sebelum 15 November 2012.

Download:
Kerangka Acuan Pelatihan.doc
Formulir Peserta Pelatihan Mitra Inti Final.doc
Surat rekomendasi pelatihan Mitra Inti.doc

Salam solidaritas
a.n. Forum Seksualitas Indonesia
Dédé Oetomo
GAYa NUSANTARA

My Body, My Rights: No Health without Rights

2011-11-02T11:23:00.005+07:00

ONE DAY ONE STRUGGLE - SATU HARI, SATU PERLAWANAN
8-9 November 2011

Kami mengundang kawan-kawan untuk bergabung dalam kampanye internasional ‘One Day One Struggle 2011’ dengan tema,

My Body, My Rights: No Health without Rights

Kesehatan setiap individu tidak akan pernah dapat tercapai apabila hak atas tubuhnya tidak dibebaskan. Jelas, tidak akan ada kesehatan tanpa adanya hak. Faktanya, sejauh ini persoalan yang terkait dengan tubuh masih cenderung menggunakan pendekatan moral. Hak atas tubuh masih sering terabaikan. Pembahasan persoalan tubuh melalui pendekatan hak dan kesehatan tidak begitu banyak dibicarakan, baik dikalangan akademisi maupun kalangan NGO.
Kampanye ini akan kami selenggarakan pada hari Selasa-Rabu, 8-9 November 2011, di Galeri Surabaya, Jl. Pemuda, Surabaya, dalam rangkaian kegiatan:

Selasa, 8 November 2011:
1. Pameran foto, diselenggarakan selama tanggal 8-9 November 2011, pk. 10:00 – 19:00
2. Pemutaran Film, pk. 16.00-18.00
3. Screening dan Diskusi film “Wariazone” , pk. 19.00-21.00 bersama Terje Toomistu (pembuat film ‘wariazone’)

Rabu, 9 November 2011:
1. Pameran foto, diselenggarakan selama tanggal 8-9 November 2011, pk. 10:00 – 19:00
2. Art Performance, bersama Savy Amira, Dipayoni, Bhinneka, GAYa NUSANTARA, KSGK, C2O, pk. 16.00-18.00
3. Diskusi “My body, My Rights: No Health without Rights”, pk. 19.00-21.00 bersama PUSHAM UBAYA, Savy Amira, KPA Propinsi Jatim; Moderator: Khanis Suvianita [GAYa NUSANTARA Surabaya])

Kerja bareng:
Lembaga Bhinneka
Dipayoni
C2O Library
GAYa NUSANTARA
KPA Propinsi Jatim
KSGK
PUSHAM UBAYA
Savy Amira.

* One Day One Struggle adalah kampanye internasional yang dicanangkan oleh the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies atau CSBR, www.wwhr.org/csbr.php, sebuah jaringan solidaritas NGO progresif dan lembaga akademis terkemuka di Timur Tengah, Afrika Utara, Asia Tenggara dan Selatan. Kampanye ini dilakukan secara serentak setiap tanggal 9 November di berbagai negara Timur Tengah, Afrika Utara, Asia tenggara dan Selatan untuk menyuarakan Hak-hak Seksual dan Tubuh dalam masyarakat Muslim.

The Fundraising Toolkit

2011-10-29T11:06:00.001+07:00

amfAR’s MSM Initiative is pleased to launch a new resource for MSM/LGBT-led programming in low- and middle-income countries. This fundraising toolkit was developed to assist community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide HIV-related programs and services for gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender individuals. In this guide, a number of key questions are answered:
• Which donors are funding MSM and other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community-based organizations?
• Which donors are funding projects in particular geographic areas?
• What kinds of grants are these donors making?
• What kinds of programs and projects are being funded by these grants?
• Whom do I contact and how does my organization apply for funding?
The guide offers information about who is funding MSM/LGBT groups, snapshots of what those grant programs look like, how to approach funders, and what projects those grant makers have supported in the past. This toolkit goes beyond traditional funders, such as private foundations, and offers information and ideas about other organizations that provide funding to, or partner with, MSM/LGBT groups. Finally, the guide offers general tips on fundraising, from networking to proposal writing, and includes templates to help organizations and activists get started.
You can download the toolkit here.

Source: http://www.amfar.org/world/msm/article.aspx?id=10456

New APCASO website

2011-10-25T16:50:00.001+07:00

We are happy to announce a new APCASO website as of 22 October 2011.

Check out our recent news, pictures, publications, resources, and so on at www.apcaso.org.

If you have any comments, please let us know.

.

Asian experts endorse SOGI rights

2011-10-09T18:35:00.000+07:00

We were in the immense ballroom of the five-star Shangri-la Hotel in Bangkok. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above. Two hundred people were there. Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, perhaps the best known expert on international human rights law in Asia, gave a report on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the inner circle of the audience were representatives of the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) established by the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and Timor Leste. Associate members are the commissions in Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. A bit behind were seats for representatives of the governments themselves. Further back were “civil society” people from a variety of non-governmental organizations. Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn presented the conclusions of a report by the Advisory Council of Jurists, a body composed of academics and judges.

Some in the audience knew that public discussion of sex and gender diversity was impossible back home. Yet no one suggested that the issues involved were not legitimate human rights issues. Some NHRIs, notably those from Korea and Thailand, could look back on a history of positive advocacy on the issues and established links with LGBT NGOs.

The organization holding the meeting was the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, or APF for short. It is a member of the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions (the ICC), which has an office and one full-time staff person in Geneva, where most UN human rights meetings take place.

To be a member of the APF (and in turn the ICC) a NHRI must comply with the Paris Principles established by the UN. The NHRI must be independent, have a broad mandate, and be advisory (not adjudicative). As an expert advisory body, its role is distinctly different from the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government.

NHRIs can consider national, regional and international human rights law in deciding whether a law or practice complies with human rights standards. NHRIs are a ‘bridge’ between the international human rights system and the domestic legal order. In similar ways international trade law and international environmental standards now reach into domestic legal systems, though through different mechanisms.

NHRIs have grown up over the last 30 or 40 years. International standards for them were formulated in the Paris Principles of 1993. Now the UN recognizes (a) the governments of states (like Thailand or Singapore), (b) intergovernmental agencies (like the International Labor Organization), (c) NHRIs, and (d) NGOs. Each can participate in UN meetings, subject to specific rules for each category.

Are NHRIs actually independent? They are created by governments. Their members are usually selected by the executive branch of government. That is true of judges as well. Often courts behave in quite independent and expert ways. Equally, some NHRI members are independent and expert. And, like judges, some are not. How did the APF come to take up sexual orientation and gender identity issues? The story is not complicated.

In 2006, ten years after the APF was established, a group of experts drafted the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of human rights principles to issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersexuality. Some of the experts involved were individuals who had worked within the UN system as independent experts. Others were academics, judges or seasoned NGO figures.

The Yogyakarta Principles were written in the language of the UN human rights system. The document is aimed at other experts and at governments. That was exactly the right language to convince NHRIs that legitimate human rights issues were involved. No accusations. No emotional accounts of violations. No weeping and wailing. Just the legal principles. Just the facts.

Discussion on the Yogyakarta Principles began within the APF quite quickly, and the organization held a workshop on the Principles in Java in 2009. Participants condemned discrimination and stigmatization, and asked the APF to examine the issues more closely. Three things happened. Projects in five member countries were funded, involving consultations with LGBT organizations and groups. The Advisory Council of Jurists was asked to report. A background study on the issues in member countries was commissioned (with the Alternative Law Forum in Bangalore, India, selected to write the report). These initiatives came before the annual APF meeting in 2010, but only with preliminary conclusions from the studies. The full reports were available at the end of 2010. The September, 2011, APF meeting in Bangkok, was the first full presentation of the issues and the reports.

Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn teaches at Chulalongkorn University and sometimes in the human rights program at Mahidol University, both in Bangkok. Over the years he has been involved with refugee issues, indigenous peoples, child rights, human rights in North Korea and sexuality issues. He was the opening plenary speaker at the 2005 Bangkok conference, “Sexualities, Genders and Rights in Asia,” which attracted over 500 academics and activists. He was co-chair of the expert group that drafted the Yogyakarta Principles. He was the lead figure for the APF Advisory Council of Jurists in their report commissioned in 2009, along with experts from Australia and New Zealand.

When human rights commissions in Asia first dealt with sexual orientation and gender identity issues – in cases in India and the Philippines – they dismissed complaints, not taking them seriously. Those bad old days are over. The background study and the ACJ report are available on the website of the APF. Lead roles have been taken by the NHRIs in Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. That leadership should be followed, over time, by the other 15 NHRIs, spread over the largest continent in the world, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pacific.

For the ACJ Report and the Background Paper, go to www.asiapacificforum.net/support/issues/acj/references/sexual-orientation, and under downloads on the right side, choose ACJ Final Report 2010 and ACJ Background Paper.

Lesbian Health: Myths and Realities, a new publication by ILGA

2011-10-09T09:44:00.003+07:00

Help us to demystify some myths on lesbian health!
ILGA Lesbians Health Myths Realities EN.pdf

In June 2010 ILGA collected the results of an internet survey sent to over 800 of its members and allies. The aim of the survey was to assess the outcomes of the ILGA women’s project, a project funded by Oxfam-Novib which lasted seven years. We wanted to understand which were the areas that ILGA should focus in the coming years in relation to women issues. One of the outcomes of the survey indicated that members and allies would like ILGA to continue working on lesbian’s health. That is why ILGA decided to undertake this project “Lesbian Health: Myths and Realities”.

Most of the time lesbians’ issues are either placed into the general “Homosexual” category, that is to say masculine, or in the general “Woman” category, that is to say heterosexual. This is also the case for health. Studies and statistics on women’s health, although numerous, are rarely broken down by specific groups. In addition, research on gay health is still very much concentrated on HIV/AIDS amongst gay men.

Given the general lack of focus on lesbian health issues, ILGA decided to design a project that raises awareness of some misconceptions on lesbian’s health and sexual behaviour that could have life-threatening consequences.

Three double-sided sheets, that can also be used individually, focus on the “myths and realities” surrounding lesbian’s health and are available in French, Dutch, English and soon also in Spanish.

Organisations are encouraged to use the sheets and translate them to their local language, provided that credit is given to ILGA. Interested? Please send a message to women@ilga.org

The themes tackled are Breast and Cervical cancers, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Well-Being. The illustrations at the back of each sheet will help to easily understand what are the “myths” and the “realities” of lesbians’ health on each of the topics.

We have also prepared a quiz on myths related to lesbians’ health. It will give you the opportunity to test your knowledge. The quiz can also be used in raising awareness trainings and workshops.

This project is financially supported by the Belgian Foundation against Cancer which also approved the texts. ILGA thanks the Women's Secretariat, Minority Women in Action.

Tiga Perempuan Peraih Nobel Perdamaian

2011-10-08T06:23:00.002+07:00

Nobel Perdamaian 2011 menjadi milik tiga perempuan, yakni Presiden Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; aktivis Liberia, Leymah Gbowee; dan pemimpin oposisi Yaman dari Partai Islah, Tawakkul Karman. Ketiganya mendapat penghargaan karena perjuangan tanpa kekerasan untuk keamanan dan hak-hak perempuan demi terciptanya perdamaian.

"Kita tidak dapat mencapai demokrasi dan perdamaian yang langgeng jika perempuan tidak menerima kesempatan yang sama dengan pria untuk mempengaruhi pembangunan dalam setiap level masyarakat," ujar Ketua Komite Nobel Norwegia Thorbjoern Jagland dalam pengumumannya, Jumat, 7 Oktober 2011.

Sirleaf adalah presiden perempuan Liberia pertama sekaligus presiden perempuan pertama di Benua Afrika. Perempuan 72 tahun yang pernah mengenyam pelatihan di Universitas Harvard ini terpilih menjadi presiden sejak 2005.

Sirleaf kini berjuang membangun negara yang baru saja terbebas dari perang sipil selama 14 tahun dan berjuang untuk pemilihan presiden kedua kalinya. Pencalonannya kembali sebenarnya menuai kritik karena melawan janjinya dalam pemilihan 2005. Perempuan kelahiran 29 Oktober 1938 ini berjanji hanya akan memimpin satu kali.

Gbowee adalah aktivis perdamaian yang menjadi kunci dalam berakhirnya perang sipil Liberia. Pekerja sosial dan konselor trauma ini mengelola Organisasi Aksi Massa Perempuan Liberia untuk perdamaian. Grup ini salah satu alat pencipta perdamaian Liberia pada 2003 lalu.

Karman, 32 tahun, adalah aktivis Yaman yang paling vokal menyuarakan protes terhadap pemerintah. Jurnalis dan aktivis hak asasi manusia ini terpaksa menjalani kerja sosial akibat menjadi tahanan politik. Ia acap menerima ancaman pembunuhan. Aktivitasnya termasuk luar biasa untuk ukuran Yaman yang patriarki dan konservatif. Ibu tiga anak ini masuk dalam kategori penerima Nobel termuda.

Hingga saat ini, sudah 12 perempuan yang mendapat Nobel Perdamaian. Di antaranya Bunda Teresa, Jane Addams, Wangari Maathai, dan Aung San Suu kyi.

Sumber: TEMPO Interaktif

Breaking News: Australian Passport Policy Changed

2011-09-15T14:28:00.003+07:00

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland put out this statement today:

GETTING A PASSPORT MADE EASIER FOR SEX AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced new guidelines to make it easier for sex and gender diverse people to get a passport in their preferred gender.

Under the guidelines, sex reassignment surgery will no longer be a prerequisite to issue a passport in a person's preferred gender.

"Sex and gender diverse people now have the option of presenting a statement from a medical practitioner supporting their preferred gender," said Mr Rudd.

"This amendment makes life easier and significantly reduces the
administrative burden for sex and gender diverse people who want a passport that reflects their gender and physical appearance."

The initiative is in line with the Australian Government's commitment to remove discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and sexual orientation.

"Most people take for granted the ability to travel freely and without fear of discrimination," Mr McClelland said.

"This measure will extend the same freedoms to sex and gender diverse Australians.

"While it's expected this change will only affect a handful of Australians, it's an important step in removing discrimination for sex and gender diverse people.

"Importantly, this policy addresses a number of the recommendations contained in the Australian Human Rights Commission's Sex Files report."

Kunjungan USAID Ke Dinkes Provinsi Jawa Timur

2011-09-15T14:25:00.003+07:00

Selasa 13 September 2011, USAID melakukan kunjungan kerja ke Jawa Timur. Salah satu yang dikunjungi USAID adalah Dinas Kesehatan Provinsi Jatim. Dalam pertemuan ini hadir perwakilan dari Dinkes Provinsi Jatim, SUM, FHI, Yayasan Genta, Yayasan Orbit, Perwakos dan GN, selain dari pihak USAID sendiri yang didampingi oleh staff dari Konjen Amerika Serikat di Surabaya.

Di pertemuan ini, Dinkes Provinsi Jatim yang diwakili oleh Pak Ansarul (Kepala Seksi Pemberantasan Penyakit Bidang Penanggulangan Penyakit dan Masalah Kesehatan) memaparkan tentang program-programpengendalian HIV dan AIDS yang sudah dilakukan di Jawa Timur, seperti layanan klinik IMS, VCT, TB-HIV, CST, PMTCT dan HR. Dari masyarakat sipil sendiri para wakil LSM menceritakan tentang kerja sama yang terjalin antara populasi kunci dan layanan kesehatan yang ada, serta kendala-kendala yang ada selama ini, seperti layanan yang belum merata, petugas layanan yang belum friendly, terhentinya program karena bantuan dana berakhir dan sebagainya. [KB]

Media Release: First Ever International Intersex Forum

2011-09-06T07:07:00.000+07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

5 September 2011
Brussels, Belgium

FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL INTERSEX FORUM

he world’s 1st International Intersex Organising Forum took place in Brussels between 3-5 September 2011. The historic event brought together 24 activists representing 17 intersex organisations from all continents.

Around the world intersex individuals are being subjected to inhumane and degrading altering surgical and hormonal procedures, without consent of the intersex person, at the discretion of doctors and outside legal regulation. This is done to ‘normalise’ genitals and bodies in order to fit intersex people within the sex binary of men and women. Pathologisation of intersex individuals results in gross human rights violations and abuse bodily integrity and personal dignity.

The Forum agreed on the demands aiming to end discrimination against intersex people and to ensure the right of bodily integrity and self determination:

1. To put an end to mutilating and ‘normalising’ practices such as genital surgeries, psychological and other medical treatments, including infanticide and selective abortion (on the grounds of intersex) in some parts of the world.

2. To insure that the personal, free, prior, and fully informed consent of the intersex individual is a compulsory requirement in all medical practices and protocols.

3. Creating and facilitating supportive, safe and celebratory environments for intersex people, their families and surroundings.

This newly established informal network will campaign for the respect of intersex people’s human rights on international, regional and national levels. The next meeting of the Forum is expected to take place towards the end of 2012.

The Forum was facilitated and sponsored by ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) and its European Region, ILGA-Europe. The Forum also reached out to representatives of TGEU (Transgender Europe) and IGLYO (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organsiation) and will continue building wider alliances with other human rights and equality organsiations working in such areas as women’s rights, the rights of indigenous people and people with disabilities.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Africa:
Sally Gross +27 827884205 coordinator@intersex.org.za

Lain America:
Mauro Isaac Cabral +54 (9) 351 5589876 maulesel@gmail.com

North America:
Jim Bruce +1 707-793-1190 jim@aiclegal.org

Asia:
Hiker Chiu, +886 0923868653 hiker@oii.tw

Australia & Pacific:
Gina Wilson +61 418290336 or +61 2 97499989 oiiaustralia@bigpond.com

Europe:
Del LaGrace Volcano +46 7626 88 312 or +46 19 33 52 03 dellagracevolcano@me.com

International:
Sebastian Rocca (ILGA) +32 471 80 20 99 director@ilga.org
Silvan Agius (ILGA-Europe) +32 2 609 54 17 or +32 496 708 370 silvan@ilga-europe.org

New ICJ Publication on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Comparative Law

2011-09-06T07:04:00.001+07:00

I am very pleased to announce the publication of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Justice: A Comparative Law Casebook.

The Casebook is the first book of its kind. It collects and analyzes judicial decisions from more than 100 courts around the world. The Casebook showcases the role of international and comparative law in litigation seeking to vindicate the human rights of LGBT individuals. It is organized into fourteen chapters, each consisting of an introduction to the main legal issues and arguments followed by detailed case summaries. The chapters cover topics ranging from decriminalisation and employment discrimination to gender expression, military service and partnership recognition. The cases are both old and new and collectively they trace the progression of the twin norms of equality and universality.

Excerpt from the Introduction:

“. . . the ICJ hopes that the Casebook will stand as evidence for the claim that law on sexual orientation and gender identity is truly global in nature. A court in New Delhi is referring not only to the decisions of courts in Strasbourg or Washington. It is also, and perhaps especially, paying attention to precedents established in South Africa, Hong Kong and elsewhere. Activists in Thailand and Guyana assert the right to cross-dress. Individuals in Kampala and Kathmandu demand judicial enforcement of their rights under international law. People everywhere want their relationships — with their partners, with their children — to receive legal recognition and protection.”

The law is about people. Court decisions change individual lives for better or worse. This book is a tribute to the lawyers, activists and courageous litigants who sought to use the law to defend their rights. This project was also truly a collaborative effort. Many of you contributed your time and knowledge by suggesting cases, translators, and other resources. Your suggestions and support were invaluable. Thank you!

The ICJ hopes that the Casebook will be of use to legal practitioners everywhere and will encourage human rights litigation in domestic courts.
Please feel free to forward this information and the attached pdf of the Casebook or to post it on your own sites. A mass mailing of the physical books will be going out later this week. If you would like to receive additional copies by mail, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes,

Alli Jernow
Senior Legal Advisor
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Project
International Commission of Jurists
P.O. Box 91
33 Rue des Bains
1211 Geneva 8
Switzerland
+41-22-979-3823
www.icj.org

Bali Pride Map

2011-08-19T10:10:00.004+07:00

The first map on the island & country for gay & lesbian community.

Bali Friendly proudly presents:

Bali Pride Map - the first map on the island & country targeting gay & lesbian community,
distributed for free to public through convenience stores, supermarket, bar, clubs etc.

The first edition of this map is printed with specification as below:
- Size: 49.5 cm x 33 cm (folded into pocket size 8.25 cm x 11 cm)
- Paper: 150 gram, full color
- 5,000 copies

Next edition will be published in mid of October and December
in bigger size with more copies and space for our partners.

For more info about Bali Pride Map,
please email to balipridemap@balifriendly.com
Establish since 2003, Bali Friendly now becomes the leading company in Bali handling gay & lesbian tourists.
Info about Bali Friendly at http://www.BaliFriendlyHotels.com

Workshop "GAY KEREEN: Gay yang Pede, Berani, Sehat, dan Ceria"

2011-08-15T19:27:00.001+07:00

Tanggal 12-14 Agustus 2011, GAYa NUSANTARA (GN) menyelenggarakan workshop untuk uji coba Modul Program "GAY KEREEEN: Gay yang Pede, Berani, Sehat, dan Ceria" di Trawas Mojokerto. Dalam kegiatan ini diikuti oleh 20 orang peserta dari internal GN dan beberapa orang dari komunitas LGBTI, dengan difasilitasi oleh beberapa orang pengurus GN sendiri. Tujuan kegiatan ini sendiri selain untuk uji coba modul, juga untuk begembira, saling mengakrabkan diri, serta membahas hal-hal penting terkait dengan permasalahan-permasalahan pada masing-masing individu gay.

Beberapa sesi yang disampaikan dalam kegiatan ini adalah Gay Yang Sehat, Gay Yang Berani, Seks Yang Aman dan Nikmat, Gay dan Relasi, serta Gay Yang Pede. Masing-masing disampaikan dengan beberapa metode yaitu diskusi kelompok, penugasan, bermain peran, curhat berpasangan, dan curah pendapat. Hasil dari pelaksanaan sesi demi sesi dievaluasi untuk melihat sejauh mana modul ini bisa dilaksanakan. Beberapa hal yang menjadi koreksi untuk modul ini misalnya ada satu kegiatan yang sebenarnya bisa dipecah menjadi beberapa kegiatan, penggunaan istilah yang kurang tepat, perlunya teks untuk penugasan setiap kegiatan dan sebagainya.

Secara keseluruhan kegiatan berlangsung lancar dan sukses. [KB]

Pacific Northwest tribe adopts law recognizing gay marriage on reservation

2011-08-05T07:18:00.003+07:00

(Elaine Thompson/Associated Press) Heather Purser, a Suquamish tribal member who worked to change the tribes marriage ordinance to include same-sex couples, stands near the shores of the tribe’s reservation Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, in Suquamish, Wash. The change in tribal law came after a four-year campaign by Purser, 28, to get the American Indian Tribe in Washington state to adopt a law recognizing gay marriage. The Suquamish Tribal Council voted Monday, Aug. 1, to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples on its reservation near Seattle, making it only the second tribe in the country known to do so.

SEATTLE — Standing up before dozens of Suquamish Tribal members at a general council meeting in March, Heather Purser told them she was a lesbian, and asked her people to recognize same-sex marriages at the tribe’s Washington state reservation.

Even after four years of lobbying tribal members, the 28-year-old didn’t know how much support she had.

“When I turned around to sit back down I was shaking,” Purser recalled Tuesday.

Then the council put the issue to a voice vote of the people. “Everyone said aye. No one said nay,” Purser said.

On Monday, the Suquamish Tribal Council ratified the people’s wishes and recognized gay marriage, making it only the second tribe in the country known to do so.

The new law allows the tribal court to issue a marriage license to two unmarried people, regardless of their sex, if they’re at least 18 years old and at least one of them is enrolled in the tribe.

It will be up to other courts to decide if unions granted under the Suquamish ordinance will be recognized elsewhere in Washington, said the tribe’s attorney, Michelle Hansen.

Gay marriage is still illegal in the state, but the Legislature this year approved a measure recognizing same-sex unions from other jurisdictions, which include other nations. State lawmakers also have approved a so-called “everything but marriage” law, granting same-sex couples many rights.

“I wanted to feel accepted by my tribe,” Purser said. “I was expecting a fight to be ugly. But I was so shocked. I guess I was expecting the worst out of people. I was expecting the worst out of my people.”

Purser came out to her family when she was 16 and decided to campaign for gay marriage in her tribe after college.

She approached the Tribal Council, which she said was supportive but not encouraging. She said council members told her to talk to elders about the issue and assigned a tribal attorney to work with her.

But Purser became discouraged, thinking the tribe was taking too long. She moved to Seattle, to a gay-friendly neighborhood, where she met her partner.

Purser, who is a seafood diver for the tribe, returned to the reservation in March, this time intent on voicing her campaign to the people at the annual general membership meeting.

She stepped to the microphone and repeated her plea for the tribe to recognize gay couples. Tribal Council members said they would continue considering it. She sat down. But people around her encouraged to stand up again. She then asked for a voice vote.

“Everyone said aye. No one said nay,” Purser said. Her father and brothers looked on.

“I’m proud that she stood up for herself and took a stand. You bet,” said Heather’s father, Rob Purser. “A father’s main concern is that your children are happy, and you do what you can to help them.”

Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman said Heather Purser’s lobbying helped the issue jump to the top of the council’s priorities.

“I’m just happy that we’re able to get the work done that will allow the same rights and privileges to all people, regardless of sexual orientation,” Forsman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “It was a process that took longer than expected. We have a lot competing needs.”

Hansen said other jurisdictions will have to decide whether to uphold same-sex unions performed on the Suquamish’s reservation.

The Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast is the only other tribe that recognizes same-sex marriage, said Matthew L.M. Fletcher, a law professor at the Michigan State University Indigenous Law Center.

The Coquille adopted its law sanctioning gay marriage in 2008. Most tribal law doesn’t address the issue. In 2005, efforts to grant marriage rights at the nation’s largest tribe, the Navajo, were defeated.

Same-sex marriage licenses also are granted by New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, plus Washington, D.C.

The Suquamish Tribe has about 1,000 enrolled members, according to its website. Its reservation is on the shores of the Puget Sound, about an hour from Seattle. The city of Seattle is named after its most famous member, Chief Seattle, who led a confederation of tribes in the first half of the 1800s.

While Heather Purser lobbied for marriage, she said she’s not yet taking that step. But her victory has helped her deal with many personal issues.

“I have a lot of bitterness inside of me,” she said. “Ever since (the vote), a lot of that pain is just gone.”

Source: washingtonpost.com

Queer movie made by indian woman: "I Am" (documentary by Sonali Gulati)

2011-08-01T13:59:00.001+07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k98AoIh4Z6Q

I Am is a feature-length documentary film that chronicles the journey of
an Indian lesbian filmmaker who returns to Delhi, eleven years later, to
re-open what was once home, and finally confronts the loss of her mother
whom she never came out to. As she meets and speaks to parents of other
gay and lesbian Indians, she pieces together the fabric of what family
truly means, in a landscape where being gay was until recently a
criminal and punishable offense.
http://www.sonalifilm.com/I-AM.html
http://www.facebook.com/iamdocumentary

Happy First Anniversary of Iranian LGBTQ National Day

2011-07-31T23:31:00.003+07:00

In IRQO we are exceptionally proud to belong to that part of Iranian society where its members place respect for human being before everything else, and expects from future nothing but respect, and love, for human being - a wish that if grasped or granted, every other bliss will follow.

RanginKamaani’ha, or The Rainbowers, initiated a National Day for Iranian LGBTQ last year, on July 2010, dated it First Friday of Amordad. (Mordad coincides with second half of July). The Group reasoned: “Amordad is gorgeous, warm, and compassionate, and we wished our day to be as warm, as gorgeous, and as compassionate. Together, unified in heart, calm, and tireless, we’ll pave the path into a life full of light and warmth. We’ll turn to each other then, with smiles and say: We Made It!”.

The Group ended the post with these words: “In the name of a Tomorrow where human being is regarded with Respect, with Love”.

The phrase might seem simple, but to grasp the necessity of love, and of respect for human being regardless, has been the hardest of all tasks of mind, so far.

It takes a lifetime of isolation and terror, for no other fault but being a human being, to grant one such raw sensitivity to place emphasis on respect and love for human being. Considering that these words are conceived in a society where religion, tradition, class, and ideology mar the whole concept of human rights, the phrase will be more appreciated.

Today, Friday July 29, is the first anniversary of Iranian LGBTQ National Day. The group called RanginKamaani’ha announced in their official web space, referring to inappropriate on-line interfering of outsiders: To seek a way out of this unhealthy and destructive progress, which might grow to block the path to all other groups of LGBTQQ in their pursuit of celebrating in a healthy and safe manner, us, RanginKamaani’ha , who believe safety and security of all members of Iranian sexual minorities is most precious and more valuable, Stays Away from any activities this year and stresses again that any comment and personal opinion by individual or groups using Signature of this group published anywhere but this Weblog which is our official site, is not issued by this group, and is a sham.

After a summer full of proud Pride Parades on the international sphere, it feels great to have it followed with the Iranian National LGBT Pride making its first appearances. The Day is coined purposely National to emphasise belonging to a culture that is keen to disown us.

To comply with directives announced in the weblog, in IRQO we keep celebrations limited to congratulating friends and colleagues, and pronouncing the anniversary via this post, wishing our colleagues and friends in the international LGBTQ community most happy and rewarding year ahead.

It is worth to mention that The Day has been mentioned by outstanding Ramiar Group as The First Presence of Iranian LGBT. It has been observed as the First and the Most valuable step taken by Iranian LGBT community to announce presence and vision.

Happy Iranian LGBTQ Pride Day

In the name of a Tomorrow that embrace Human Being with Respect with Love- The Rainbowers

Workshop Penyusunan Instrumen Rapid Assessment Program HAM LGBTI

2011-07-29T16:44:00.002+07:00

GAYa NUSANTARA pada tanggal 27-28 Juli 2011 telah menyelenggarakan "Workshop Penyusunan Instrumen Rapid Assessment Program HAM LGBTI" di Surabaya. Dalam workshop ini dilakukan penyusunan Rapid Assessment untuk HAM LGBTI dengan berbasis pada Yogyakarta Principle dan Deklarasi Universal Hak Asasi Manusia (DUHAM). Instrumen Rapid Assessment ini nantinya akan digunakan untuk mendapatkan data dan informasi dari berbagai LSM/lembaga LGBTI yang ada di Indonesia. Sehingga bisa diketahui sejauh mana pemahaman mereka tentang HAM LGBTI di Indonesia dan kapasitas-kapasitas apa saja yang mereka butuhkan untuk pemahaman HAM LGBTI tersebut. Kegiatan workshop ini diikuti oleh 12 orang peserta, serta didukung oleh Ford Foundation dan Hivos. [KB]

In a first, Gurgaon court recognizes lesbian marriage

2011-07-29T16:24:00.003+07:00

Same-sex marriages are not legal in India. But that did not stop a Gurgaon court from effectively recognizing a marriage between two lesbians.

While granting police protection to a runaway lesbian couple from Khekada village in Baghpat, additional sessions judge Vimal Kumar recorded matter-of-factly that Beena and Savita claimed to be married to each other.

Their statements were recorded in the order without any indication that such a marriage had no legal status. "We have married to each other on July 22, 2011 of our own free will without coercion, duress, fraud, misrepresentation etc," it stated.

The court also recorded that one of them, Savita, had earlier been married to a man and that the marriage had been dissolved by a khap panchayat in Bagpat district. Their petition disclosed that Beena and Savita subsequently married each other by signing an affidavit before a public notary in Gurgaon.

On the basis of these dodgy claims about divorce and marriage, the Gurgaon court invoked a 2009 Punjab and Haryana high court judgment directing all district and sessions judges to "ensure help and assistance to runaway couples".

The high court direction had come in the wake of honor killings ordered by khap panchayats against marriages within the same gotra. The Gurgaon judge has now extended that protection to a marriage within the same sex.

Though some western countries recognize same sex marriages, all that India has done so far, through the 2009 Delhi high court verdict on Section 377 IPC, is to decriminalize consensual sex between adults of the same sex.

According to the petition before the Gurgaon court, Beena was unmarried prior to July 22 while Savita had tied the knot with one Ombir last December. Her marriage was dissolved in panchayat proceedings held in Nipura tehsil in Baghpat. The couple in their petition had submitted before the court that they had known each other for 15 years.

"They fell in love in June 2011 and both decided to (have a) live-in-relationship with each other," the petition said.

Their counsel had told the court that both the petitioners had conveyed their intention to their parents, who did not give their consent and threatened them with dire consequences. The petitioners submitted in court that they had got married to each other on July 22 "by signing an affidavit before a public notary" in Gurgaon.

The couple maintained that their marriage is legally recognized and valid. The petitioners said, "Though they are both female, they have legally married and their marriage is recognized as valid because they fulfill the legal requirements for a legal marriage."

They further asserted, "For all purposes of legal interpretation, the petitioners are a 'married couple' and simply writing the word 'living-in relationship" does not take away their legal status of a married couple."

Savita's parents said they have disowned her and that villagers of Khekada were upset with the Gurgaon court for recognizing a lesbian marriage. "We have not moved out of our homes since the news came. We have disowned her and have written to the local superintendent of police (SP) and collector. We will appear before the Gurgaon court if directed to do so," said Savita's father Jai Prakash.

Savita, a BA final year student, had earlier worked as a teacher at a local private school while Bina is uneducated. Villagers said Bina lived like a boy and her family members also treated her as a male member. "She drove a Pulsar and used to drop Savita to school everyday. Last year, Bina's family moved to Dogat after selling their property here," said Sanjay Dhama, a villager.

Savita's father Jai Prakash said he had spent a lot of money on his daughter's marriage with a UP policeman. But barely six months later, she ran away from her matrimonial home. A police compliant was filed alleging that Bina was behind the act. "Now, we have nothing to do with her. We have lost face because of her actions," Jai Prakash said.

The couple's case will come up for hearing again on August 16. Their counsel, Durgesh Boken, said another lesbian couple may get married after that hearing. "They are awaiting the judgment in this case. They are also from the same region," Boken said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/In-a-first-Gurgaon-court-recognizes-lesbian-marriage/articleshow/9401421.cms

Facebook's identity crisis

2011-07-28T09:30:00.003+07:00

Imagine that one day Facebook suddenly erased your identity from its social network – what would you do? We often take for granted our ability to create an online identity that reflects who we are, but for millions that's impossible – because their gender does not fit in Facebook's checkboxes.

From Metis in Nepal, to Travestis in Brazil, there are millions whose identities are broader than just male or female – the two options Facebook forces you to choose from before joining. The governments of Nepal, India, and Pakistan have legally recognized that gender goes beyond male and female - and so has Facebook's main competitor, Google+.

Facebook has told us they are open to discussing the issue, but they have yet to commit to making the change. Meanwhile Google+ launched with an option that recognized a gender category beyond male and female and made swift changes when called out by the trans community. If Google+ can move quickly to open its doors to people of all gender identities, don't you think Facebook can too?

Its time to turn up the pressure on Facebook – CLICK HERE to add your name to the thousands of All Out members asking Facebook to open its doors to people of all gender identities.

What we love about Facebook is the ability for people to create and customize online identities to reflect our lives. When it comes to languages, we can list virtually any language in the world, or even make up languages – how else could we show off our fluency in “Language of Love”? If our ability to choose religions, languages, and interests are limitless, why should Facebook impose limits on something as essential as gender?

While most trans people have fought for the right to have their gender identities recognized and respected, we know this is a new issue to many All Out members. So, we asked 5 members of our community who are impacted by Facebook's policy to tell us about who they are and why this change matters.

You can check out their stories and sign the petition, by clicking here.

Facebook is one of the most powerful companies in the world and can influence hundreds of millions of people. In the past, Facebook has used their influence for good - recognizing same gender partnerships and marriages. Will you push Facebook to become a vehicle, not a roadblock, in the uphill drive for recognition and respect?

www.allout.org/facebook

Thank you for speaking out so that every All Out member is respected for who they are. We appreciate you!

All the best and All Out,
Aaron, Andre, Erika, Guillaume, Jeremy, Joseph, Nita, Oli, Prerna, Tile, Wesley and the rest of the team at All Out

SOURCES:

1. Pakistan's high court finds merit in third gender ID

2. India's third gender gets own identity in voter rolls

3. Nepal: Third gender issued citizenship certificate

4. Facebook’s Gender Trouble

5. Google Plus Goes Gender Neutral

Mitcham becomes Gay Games ambassador

2011-07-28T07:56:00.001+07:00

Australia’s Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham has been named an ambassador for the next Gay Games joining the likes of Australia’s Olympic cyclist Michelle Ferris and Australia’s first Gay Games ambassador, Olympic trampoline champion Ji Wallace.
In its announcement overnight, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) said Mitcham joins New Zealand’s Olympic ice speed skater Blake Skjellerup, as Gay Games ambassadors representing the Asia-Pacific region.

Mitcham read the athlete’s oath at the beginning of the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany and also took part in the International Rainbow Memorial Run for people living with HIV/AIDS and met participants at various venues including the Gay Games Scholarship reception.

FGG co-president Emy Ritt said Mitcham’s involvement in the 2010 Gay Games alongside Ferris gave them the opportunity to see “first-hand the life-changing power of this event which brings athletes from around the world together in a celebration of sport and culture in a safe and welcoming environment”.

“And beyond this event, all of our ambassadors understand our mission to promote the fundamental human right to practice sport and culture free from violence and discrimination,” Ritt said.

FGG co-president Kurt Dahl welcomed Mitcham and Skjellerup’s support for the 2014 Gay Games.

“We are very grateful that both of these young men have decided to commit to the work of Gay Games ambassadors.

“We recognise that for athletes at the peak of their competitive career, commitments must be made with care. Each has taken their time to join us, and know that this means that they are fully invested in supporting the next Gay Games,” Dahl said.

Gay Games ambassadors support the games and the FGG’s work “to develop the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender sports movement, to combat homophobia in and by sport, and to promote the FGG’s message of ‘Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best’.”

Ferris became Australia’s second Gay Games ambassador taking on the role in May 2008.

The next Gay Games will be held in Cleveland and Akron cities, in the US state of Ohio, in 2014.

Source: http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/mitcham-becomes-gay-games-ambassador-009189.html

New video message on LGBT human rights by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay

2011-07-28T07:50:00.002+07:00

In a new video released today, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay traces the origins of the gay rights debate at the United Nations, highlighting the critical, early role played by a young Australian gay rights activist called Nicholas Toonen. A link to the video and a copy of the transcript follows below.

It is almost two decades since Nicholas Toonen filed his complaint against Australia with the UN Human Rights Committee. The Committee’s 1994 decision sparked a quiet revolution, establishing in international human rights law the principle that no State is entitled to criminalize homosexual relationships between consenting adults in private, or to discriminate against an individual on the basis of his or her sexual orientation.

More than 30 countries have removed the offense of homosexuality from the statute books in the years since the Toonen case was decided, but, as the High Commissioner notes, “criminal sanctions remain in place in more than 70 countries—exposing millions to the risk of arrest, imprisonment, even, in some cases the death penalty, not because they have harmed anyone else or pose a threat to others, but simply for being who they are and for loving another human being. And in many countries, homophobia remains rife, and lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons continue to suffer targeted killings, beatings, torture, and rape.”

The High Commissioner renews her call for decriminalization of homosexuality and an end to discrimination and violence against LGBT individuals. “This debate is unfolding in front of us”, she says. “It goes to the heart of what we believe. It challenges us all to live up to the fundamental principle on which, in the end, all our human rights rest: the equal worth and the equal dignity of all human beings.”

I hope you will find this latest video message useful in supporting your advocacy. For links to previous statements and articles by the High Commissioner and other public information materials relating to LGBT human rights, please visit our webpage: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx

Best regards,
Charles Radcliffe
Chief, Global Issues Section
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
New York

* * *

Text of High Commissioner’s video message on Toonen v. Australia

Hello, I’m Navi Pillay and I’m the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Just over seventeen years ago, here at the United Nations’ Headquarters in New York, a decision was made of historic proportions. The date was March 31, 1994. A young Australian human rights activist called Nicholas Toonen had brought a case to the UN Human Rights Committee, which is responsible for interpreting and applying the international treaty on civil and political rights. Mr Toonen alleged that his human rights were violated by the existence of a law in his home state of Tasmania that criminalized all sexual relationships between consenting adult men, including in private.

The Committee, after examining the arguments and counter-arguments, agreed with him. It decided that Australia was in breach of its international obligations under that treaty. The law in question, the Committee found, violated Mr. Toonen’s human rights. It subjected him to the threat of arrest, detention and criminalization simply because he happened to be homosexual rather than heterosexual. And it also had a wider, negative effect on society at large by reinforcing stigma and prejudice.

The case, known as Toonen v. Australia, marked a watershed with wide-ranging implications for the human rights of millions of people. The Human Rights Committee had made clear that the right to be free from discrimination applies to everyone—gay, straight, lesbian or bisexual.

Sometimes history is made with great fanfare. Sometimes, as at the UN, it is made in ordinary meeting rooms, before banks of stenographers and interpreters, recorded in official UN documents, translated into multiple languages. So it was in this case. But the result reverberated around the world. Nicholas Toonen had his complaint upheld. The Australian State of Tasmania removed the offending law from its statute books. And a signal was sent to all other countries that had similar laws.

The Human Rights Committee has since reaffirmed its position in successive cases, entrenching in human rights law the principle that no country is entitled to discriminate against people on grounds of their sexuality. It is a principle that has since been endorsed by other UN human rights treaty bodies dealing with other areas of human rights law, such as torture, children’s rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and discrimination against women.

Since 1994, more than 30 countries have taken steps to abolish the offence of homosexuality. Some have enacted new laws providing greater protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. And in many parts of the world, we have witnessed a remarkable shift in public attitudes, in favour of greater acceptance of gay and lesbian people.

But criminal sanctions remain in place in more than 70 countries—exposing millions to the risk of arrest, imprisonment, even, in some cases the death penalty, not because they have harmed anyone else or pose a threat to others, but simply for being who they are and for loving another human being. And, of course, in many countries, homophobia remains rife, and lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons continue to suffer targeted killings, beatings, torture, and rape.

Last year, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched an appeal for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality and for every country to ensure equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he said, is just that. It is universal and it applies to us all—whoever we are, whatever we look like, whoever we share our lives with. No exceptions.

This debate is unfolding in front of us. It goes to the heart of what we believe. It challenges us all to live up to the fundamental principle on which, in the end, all our human rights rest: the equal worth and the equal dignity of all human beings.

Thank you.

ECOSOC Council vote grants consultative status to ILGA

2011-07-27T11:17:00.003+07:00

Geneva, 25 July 2011

With 30 votes 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), 13 against (Iraq, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Ghana) and 6 abstentions (Guatemala, Mauritius, Philipines, Rwanda, Bahamas, Ivory Coast) the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted today consultative status to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). ECOSOC consultative status allows NGOs to attend UN conferences and meetings, submit written statements and reports, make oral interventions, and host panels in UN buildings, thus representing a fundamental tool for an NGO like ILGA - with more than 700 member organisations in all continents - to do work on LGBTI human rights within the UN system.

ILGA was the first international LGBTI organisation to get ECOSOC consultative status in 1993, but lost it the following year due to the presence of groups advocating the abolition of laws of consent. ILGA has applied to regain the status ever since, following the expulsion of the above mentioned groups from its membership and after amending its constitution to state clearly its commitment against child abuse, but a small group of countries sponsoring homophobia had been able to influence the votes in the UN NGO Committee examining the applications for a long time. In the meantime, many ILGA members - like LBL Denmark, COC The Netherlands, FELGT Spain, LSVD Germany, ABGLT Brazil, IGLHRC US, and Ilga-Europe - were able to obtain the status by having the negative recommendation of the NGO Committee overturned in the ECOSOC Council, as it has happened in the case of ILGA today.

"This is a historic day for our organisation, which heals a 17-year-old wound - said co-Secretary General Renato Sabbadini, in Geneva for the occasion - and we want to thank all, really all UN Members who voted in our favour, they all deserve indeed to be named fully: 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.

A special thanks goes to Belgium, for its relentless efforts in building a consensus around us, together with the United States and Argentina. We would like to thank also our member organisations which successfully lobbied their Governments on this occasion and all our allies for their support, in particular Arc-International in Geneva."

"Today we are celebrating - said co-Secretary General Gloria Careaga from Mexico City - but we are aware that there is a lot of work to do for us in the coming months. But we are looking forward to working together with all our members, particularly those which also have the status, and our allies to advance LGBTI human rights in the UN bodies in the coming years, taking advantage of the very positive developments opened by the resolution presented by South Africa in the UN Human Rights Council last June."

Pedro Paradiso Sottile, Regional Secretary for ILGA LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean), also in Geneva for the occasion, said: "Granting ILGA consultative status is an act of justice and a reason for pride for the international community working for a world where human rights are truly trespected without any discrimination. Our voices and our struggle for equality and freedom must reach every corner of the world, for differences in sexual orientation, gender identity and expression to be respected and protected by all States. We believe that the ECOSOC status will help all our activists around the world in this endeavour."

--
Renato Sabbadini
co-Secretary General, ILGA
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association rue
de la Charité 17 1210 Brussels tel. +3225022471 fax +32 2 22 34820
email: renato@ilga.org
web: www.ilga.org

Sosialisasi Program GWL di Surabaya

2011-07-24T08:52:00.002+07:00

Bertempat di GNCC, hari Sabtu 23 Juli 2011 pukul 10.00-12.00 wib dilakukan pertemuan "Sosialisasi Program Pencegahan dan Penanggulangan IMS, HIV & AIDS untuk GWL di Surabaya". Pertemuan sosialisasi ini dihadiri oleh 10 orang tokoh kunci yang merupakan perwakilan dari lokasi-lokasi hotspot untuk LSL di Surabaya, seperti Pattaya, Calfor, Taman Eden, Istambul, Texas, Korem dan TP. Dalam pertemuan ini, dipaparkan tentang situasi dan kondisi program IMS, HIV dan AIDS di Surabaya, baik yang sudah dilakukan dan akan direncanakan. Selain itu juga dibahas berbagai strategi yang akan melibatkan para tokoh kunci tersebut untuk mendukung program-program yang dijalankan GAYa NUSANTARA, seperti menjadi outlet kondom, tempat distribusi materi KIE, tempat informasi berkaitan dengan akses layanan kesehatan dan sebagainya. [KB]

Lokakarya Pemetaan & Monitoring Program SUM

2011-07-16T21:36:00.003+07:00

Tanggal 14-15 Juli 2011, program SUM menyelenggarakan "Lokakarya Pemetaan & Monitoring Program Bagi Organisasi Masyarakat Sipil Mitra Kerja Program SUM". Lokakarya yang diadakan di Hotel Novotel Semarang ini diikuti oleh 15 LSM yang menjadi mitra kerja program SUM dengan peserta sekitar 60 orang. Ke-15 LSM tersebut berasal dari DKI Jakarta dan Jawa Timur, yang bekerja di program pencegahan dan penanggulangan IMS, HIV dan AIDS pada komunitas LSL, waria, penasun dan wanita pekerja seks.

Dalam lokakarya ini, peserta dibagi ke dalam 3 kelas yang berbeda sesuai dengan komunitas dampingan masing-masing, yaitu kelas LSL dan waria, kelas penasun dan kelas wanita pekerja seks. Pembagian kelas ini dikarenakan masing-masing kelompok dampingan mempunyai strategi yang berbeda-beda dalam pengembangan programnya. Untuk kelas LSL dan waria diikuti oleh GAYa NUSANTARA, Perwakos, IGAMA, LPA Karya Bakti, Yayasan Srikandi Sejati dan Yayasan Inter Medika.

Di hari pertama, materi yang dibahas adalah pemetaan (mapping). Sebagai awal program, melakukan pemetaan sudah menjadi hal yang wajib. Beberapa LSM peserta diminta untuk merefleksikan kegiatan pemetaan yang sudah dilakukan. Lalu dari hasil refleksi tersebut dikembangkan lagi pemetaan sesuai dengan panduan yang sudah dirancang oleh program SUM. Di mana keluarannya, setelah lokakarya selesai, pemetaan sudah dapat dilangsungkan di masing-masing lokasi wilayah kerja mereka.

Di hari ke dua, materi yang dibahas adalah tentang sistem pelaporan yang merupakan bagian dari monitoring program. Masing-masing LSM diminta untuk memberikan penilaian terhadap kelebihan dan kelemahan terhadap form laporan kegiatan yag pernah dipakai. Lalu peserta juga diajak untuk mencoba membuat disain form laporan kegiatan sesuai kebutuhan masing-masing. Baru setelah itu diajak untuk melihat form laporan kegiatan dari program SUM yang akan dipakai nantinya. Selain tentang form laporan kegiatan, dibahas juga tentang mekanisme alur pelaporan, juga pendokumentasian dan pengarsipan data. (KB)

Homosexuality in Islam

2011-07-15T13:28:00.001+07:00

Critical reflections on gay, lesbian and transgender Muslims
Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle

Published by Oneworld Publications 2010
ISBN 978-1-85168-701-5 (Pbk)

From the back cover

Many Islamic authorities claim that homosexuality is categorically forbidden, but the reality is much less clear-cut. There are no verses in the Qur’an that unambiguously condemn homosexuals, and there are even some that suggest they can be tolerated in Muslim communities. In addition, reports from Hadith that denounce homosexual and transgender persons are of dubious authenticity.

This pioneering work is the first to tackle this complex and controversial issue from a religious perspective. Scott Kugle [as a practicing Mulsim] critically engages with scripture, law and tradition to examine the foundations for prevailing attitudes towards homosexuality in Islam. Arguing that Muslims can reconcile themselves with the inevitable diversity in society without compromising their principles, Kugle makes a forceful case for a renewed Islam that accepts all followers, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

From the Preface

Bismillah al-rahman al-rahim … In the name of God, the compassionate One, the One who cares.

All praise belongs to God, the singular and subtle One, who created the universe and made humankind reflect its diversity. All thanks be to God, who made from one human being two, and from two made many and declared, we created you all from a male and female and made you into different communities and different tribes. Glory be to God who made a multitude in which each is unique and urged them to reflect upon their differences, overcome their egoistic judgment of others, and find the good in each reflected in others – so that you should come to know one another, acknowledging that the most noble among you is the one most aware of God (Qur’an [Q.] 49:13). Then to God they are called and all return. So let us each revere that God, the forbearing One, the One who is just.

Muslim communities, like all other religious groups, face the challenge of confronting diversity. Like other groups, Muslims hesitate and stumble – sometimes inflicting violence along the way – before dealing justly with people in their diverse ranks who are different in appearance, language, ethnicity, creed, or bodily ability. Among the diverse ranks of people are some who are different in gender identity or sexual orientation. Such people are always a small minority yet they appear in every culture and religious community. This book is about the challenge before contemporary Muslims to acknowledge, understand, and accept the diversity in their midst, especially with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity. It contributes to the ongoing process of meeting that challenge and urges Muslim actively to reconsider prejudgments they may hold about gay, lesbian, or transgender members of their communities.

Muslims have profound resources for dealing with theologically and ethically with diversity, but often ignore them when facing difference and conflict. In their long history, Muslims have intensively dealt with sectarian differences. Through this debate, the classical Islamic sciences developed one of their best characteristics – the tolerance for diversity of interpretation of sacred texts; this is expressed in the words of Abu Hanifa, the renowned jurist, who is reported to have said, “We know this [position] is one opinion, and it is the best we can arrive at, [but if] someone arrives at a different view, then he adopts what he believes [is best] and we adopt what we believe [is best].” This book invokes that long tradition of tolerance within the faith – which is often ignored or lost in contemporary Muslim communities – in searching for faith-based response to gay, lesbian and transgender Muslims.

For many Muslims, dealing with homosexuality or transgender issues is a matter of sin and heresy, not difference and diversity. But when pressed, such Muslims often have no clear idea of what homosexuality means, or simply deny that there are any homosexual people in Muslim families and communities. But there are Muslims who face issues squarely with open minds and humble hearts; they may read this book and grapple with the issues it raises. Even if this book does not convince them, it may encourage them to see the issues in a new light, and in that sense it will have succeeded.

Why talk about gay, lesbian and transgender Muslims now? We must talk about them because they exist and are suffering – are increasingly refusing to bear suppression in silence. Some turn to their religious tradition with faith-filled criticism, seeing it as not merely part of the problem but as essential to possible solutions. This book is based upon the experiences and hopes of those who are not content to wait for their Muslim sisters and brothers gradually to come to tolerate them. It offers theological reflections and insights arising from lesbian, transgender and gay Muslims’ efforts to build support groups to help them reconcile their sexual orientation and gender identity with Islamic faith. Their struggle beckons Muslims to pay attention to this minority community’s experiences and insights before dismissing them or opposing them.

In that spirit and hope, I offer this book to the public. In the end, only God knows best. I seek protection with God, the One who opens possibilities (al-fattah). The loving One (al-wadud), the One with subtle grace (al-latif).

Taman Api di Negeri Tanah Air

2011-07-12T15:52:00.001+07:00

Setelah novel Lanang, Yonathan Rahardjo kembali melahirkan anak pemikiran kedua, Taman Api. Pada hari Minggu, 10 Juli 2011, novel tersebut dikupas di Perpustakaan Kota Surabaya. Hadir Yonathan Rahardjo dan dua pembahas: Diana AV Sasa (Direktur dbuku Bibliopolis) dan Wina Bojonegoro (Penulis novel The Souls: Moonlight Sonata). Ari Es, bertindak sebagai moderator. Sebelum diskusi, teater Opera Van Perpus—semua pemainnya pegiat literasi—melakonkan lelaki yang memilih hidupnya sebagai waria.

Tepat jam 11:00 wib, masuk acara utama. Wina Bojonegoro menyampaikan kesannya: cover buku menyiratkan cewek macho, banyak unsur medis yang sulit dimengerti pembaca, kurangnya estetika bahasa, banyak hal detail yang seharusnya dibuang saja. Selanjutnya, Diana AV Sasa. Mengingat mayoritas peserta belum baca novel, ia memberi gambaran ringkas di white board.

Ada empat tokoh sentral. Pertama, dokter Ranto. Seorang agamawan, sekaligus dokter yang dianggap melanggar kode etik karena memakai pakaian perempuan. Ia dikeluarkan dari rumah sakit, lalu menjadi dokter spesialis bedah kelamin. Kedua, dokter Shahrul. Seorang dokter spesialis bedah kelamin, sekaligus Ketua Gerakan Persaudaraan, yang visinya memberantas sikap banci di segala bidang. Ketiga, Tari. Seorang yang sejak kecil mengalami sindrom klinefelter, lalu melakukan operasi kelamin perempuan. Ia bekerja di klab malam. Keempat, Priyatna. Seorang sales obat yang gemar mengenakan pakaian perempuan, crossdresser.

Dan tokoh sampiran. Riris, waria korban operasi kelamin, mati karena HIV. Mr. Patrick, Big Boss perusahan medis, sekaligus pelaku jual-beli waria. Reta, pemilik salon, masuk Daftar Pencarian Orang (DPO). Magda, asisten dokter Shahrul. Dokter Hendri, ahli teknologi.

Novel Taman Api menguak kehidupan waria nan kompleks, termasuk praktek ilegal yang menempatkan waria sebagai obyek penderita: misi rahasia berkedok agama untuk melenyapkan waria melalui bisnis gelap bedah kelamin, berikut teknologinya. Dan di negeri imajiner bernama Negeri Tanah Air, Gerakan Persaudaraan membangun konspirasi memberantas sikap banci di segala bidang. Waria kelas atas dipaksa operasi kelamin, lalu dimasukkan chip anti banci. Waria kelas bawah dibantai Satpol PP dan kelompok Jubah Putih. Waria menjadi korban: diperjualbelikan, sekaligus obyek ilegal kedokteran.

Selaku pembaca, Diana AV Sasa menangkap muatan pesan: pendidikan tentang bahaya suntik silikon, medical representatif yakni sistem kerja dunia medis, detail proses operasi kelamin, dan persaingan di dunia farmasi. Dari segi sastra, Lanang dan Taman Api kuat secara tematik dan penuturannya sangat filmis (bak film). Wina Bojonegoro menambahkan, pesan moral buku ini: jangan menghakimi waria dan dunia kedokteran penuh intrik, banyak hal tersembunyi yang tidak terungkap dan diketahui masyarakat awam.

Beberapa pertanyaan mencuat ke permukaan. Kenapa Negeri Tanah Air tidak ditulis Indonesia saja? Apakah novel ini lahir atas pesanan pihak lain? Sejauh mana riset yang dilakukan penulis? Dan di akhir diskusi, Yonathan Rahardjo memberi jawaban. Pertama, persoalan ini ada di seluruh dunia, bukan khas Indonesia, sehingga Negeri Tanah Air interpretasi-nya lebih luas. Kedua, tidak ada pesanan pihak manapun. Ketiga, selain studi literasi, juga mendalami kehidupan waria secara langsung.

Demikianlah. Faktanya, banyak Taman Api di Negeri Tanah Air, termasuk Indonesia. (Antok Serean)

Seminar GFATM Gender Equality and Sexual Orientation Policies

2011-07-09T16:40:00.004+07:00

Seminar yang diadakan di Gedung PBB pada tanggal 6 juli 2011 yang hanya dihadiri 23 peserta dari 42 peserta yang mendaftar ini menampilkan dua narasumber yaitu Dédé Oetomo dari GAYa NUSANTARA dan Estu Rakhmi Fanani dari CEDAW Working Group Initiative (CWGI) dengan moderator Tine Tombokan, Sekretaris CCM dan diskusi di pimpin oleh Firman Lubis Ketua Komite Pengawasan CCM.

Dalam seminar ini menjelaskan bagaimana Global Fund mempunyai kebijakan kesetaraan gender, orientasi seksual dan indentitas gender dalam mendanai proposal untuk HIV/AIDS, Tuberkulosis dan Malaria. Tujuan strategi kesetaraan gender antara lain adalah untuk meningkatkan layanan dan intervensi yang mengurangi resiko dan kerentanan yang terkait gender terhadap infeksi, mengurangi beban akibat penyakit bagi mereka yang paling berisiko, mengurang dampak dari ketiga penyakit tersebut dan menangani ketidaksetaraan dan diskriminasi struktural. Dengan menitikberatkan pada kebijakan, prosedur dan strutur Global Fund mendukung program yang menangani ketidaksetaraan gender secara efektif, mengembangkan strategi komunikasi dan advokasi yang efektif yang mendorong strategi kesetaraan gender.

Pada presentasinya, Estu juga menekankan pada perlunya perhatian khusus pada perempuan, anak perempuan dan kesetaraan gender. Perempuan dewasa dan anak perempuan minim dalam mendapatkan informasi kesehatan sehingga populasi dengan infeksi tinggi untuk HIV/AIDS. Selain itu praktik dan norma yang dikembangkan dalam masyarakat bias gender dan merugikan perempuan yang mendorong epidemic HIV. Dan juga perilaku yang tidak peduli terhadapa kebersihan dan kesehatan reproduksi dan seksual, serta kekerasan berbasis gender. Perempuan dengan HIV/AIDS mengalami peminggiran dan diskriminasi terhadap layanan kesehatan, reproduksi dan seksual, terutama pencegahan penularan dari ibu ke anak. Peran domestik perempuan dan keterkaitan dengan aspek biologis (kehamilan) sehingga rentan terjangkit malaria. Letak geografis Indonesia yang berpulau dan pembangunan yang tidak merata dtitambah norma gender dan maskulinitas yang mengharuskan perempuan merawat dan peduli orang lain yang akibatnya mengurangi kulitas pelayanan perawatan dan pengobatan terhadap perempuan. Beban berlebih karena fungsi dan peran gender serta minimnya sumber daya perempuan yang mengakibatkan pengobatan dan perawatan yang tidak maksimal dalam Tuberkulosis. Stigma negative terhadap penderita TB maupun populasi kunci sehingga menghambat dalam layanan dan akses kesehatan.

Sedangkan dalam presentasi Dédé membahas Konsep dan istilah di seputar orientasi seksual dan identitas gender yang masih sering disalah artikan masyarakat. Gay (terutama yang feminism) sering dianggap waria, sementara yang maskulin acapkali dianggap hetero, kerancuan serupa juga terjadi antara lesbian dan tomboy. Dédé juga menaruh perhatian khusus pada GWL (Gay, Waria dan LSL) karena di kalangan gay dan lsl lainnya prevelanasi HIV cukup tinggi apalagi waria yang prevelansi HIV lebih tinggi lagi. Stigma dan diskriminasi menyebabkan GWL susah dijangkau. Waria cukup tampak, tetapi termarjinalisasi akibat stigma dan diskriminasi. Pasangannya nyaris tak dikenal. LSL lain tak tampak dan acapkali tidak diperhatikan oleh petugas kesehatan. Gay komunitas cukup tampak tetapi yang nonkomunitas tak tampak. Begitu juga dengan TB dan Malaria. Stigma dan diskriminasi berdasarkan SOGI menghalangi akses pada layanan kesehatan. Laki-laki feminism dan waria menghadapi resiko tertular malaria karena melaksanakan pekerjaan perempuan. Dédé menutup presentasinya dengan membacakan pernyataan Sekjen PBB, Ban Ki moon.

Yang menarik adalah pada sesi tanya jawab dan diskusi, dimana ada beberapa peserta yang masih tidak paham mengenai SOGI meskipun mereka telah bekerja di penangulangan AIDS dan juga ada peserta dari sebuah universitas yang terlihat masih mempunyai pemahaman yang Homophobia dan menganggap bahwa Gay dan waria sebagai penyebab banyaknya HIV/AIDS di papua. Ini menunjukan bahwa kita masih perlu kerja keras dalam mensosialisasikan Orientasi Seksual dan Identitas Gender di masyarakat. [pj]

Forum on Intersex Organising Brussels, 2-5 September 2011

2011-07-02T12:27:00.002+07:00

A discussion forum will be organised in Brussels in September 2011 to explore the characteristics of the Intersex Movement, its relationship with the international and regional organisations ILGA, ILGA-Europe and TGEU, and to develop agreements on key issues for advocacy.

The aim of the forum is to increase the awareness of intersex issues, and to agree on the advocacy priorities using a human rights position. It is hoped the forum will contribute to movement building, development of working relationships between the allies and drawing up an agreed action plan to advance on the key priorities.

These are some of the areas that will be explored:
- The various perspectives on intersexuality – gender queer, human rights, medical
- Needs of the intersex community – what are the priorities?
- How might these needs be met and who is best placed to meet these identified needs?What are the various approaches to advancing equality for intersex people?
- Who do we need to work with – and at what level of intervention?
- How might the organisations work together to advance the identified priorities?
- Social change requiring intervention at various levels – who can do what?
- Working with each other and working with other organisations
- Agreeing on a programme of work to further intersex equality and inclusion in LGBTI movement

The working methods utilised will be a combination of individual, pair, small group and large group reflection, discussion and planning. There will be an emphasis on people getting to know each other so as to build stronger working relationships that will be the basis for future alliances and projects.

The 2-day Forum on Intersex Organising will be facilitated by Patricia Prendiville and will take place on the 3 and 4 September 2011. On the 5th September there will be a Roundtable with ILGA, ILGA-Europe and other organisations, which will be facilitated by Ruth Baldacchino (ILGA Board Member). The Roundtable will provide a space for specifically discussing international matters.

This forum is being organised in partnership by ILGA and ILGA-Europe.

To attend the forum, please complete the application form available here before Friday 15 July 2011.

In order to ensure a fair representation and taking into consideration the resources available, please note the following eligibility criteria:

- Preference will be given to those individuals who identify as intersex or have an intersex background; AND/OR
- Individuals who are working on intersex issues or within intersex organisations.
- Individuals from the European Region should apply only through ILGA-Europe by contacting Silvan Agius at: silvan@ilga-europe.org
- Due to financial limitations, we are looking at granting one scholarship per ILGA Region.

ILGA

Lokakarya SUM Program Jawa Timur

2011-07-01T16:22:00.000+07:00

Lokakarya SUM Program Jawa Timur 2010 - 2015: "Mengawali Implementasi Program Cakupan Intervensi Efektif, Terpadu dan Berkelanjutan pada Kelompok Paling Beresiko Tinggi terhadap Penularan HIV" di Santika Hotel, Surabaya, 30 Juni 2011

Lokakarya ini diselenggarakan oleh Program SUM (Scalling Up the HIV Response among Most-at-risk Populations) sebagai kelanjutan dari ERA (Expanded Readiness Assessment) atau penjajakan Kesiapan Komunitas dalam Respon AIDS, OPTPA (Organizational Performance and Technical Performance Assessment) atau Penjajakan Kapasitas Organisasi dan Kapasitas Teknis, serta pengembangan Manual Implementasi yang telah dilaksanakan beberapa waktu lalu, maka SUM Program segera akan mengawali implementasi di wilayah Jawa Timur, bekerjasama dengan 7 LSM sebagai mitra yakni : 1) Yayasan Genta, 2) Yayasan Orbit, 3) Yayasan GAYa NUSANTARA, 4) Perwakos, 5) Yayasan Paramitra; 6) Yayasan Sadar Hati dan 7) IGAMA

Acara dibuka oleh DR. R. Otto Bambang Wahyudi, MSi.MM selaku sekretaris KPAP Jawa Timur. Kemudian dilanjutin dengan presentasi-presentasi tentang:
1. Situasi Epidemi HIV serta Upaya Penanggulangan HIV di wilayah Jawa Timur oleh Bapak Ahmad Mabrur dari Dinkes Provinsi Jawa Timur,
2. Gambaran Umu Program SUM oleh Meytha Nurani dari SUM Program Jawa Timur,
3. Gambaran Umum Rencana Kerja LSM di Surabaya oleh Riyanto dari Yayasan Genta dan di Malang oleh Mainul Sofyan dari Yayasan Paramitra.
4. Paket Dukungan bagi LSM oleh Yen Rusalam dan Ciptasari Prabawanti dari SUM Program Jakarta
5. Paket Dukungan bagi KPAP dan Sektor Kesehatan (Dinkes dan Puskesmas) oleh Siti Sulami dan Nila dari SUM Program Jakarta

Sebagai tindak lanjut dari acara ini adalah dibuatkannya RTL (Rencana Tindak Lanjut) yang dipandu oleh Pak Otto selaku Sekretaris KPAP Jawa Timur. Peserta di bagi dalam 3 kelompok yakni : 1) Kota Surabaya, 2) Kota/Kab Malang, 3) Provinsi.

Peserta : Biro Kesra Setda Provinsi, Bappeda Provinsi, Dinkes Provinsi,Dinas Pariwisata Provinsi, Kanwil HukHam Provinsi, Bappemas Provinsi, Dinsos Provinsi, DinKes (Kota Surabaya, Kota Malang, Kab Malang), KPA (Kota Surabaya, Kota Malang, Kab Malang), PKBI Jawa Timur, HCPI, Yayasan Genta, Yayasan Orbit, Yayasan GAYa NUSANTARA, Perwakos, Yayasan Paramitra, Yayasan Sadar Hati, IGAMA, JOTHI, GWL-INA Jawa Timur, IPPI, OPSI, PKNI, PKM Perak Timur, PKM Jagir, PKM Sememi, PKM Gondang Legi, PKM Sumber Pucung serta Tim SUM Program Jawa Timur dan Jakarta.

Lokakarya ini untuk menyamakan persepsi dalam kerja-kerja penangulangan HIV dan AIDS di Jawa Timur agar apa yang menjadi tujuan jangka panjang bersama dapat tercapai.

Acara di tutup oleh Sekretaris KPAP Jawa Timur (DR. R Otto Bambang Wahyudi, Msi.MM)

Legalisasi Pernikahan Gay di New York

2011-06-30T12:11:00.001+07:00

Presiden AS Barack Obama menyambut baik disahkannya undang-undang yang mengatur perkawinan homoseksual di New York. Dia menyatakan, undang-undang yang dilahirkan dengan perdebatan sengit dan emosional itu adalah sesuatu yang baik.

"Apa yang saya lihat terjadi selama beberapa hari terakhir, dan apa yang terjadi di New York sepekan terakhir ini, saya rasa adalah hal yang baik," kata Obama.

Hal itu dikatakan Obama dalam jumpa pers di Gedung Putih, Washington DC, seperti dikutip AFP, Selasa (29/6/2011).

"Perdebatan sangat sengit dan emosional, namun akhirnya mereka membuat sebuah keputusan untuk mengakui pernikahan sipil. Saya pikir itu itulah memang yang harus dikerjakan," kata Obama.

Obama menegaskan pemerintahan yang dipimpinnya tidak akan mendiskriminasikan orang berdasarkan orientasi seksualnya.

"Kami telah mengerjakannya lebih dari dua setengah tahun, bahwa saya telah ada di sini dari 43 presiden sebelumnya," kata Obama menambahkan sejumlah pencapaian hak gay selama masa pemerintahannya, termasuk memastikan pasangan gay dan lesbian dapat mengunjungi satu sama lain di rumah sakit.

"Kita telah memastikan sebuah prinsip pokok dari pemerintahan ini, karena saya pikir ini adalah sebuah prinsip pokok dari Amerika," tambahnya.

Undang-undang pernikahan sejenis di New York disahkan pekan lalu menyusul perselisihan antara pendukung dan penentang usulan regulasi itu selama berbulan-bulan. Penentang sebagian besar keberatan atas dasar agama.

New York adalah negara bagian keenam dan terbesar yang telah melegalkan pernikahan sejenis. Iowa, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, sudah lebih dulu mengundangkannya.

Sebuah poling menunjukkan 53 pesen publik AS mendukung legalisasi pernikahan sejenis. Sementara negara bagian AS lain, seperti California, menawarkan 'persekutuan' homoseksual, namun bukan hak menikah. Artinya, para pihak mendapatkan sejumlah hak, namun bukan seluruh hak sebagaimana yang didapatkan pasangan yang menikah.

Bissu Puang Matoa Saidi telah tiada.

2011-06-30T09:08:00.004+07:00

Telah meninggal dunia bissu Puang Matoa Saidi, "The Last Bissu" kemarin, pada usia 53 tahun, di Rumah Sakit Wahidin Sudiro Husodo, Makassar pk. 15.35. Jenazah dikebumikan di Sapoe.

Penjaga budaya, pemelihara tradisi leluhur Bugis kuno, penghafal sekaligus penutur naskah Sure’ Galigo dan pemimpin tertinggi komunitas Bissu Dewatae, Puang Matoa Saidi yang bermukim di Pangkep, hari ini, Selasa, 28 Juni, sekitar pukul 15.00 berpulang saat menjalani perawatan di RSU Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo Makassar.

Dengan meninggalnya Bissu Saidi, saat ini pengendali kegiatan Bissu dipegang oleh Puang Upe, Puang Lolo Bissu, wakil dari Puang Matoa Bissu Saidi.

Bernama lengkap Saidi bin Rudding tapi lebih dikenal dengan sebutan Puang Matoa Saidi, meninggal; dalam usia 53 tahun. Dia meninggal setelah menjalani perawatan di unit gawat darurat rumah sakit regional tersebut sejak tadi malam, Senin, 27 Juni 2011.

Sebelumnya, narator utama pementasan I La Galigo ini sudah berkali-kali dirawat di beberapa rumah sakit sejak April lalu, antara lain di Rumah Sakit Umum Pangkep, Rumah Sakit Labuang Baji Makassar, dan Infeksion Centre RS Wahidin.

Selamat jalan Puang Saidi! Tak kan lupa aku padamu!!

Source: http://oase.kompas.com/read/2011/06/28/18583277/Puang.Matoa.Telah.Tiada

APCOM GB - MSM guidelines launched

2011-06-29T07:06:00.002+07:00

WHO launched yesterday the “MSM guidelines”, i.e. the document “Prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and transgender people: Recommendations for a public health approach”. Attached are the guidelines and annexes, along with the WHO press release and background document that was provided to the Media at yesterday's press conference.

You can find the guidelines at the WHO website. http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/guidelines/msm_guidelines2011/en/index.html)

We hope the guidelines will be helpful for your work and we shall appreciate your feedback.

Please share this guiding document widely to HIV/STI partners and male health concerned groups in your countries, regions and beyond.

Thank you and best regards,

Dr Zhao Pengfei, MD, MPH, MSc
Technical Officer, HIV prevention
WPRO/WHO
P.O. Box 2932, 1000 UN Avenue, Manila
Email: zhaop@wpro.who.int
Tel: +632 528 9718
Fax: +632 521 1036
Mobile: +639219755179

Majalah Bulanan GAYa NUSANTARA Tahun 06/No.01 telah terbit

2011-06-28T14:47:00.004+07:00

Bisa diunduh di sini.

Apa kabar kawan-kawan LGBTiQ di seluruh Indonesia? Semoga baik-baik saja, sehat walafiat, dan tetap semangat. Memasuki tahun 2011, kami melakukan banyak evaluasi. Dari beragam masukan dan pertimbangan agar terbitan GN semakin diterima semua kalangan pembaca dengan tetap memberi manfaat bagi gerakan LGBTiQ, maka kami memutuskan untuk merubah format Buletin ke bentuk awalnya, yakni format Majalah (Zine).

Perubahan ini juga diikuti dengan perubahan penomerannya. Bila menengok kembali pada terbitan awal GN tahun 1987 dalam format buku seri, dapat dilihat bahwa kami menggunakan nomer 01/tahun 1987 hingga nomer 134/tahun 2005. Dan ketika kami merubah format terbitan ini menjadi buletin dengan ukuran A3, digunakan nomer 01/tahun ke-01 (2006) hingga nomer 41/tahun ke-05 (2010). Maka menandai edisi awal format baru ini kami kembali menggunakan nomer 01/tahun ke-06 (2011).

Bersanding dengan terbitan GN lain yang bersifat lebih ‘akademis’, yaitu Jurnal Gandrung, maka Majalah Bulanan GN mencoba memberikan informasi aktual yang lebih ‘ringan’ seputar komunitas LGBTi. Di edisi ini, kami mengangkat tema Perlakuan Negara terhadap LGBTi, dengan menitik-beratkan persoalan keadilan. Seperti kita tahu, negara ikut mengatur seksualitas warganya, baik melalui kebijakan atau tindakan aparaturnya. Semisal pengesahan Undang-Undang Pornografi yang tidak memihak LGBTi. Pun fakta di lapangan, Satpol PP kerap mencekal aktivitas waria. Perlakuan timpang pun bisa mewujud secara halus. Gay dan lesbian yang coming out di tempat kerja sulit meningkatkan jenjang karier. Atau hambatan interseks dalam mengakses pernikahan. Contoh tersebut sedikit potret persoalan sehari-hari yang kadang terabaikan dan tidak terselesaikan.

Dengan situasi seperti ini, keadilan negara patut dipertanyakan karena belum menyentuh semua lapisan masyarakat. Untuk itu, kami menelisik persepsi adil di mata kawan-kawan LGBTi, termasuk pengalaman pribadi berinteraksi dengan aparatur negara. Apakah selama ini cukup terwakili atau masih ada yang mengganjal di hati? Banyak hal terungkap dan kami ceritakan di sini. Tak kalah penting tentang harapan di masa depan. Hal-hal prioritas yang mesti diubah negara, sehingga dapat menjalani kehidupan sehari-hari dengan nyaman, tanpa tekanan. Data yang terkumpul kami olah, lalu kami sajikan dalam majalah ini.

Silahkan mengunduh di sini (3,11 Mb) dan selamat membaca.

The growing consensus : ILGA's panel at UN on 7 June

2011-06-28T07:34:00.000+07:00

On 7 June 2011 at the 17th session of the Human Rights Council ILGA held the panel “The Growing Consensus: Towards the End of Criminalization and Human Rights Violations based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”.

This panel was held 10 days before the historic South African resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity was passed at the Human Rights Council. All the presentations remain pertinent after the historic resolution, the first ever passed at the UN on sexual orientation and gender identity. Read and listen to the presentations:

http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/n1TH8HF1kU

MSMGF Welcomes First-Ever WHO Guidelines on HIV Prevention for Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender People

2011-06-27T07:44:00.002+07:00

Guidelines examine effectiveness of available interventions, emphasize human rights approach

June 21, 2011 (Geneva, Switzerland) - The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) welcomes the first-ever guidelines from the World Health Organization on the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people. Developed in consultation with key stakeholders and civil society around the globe, the guidelines assess the effectiveness of available interventions and emphasize the importance of a human rights approach to healthcare for these populations.

The guidelines come at a time when HIV rates among MSM are surpassing 20% in a wide range of countries, including Jamaica, Mexico, Thailand and Zambia. Despite the clear need for services, it is estimated that fewer than one in ten MSM around the world have access to even the most basic HIV prevention and treatment options. While data on the epidemic among transgender people is extremely scarce, reports indicate that rates of HIV infection and access to services for this population are even worse.

“The release of these guidelines is an important step toward achieving the standard of health and human rights that all MSM and transgender people deserve,” said Dr. George Ayala, Executive Officer of the MSMGF, who consulted on the development of the guidelines. “The recommendations give policy officials and healthcare professionals evidence-based guidance for serving our communities, and they offer civil society a benchmark to which we can hold our governments accountable.”

The guidelines profile a number of prevention and treatment interventions targeting MSM and transgender people, including condom use, behavioral interventions, internet-based strategies, and anti-retroviral treatment. The document then gives technical recommendations for each category of intervention based on available evidence.

The document’s recommendations for individual interventions are supplemented with a set of overarching principles to help ensure the efficacy of any intervention targeting these populations. Referred to in the guidelines as Good Practice Recommendations, these principles include human rights protections for MSM and transgender people, elimination of stigma and violence against these groups, and inclusive health services with enhanced sensitivity and education among healthcare professionals.

“Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations have played a major role in blocking access to essential health services for MSM and transgender people in all world regions,” said Krista Lauer, Policy Associate at the MSMGF. “These abuses are especially damaging when they are inflicted by healthcare professionals. This document sends a clear message to the health sector that discrimination against MSM and transgender people is not only unacceptable, it completely undermines efforts to deliver an effective public health response to HIV.”

The WHO urges that the guidelines be integrated with each country’s national HIV/AIDS strategy. While the WHO recognizes that different countries will have to implement these recommendations at different paces due to available resources, the organization asserts that country-level strategic planning should be directed toward the eventual implementation of all recommendations in the guidelines to achieve universal access to HIV services for these populations nationally.

“This is only the beginning,” said Dr. Ayala. “The recommendations are solid, benefiting from the input of community-based organizations around the world. Now these recommendations must be integrated within country AIDS responses, combining effective interventions to ensure maximum impact. As we move forward, it is essential that civil society remains meaningfully involved in every step of the process. Community organizations have been at the heart of the HIV response for MSM and transgender people since the epidemic began - their expertise, leadership and steadfast commitment hold the key to bringing this crisis to an end.”

Note to Editors: As part of the guidelines development process, the WHO commissioned the MSMGF to assess the values and preferences of MSM and transgender people regarding different prevention and treatment options. The MSMGF conducted in-depth interviews with MSM and transgender people from 27 different countries across six world regions, both HIV-negative and living with HIV. The press release and final report from that assessment is available below:

Press Release: http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/11/aid/2353/langID/1/

Full Report: http://msmgf.org/files/msmgf//About_Us/Publications/WHO_Report1.pdf

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is an expanding network of AIDS organizations, MSM networks, and advocates committed to ensuring robust coverage of and equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services tailored to the needs of gay men and other MSM. Guided by a Steering Committee of 20 members from 18 countries situated mainly in the Global South, and with administrative and fiscal support from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), the MSMGF works to promote MSM health and human rights worldwide through advocacy, information exchange, knowledge production, networking, and capacity building.

Brosur SO/GI PBB terjemahan bahasa Indonesia

2011-06-17T08:09:00.003+07:00

Kawan

Bersama ini saya teruskan brosur seruan PBB tentang isyu2 orientasi seksual dan identitas gender dalam bahasa Indonesia. Penerjemahannya dilakukan oleh Mbak Nursyahbani Katjasungkana dengan bantuan kawan2 Kartini Asia Network, dengan penyuntingan oleh saya. Silakan digunakan dalam advokasi Kawan.

Download di sini.

Salam
Dédé

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For First Time, UN Political Declaration on AIDS Addresses HIV among Men Who Have Sex with Men

2011-06-13T15:33:00.000+07:00

June 10, 2011 (New York) – The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) welcomes the progress represented in the new 2011 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, expected to be formally adopted later today at the conclusion of this week’s High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York. Issued as a consensus statement with support anticipated from all UN member states, the declaration is the first General Assembly statement on AIDS to explicitly include men who have sex with men (MSM), breaking a pervasive silence about this population at the official level and creating unprecedented opportunities for advocacy to promote MSM health and human rights.

“The inclusion of men who have sex with men and other key populations is a major turning point in the global political discourse that has dominated the first 30 years of global HIV response,” said Dr. George Ayala, Executive Officer of the MSMGF. “Political leadership is finally catching up with public health evidence. With HIV rates among MSM now surpassing thirty percent in countries from Asia to the Caribbean, this language is well overdue.”

The declaration sets forth a series of principles and recommendations for an enhanced response to HIV. Calling for a tailored, evidence-based approach, the document recognizes that the full realization of human rights for all people is an essential part of the global AIDS response. The declaration also commits to the creation of enabling legal, social and policy frameworks to promote access to essential services, as well as the review of laws and policies that adversely impact the equitable delivery of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

“Human rights violations, legal barriers and discrimination have played a central role in blocking MSM from accessing life-saving services,” said Krista Lauer, Policy Associate at the MSMGF. “With fewer than one in ten MSM around the world able to access even the most basic prevention and treatment, this declaration has the potential to make a major difference for MSM. After 30 years of trying to control the epidemic with generalized responses, the document signals a shift toward policies and programs that respond to communities at highest risk, an approach shown to be both more effective and more cost-efficient.”

By adopting these and other strategies, the declaration makes a number of time-bound commitments, including reaching 15 million people with anti-retroviral drugs by 2015.

The negotiations leading up to the adoption of the declaration considered questions of culture, sovereignty, and religious values, and a number of provisions included in the final text could potentially undermine or dilute a targeted focus on MSM and other key populations. In addition, while the declaration acknowledges MSM, sex workers, and people who inject drugs by name, transgender people were omitted from the document despite infection rates of over 30% in some locations.

“There is obviously a long way to go,” said Dr. Ayala. “The document is not perfect, but it makes strong commitments to very important goals and sets forth a number of solid principles to achieve them. It is now up to civil society to work together to hold governments accountable. The prevention and treatment goals enshrined in this document cannot be met unless the global AIDS response is re-shaped to address MSM and other key populations.”

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is an expanding network of AIDS organizations, MSM networks, and advocates committed to ensuring robust coverage of and equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services tailored to the needs of gay men and other MSM. Guided by a Steering Committee of 20 members from 18 countries situated mainly in the Global South, and with administrative and fiscal support from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), the MSMGF works to promote MSM health and human rights worldwide through advocacy, information exchange, knowledge production, networking, and capacity building.

Jurnal Gandrung Vol. 1 No. 2, Desember 2010

2011-06-06T23:08:00.005+07:00

Jurnal Gandrung Vol. 1 No. 2 Desember 2010, versi pdf (e-jurnal) bisa dilihat di bagian "download" (klik di sini)

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Pelatihan IPP di Jateng

2011-06-06T10:54:00.000+07:00

Bertempat di Hotel Pandanaran Semarang, pada tanggal 29 Mei-4 Juni 2011 diselenggarakan Pelatihan Intervensi Perubahan Perilaku (IPP) untuk Pencegahan Penularan HIV melalui Hubungan Seksual. Pelatihan ini diselenggarakan oleh Kemenkes RI, Dinkes Kota Semarang, IPIPPI dan GF-ATM. Sebanyak 38 peserta dari berbagai kabupaten/kota di Jawa Tengah turut berpartisipasi, mereka terdiri dari petugas pengelolah program pengendalian IMS, HIV dan AIDS; petugas dari institusi layanan pemeriksaan IMS dan VCT; dan para petugas lapangan. Di antara para peserta tersebut, terdapat pula 3 orang petugas lapangan dari komunitas gay dan 3 orang petugas lapangan dari komunitas waria.

Tujuan dari pelatihan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan, sikap dan ketrampilan dari para pengelolah program, petugas layanan kesehatan dan petugas lapangan dalam melakukan intervensi perubahan perilaku kepada kelompok dampingan mereka, sehingga dapat memiliki daya ungkit terhadap peningkatan pencapaian program khususnya VCT. Beberapa materi yang disampaikan adalah seputar materi dasar penularan dan pencegahan IMS, HIV dan AIDS, tehnik-tehnik komunikasi efektif dan jenis-jenis intervensi efektif.

Selain di Jawa Tengah, pada waktu yang bersamaan juga diselenggarakan pelatihan serupa di Riau dan Sumatera Barat. Sebelumnya sudah diselenggarakan juga di Banten, Jawa Barat dan Lampung. Dan sekarang masih berlangsung pelatihan serupa di DIY, Kalimantan Barat dan Kalimantan Selatan, tepatnya 5-11 Juni 2011. (KB)

The Man Who Had HIV and Now Does Not

2011-05-31T07:26:00.004+07:00

Brown, photographed at his home in California on May 23.
(Photo: Dan Winters)

Four years ago, Timothy Brown underwent an innovative procedure. Since then, test after test has found absolutely no trace of the virus in his body. The bigger miracle, though, is how his case has experts again believing they just might find a cure for AIDS.

AIDS is a disease of staggering numbers, of tragically recursive devastation. Since the first diagnosis, 30 years ago this June 5, HIV has infected more than 60 million people, around 30 million of whom have died. For another 5 million, anti-retroviral therapy has made their infection a manageable though still chronic condition. Until four years ago, Timothy Brown was one of those people.

Brown is a 45-year-old translator of German who lives in San Francisco. He is of medium height and very skinny, with thinning brown hair. He found out he had HIV in 1995. He had not been tested for the virus in half a decade, but that year a former partner turned up positive. “You’ve probably got only two years to live,” the former partner told him when Brown got his results.

His partner was wrong—lifesaving anti-retrovirals were about to arrive—and Brown spent the next ten years living in Berlin, pursuing his career and enjoying the city by night. He was gregarious, a fast talker; when he went out, he’d always wind up the center of a group. “I used to be quite a flirt,” he tells me. “I would see someone in a café, bar, or disco and knew how to get what I wanted.” In 2006, Brown was living in Berlin with his boyfriend, a man named Michael from the former East Germany. That year, on a trip to New York for a wedding, he began to feel miserable. He chalked it up to jet lag, but it didn’t go away. Back in Berlin, his bike ride to work took so long that he got chewed out by his boss for lateness. Michael called his doctor, who saw Brown the next day.

The results came back: leukemia. A new, unrelated disease was now threatening his life. Michael cried. Brown was referred to Charité Medical University, where he was treated by Gero Hütter, a 37-year-old specialist in blood cancers.

After chemo, the leukemia came back. Brown’s last chance was a stem-cell transplant from a bone-marrow donor. Hütter had an idea. He knew little about HIV, but he remembered that people with a certain natural genetic mutation are very resistant to the virus. The mutation, called delta 32, disables CCR5, a receptor on the surface of immune-system cells that, in the vast majority of cases, is HIV’s path inside. People with copies from both parents are almost completely protected from getting HIV, and they are relatively common in northern Europe—among Germans, the rate is about one in a hundred. Hütter resolved to see if he could use a stem-cell donor with the delta-32 mutation to cure not just Brown’s leukemia but also his HIV.

Hütter found 232 donors worldwide who were matches for Brown. If probabilities held, two would have double delta 32. Hütter persuaded the people at the registry to test the donors for the mutation; his laboratory paid, at a cost of about $40 per sample. They worked through the list. Donor 61 was a hit.

His colleagues and the chief of his unit were dubious. “The main problem was that I was just a normal physician—I had no leading position. It was not always easy to get what we needed,” Hütter recalls. Brown himself was not pushing the idea. “At that point, I wasn’t that concerned about HIV, because I could keep taking medication,” he says.

Before Hütter asked the donor registry to begin testing, he’d searched the literature and contacted AIDS experts. It dawned on him that no one had ever done this before. “My first thought was, I’m wrong. There must be something I was missing.” In a sense, that was true. Gero Hütter did not know what most AIDS researchers and clinicians had taken as accepted wisdom: A cure was impossible.

The 1996 International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver brought the stunning announcement that a combination of three anti-retroviral drugs could keep HIV in check. David Ho, director of New York’s Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, went further. In the closing session, Ho said that it might be possible to eradicate the disease from the body with 18 to 36 months of therapy. Time magazine named Ho “Man of the Year.”

But Ho was too optimistic. Treatment with the drugs, no matter how early it’s begun, cannot eradicate HIV, because the virus hides, lurking in the brain or liver or gut without replicating, invisible to the immune system. It is waiting to come roaring back if therapy is stopped. Disillusioned, some cure researchers transferred their finite resources and energy to improving AIDS treatment or working on a vaccine. Money for cure research dried up. Some scientists took to calling it “the C-word” or “cure” with air quotes.

More pages of this story on original website at bottom of page.
http://nymag.com/health/features/aids-cure-2011-6/

New Toolkit on HIV and Human Rights Advocacy for Men Who Have Sex with Men

2011-05-25T09:16:00.000+07:00

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is pleased to announce the official launch of the new Speaking Out Advocacy Toolkit, a training-of-trainers designed to support grassroots activists in the development and implementation of rights-based advocacy projects. Focusing specifically on men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV, the toolkit addresses key issues for this population, including stigma and discrimination, service provision for MSM, fund raising for MSM projects, working in hostile environments, and United Nations Human Rights mechanisms.

First piloted with 23 activists from 14 different countries at the International AIDS Conference in July 2010, the toolkit emphasizes a participatory approach. Aiming to foster engaged, dynamic discussions between trainers and participants, the toolkit includes a large number of exercises, enhanced by detailed activity descriptions and handouts.

While the toolkit deals with common issues occurring across regions, effective advocacy strategies to address these issues may differ drastically from country to country. The toolkit represents a resource to aid advocates in developing their own locally-appropriate advocacy initiatives, designed for adaptation depending on needs, skill levels, and previous experience of local communities. To foster the development of tailored responses, the MSMGF is currently working with grassroots organizations in North Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia to create regional adaptations of the Speaking Out Advocacy Toolkit. These adaptations are scheduled for release in December 2011.

We wish to send a big thank you to our partners who participated in the pilot training, whose rich discussions and valuable feedback helped to shape the current version of the toolkit. We also wish to send great thanks to the Levi Strauss Foundation, whose generous support has made this toolkit possible.

The toolkit can be found on the MSMGF’s website at http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/262.

For more information, please read our December 2010 press release announcing the launch of the Speaking Out advocacy initiative: http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/11/aid/2414. Any questions can be directed to speakingout@msmgf.org.

Perayaan IDAHO 2011: "Kisah Cinta Kami"

2011-05-25T07:42:00.002+07:00

Dalam rangka perayaan International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) 2011, GAYa NUSANTARA bersama Dipayoni Surabaya dan Perwakos Surabaya mengadakan acara Dialog IDAHO 2011: "Kisah Cinta Kami". Kegiatan ini diadakan hari Selasa 24 Mei 2011 di Gedung Serbaguna Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Surabaya (Ubaya). Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk lebih memperkenalkan lagi komunitas LGBTIQ kepada masyarakat, sebagai upaya untuk mengurangi stigma dan diskriminasi di masyarakat yang mengakibatkan terjadinya homophobia dan transphobia. Sekitar 35 orang hadir mengikuti kegiatan ini, yang terdiri dari komunitas LGBTIQ, kalangan akademisi dan kawan-kawan jaringan.

Sebuah film pendek berjudul "Kisah Cinta Kami" menjadi sentral acara dari kegiatan ini. Film ini merupakan kumpulan testimoni dari pasangan gay, pasangan lesbian, serta waria dengan lelaki yang menjadi pasangannya dalam suatu relationship yang mereka jalani. Dikisahkan tentang awal pertemuan mereka, suka duka yang dihadapinya dalam menjalankan suatu hubungan, hingga harapan-harapan yang mereka inginkan dalam relationship yang ada, misalnya ingin mengadopsi anak.

Dari film pendek "Kisah Cinta Kami" itu, undangan yang hadir kemudian diajak berdialog dan berdiskusi seputar LGBTIQ, dengan menampilkan Dede Oetomo sebagai pembahas. Antusias mereka cukup tinggi, terbukti dengan banyaknya pertanyaan yang ditujukan kepada pembahas. Beberapa pertanyaan muncul berkaitan dengan agama, gender, interseks maupun relationship, yang dijelaskan hingga tuntas oleh pembahas.

Seluruh rangkaian acara ditutup oleh penampilan Miss Sofy dalam salah satu nomor lipsinc yang mendapat applaus meriah dari para undangan. (KB)

Pernyataan Sikap Forum LGBTIQ untuk Hari Internasional Melawan Homophobia 2011

2011-05-23T21:46:00.001+07:00

Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia - Region Jakarta

(Ardhanary Institute, Arus Pelangi, Institut Pelangi Perempuan, Q-munity, Forum Komunikasi Waria Indonesia, Yayasan Srikandi Sejati, GWL-Ina, Perempuan Mahardhika, Our Voice, Her Lounge)

Pernyataan Sikap Hari Internasional Melawan Homophobia

Beri Kesetaraan Dan Perlindungan Terhadap LGBTIQ

Citizen In Diversity

Reformasi 1998, merupakan tonggak sejarah bagi rakyat Indonesia. Pintu demokrasi kembali terbuka, selama 13 tahun masyarakat sipil dapat bebas dalam melakukan aktivitas-aktivitas politik, ekonomi maupun keyakinan mereka. Tetapi ruang demokrasi ini tidak semuanya dapat dinikmati oleh warga negara Indonesia, salah satu diantaranya adalah kelompok LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Biseksual, Transgender, Interseksual dan Queer) yang masih mengalami berbagai macam bentuk diskriminasi dan kekerasan. Padahal dalam sejarah pembentukannya, Indonesia merupakan negara yang di dirikan karena berbagai macam perbedaan. Baik suku bangsa, warna kulit, kepercayaan, adat istiadat, maupun bahasa.

Maka dari itu, kami dari Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia; yaitu sebuah forum yang terdiri dari berbagai organisasi baik itu LGBTIQ maupun perempuan senantiasa berjuang untuk pemenuhan hak-hak politik bagi kelompok LGBTIQ. Kami mencatat, dalam rentang waktu 13 tahun reformasi diskriminasi dan kekerasan terhadap kelompok LGBTIQ dalam bentuk yang berbeda-beda. Menurut kami, perlakuan diskriminatif ini mendapat legitimasi dari negara melalui kebijakan-kebijakan baik dalam bentuk undang-undang maupun peraturan-peraturan daerah baik itu secara langsung maupun tidak langsung berdampak diskriminatif terhadap kelompok LGBTIQ seperti UU Anti Pornografi dan Pornoaksi; Perda Provinsi Sumatera Selatan No. 13 Tahun 2002 tentang Pemberantasan Maksiat di Provinsi Sumatera Selatan; Perda Kota Palembang No. 2 Tahun 2004 tentang Pemberantasan Pelacuran. Perda-perda ini mengkriminalisasikan kelompok LGBTI dengan mengkategorikan kelompok LGBTI sebagai bagian dari perbuatan pelacuran; Perda DKI Jakarta No. 8 Tahun 2007 tentang Ketertiban Umum (Tibum). Perda ini mengkriminalisasikan pekerjaan-pekerjaan informal yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat miskin kota. Sehingga kelompok LGBTI di Jakarta yang mempunyai pekerjaan informal yang dikriminalisasikan oleh perda itu akan mengalami dampak langsung dari diberlakukannya perda Tibum dan beberapa perda lainnya.

Dengan berdasarkan perda-perda seperti inilah, masyarakat dan beberapa kelompok sipil mulai melakukan kekerasan terhadap kelompok LGBTIQ. Dimana kekerasan ini bukan hanya berdampak pada psikologis bahkan berujung dengan kematian. Beberapa kasus yang terjadi adalah penyerbuan terhadap forum ILGA di Surabaya dan Q Film oleh kelompok yang mengatasnamakan agama selain itu penembakan 2 orang Waria hingga menyebabkan kematian di Jakarta oleh oknum tidak dikenal. Mungkin masih banyak lagi kasus-kasus kekerasan lainnya yang tidak pernah terpublikasi. Oleh karena itu, kami dari forum LGBTIQ Indonesia menuntut kepada pemerintah:

1. Berikan jaminan untuk kebebasan berorganisasi dan beraktivitas sama seperti warga negara lainnya, karena kami juga adalah bagian dari masyarakat yang berhak mendapatkan perlindungan dari pemerintah.

2. Berikan Hak-Hak Pendidikan, Kesehatan dan Pekerjaan untuk LGBTIQ yang setara dengan masyarakat lainnya.

3. Hapuskan semua undang-undang dan peraturan daerah yang diskriminatif, baik secara langsung maupun tidak langsung, terhadap LGBTIQ.

4. Tuntaskan semua kasus hukum yang berkaitan dengan LGBTIQ.

Jakarta, 21 Mei 2011
Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia

Slides and Audio Now Available: “Are Lubes Safe for Rectal Use? What MSM Need to Know”

2011-05-21T08:22:00.002+07:00

Slides and audio are now available from the webinar, "Are Lubes Safe for Rectal Use? What MSM Need to Know," hosted by the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) and the International Rectal Microbicides Advocates (IRMA). The webinar was presented on Wednesday by IRMA's Marc-André LeBlanc, covering topics such as current research, regulation, and use issues related to rectal microbicides and MSM. We were thrilled to have 65 people in attendance from all over the world, including Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

The full presentation can be found at http://www.msmgf.org/html/videos/lubesafety/index.htm.

A pdf of the slide set can be found at http://www.msmgf.org/files/msmgf//Publications/MSMGF_IRMA_lubesafety.pdf.

A big thank you to IRMA for their partnership, to Marc-André for presenting, and to everyone who participated! We hope to see you all on our future webinars as well!

Any questions can be directed to contact@msmgf.org.

Archaeologists unearth 5,000-year-old 'third-gender' caveman

2011-05-19T09:01:00.001+07:00

Archaeologists investigating a 5,000-year-old Copper Age grave in the Czech Republic believe they may have unearthed the first known remains of a gay or transvestite caveman, reports the Telegraph.

The man was apparently buried as if he were a woman, an aberrant practice for an ancient culture known for its strict burial procedures.

Since the grave dates to between 2900 and 2500 BC, the man would have been a member of the Corded Ware culture, a late Stone Age and Copper Age people named after the unique kind of pottery they produced. Men in this culture were traditionally buried lying on their right side with their heads pointing west, but this man was instead buried on his left side with his head pointing east, which is how women were typically buried.

"From history and ethnology, we know that people from this period took funeral rites very seriously so it is highly unlikely that this positioning was a mistake," said lead archaeologist Kamila Remisova Vesinova. "Far more likely is that he was a man with a different sexual orientation, homosexual or transsexual."

Another clue is that Corded Ware men would typically be buried alongside weapons, hammers and flint knives, as well as food and drink to prepare them for their journey to the other side. But this man's grave instead contained only a traditional egg-shaped pot, which was what women were typically buried with.

With all the evidence taken together, archaeologists are confident that the best explanation for the strange burial is that the man was effeminate, perhaps a homosexual, and possibly a transvestite.

"We believe this is one of the earliest cases of what could be described as a 'transsexual' or 'third gender grave' in the Czech Republic," reiterated cooperating archaeologist Katerina Semradova.

Semradova also noted that archaeologists from a previous dig had uncovered a grave from the Mesolithic period where a female warrior was buried as a man, so mixed gender burials, though rare, were not unprecedented.

Source: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/archaeologists-unearth-5000-year-old-third-gender-caveman

ICAAP 10 Submissions Extended to 25 May

2011-05-11T11:37:00.000+07:00

Official announcements will come out later today but we've heard that ICAAP abstract submissions has been extended to May 25.

Good luck with your submissions.

Cheers,

RD Marte <rd_marte@yahoo.com>

011 ASEAN Civil Society Conference: Repeal all laws that directly and indirectly criminalize SOGI

2011-05-09T09:25:00.003+07:00

More than 1,300 delegates at the 2011 ASEAN Civil Society Conference, representing various CSOs and movements gathered together in Jakarta, Indonesia, 3-5 May 2011 to discuss the main concerns confronting the peoples of ASEAN and developing key proposals for the 18th ASEAN Summit.

We, more than 1,300 delegates at the 2011 ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN Peoples’ Forum, representing various civil society organizations and , movements of workers from rural and urban sectors as well as migrant sector, peasants and farmers, women, children, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, people affected by leprosy, urban poor, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, traditional fishers, refugees, stateless persons, people in exile, victims of human rights violations, domestic workers, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender/Transsexual Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ), sex workers, women in prostitution , drug users, people living with HIV/AIDS, human rights defenders and other vulnerable groups, gathered together in Jakarta, Indonesia, 3-5 May 2011 to discuss the main concerns confronting the peoples of ASEAN and developing key proposals for the 18th ASEAN Summit.

We reaffirm the fundamental principles of democracy and rule of law, human rights and dignity, good governance, the best interests of the child, meaningful and substantive peoples’ participation, and sustainable development in the pursuit of economic, social, gender and ecological justice so as to bring peace and prosperity to the ASEAN region.

Human conditions and issues confronting the peoples cut across all current pillars of the ASEAN. ASEAN governments must adopt a more holistic approach with regards to development, equal and just treatment of the peoples, and harmonize its policies and practices of all its pillars. Furthermore, the principle of free, prior and informed consent of for all peoples, especially indigenous peoples must be pursued in the fulfilment of all political, economic and social agreements under the ASEAN. The ASEAN must ensure that its development initiatives do not further aggravate environmental hazards, destruction of traditional community coastal area lands and forest and global warming.

Below is an excerpt of the statement referring to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). To read the entire statement, download by clicking the attachment at the foot of this page.

LGBTIQ

59. ASEAN member states must repeal all laws that directly and indirectly criminalize sexual orientation and gender identities (SOGI), recognize LGBTIQ rights as human rights and harmonize national laws, policies and practices with the Yogyakarta Principles.

60. ASEAN member states must establish national level mechanisms and review existing regional human rights instruments (e.g. AICHR, ACWC) to include the promotion of the equal rights of all people regardless of SOGI with the active engagement of the LGBTIQ community.

61. ASEAN member states must depathologize SOGI and promote psycho-social well being of people in diverse SOGI in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and ensure equal access to health and social services.

Sumber: http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/mYmbjTI1X0

Taiga Ishikawa Jadi Politisi Gay Pertama yang Menang Pemilu di Jepang

2011-05-09T06:21:00.001+07:00

Taiga Ishikawa akan menjadi politisi gay pertama yang akan memenangkan pemilihan umum di Jepang. Ini juga akan menjadi kemenangan hak azasi kaum minoritas seksual di Jepang.

“Saya harap kemenangan saya dalam pemilu juga akan mendorong semua rekan saya di seluruh negeri untuk tetap memiliki harapan untuk hari esok, karena banyak di antara mereka yang tidak bisa menerima diri mereka sendiri, merasa kesepian dan terisolasi dan bahkan bunuh diri,” ujar Ishikawa seperti dikutip AFP, Rabu (27/4/2011).

Ishikawa (36) memenangkan kursi di sebuah majelis di distrik Tokyo dalam pemilihan umum pada Minggu, 24 April. Sebelum kemengan Ishikawa, belum pernah ada politisi homoseksual yang memenangkan kursi pemerintahan di Jepang.

Ishikawa berharap kemenangannya ini akan menolong kaum lesbian, gay, biseksual, dan transgender (LGBT).

“Sebagian besar kaum LGBT, atau minoritas seksual, menyadari keadaan mereka ketika berada di sekolah dasar atau sekolah menengah, yang kebanyakan dioperasikan oleh pemerintah kota,” ujar Ishikawa.

Ishikawa menambahkan, sebagai anggota majelis distrik kota, dia ingin memperkuat kembali dukungan bagi kaum LGBT anak-anak di sekolah-sekolah.

Ishikawa mengungkap bahwa dirinya gay dalam buku otobiografi berjudul Boku No Kareshi Wa Doko Ni Iru (Dimana Pacar Saya?), yang diterbitkan pada 2002.

Konferensi ASEAN Civil Society

2011-05-07T14:42:00.001+07:00

Konferensi ASEAN Civil Society yang berlangsung selama 4 hari dan dihadiri 1.300 peserta telah berakhir. Kelompok LGBTIQ se ASEAN boleh sedikit berbangga karena bisa menjadi bagian dari ASEAN Civil Society dan bisa mengadakan workshop mempromosikan dan perlindungan hak kaum LGBTIQ di ASEAN dalam konferensi ini. Workshop yang dilakukan di hari pertama ini, banyak dihadiri oleh peserta yang bukan dari kelompok LGBTIQ. Sehingga ruangan penuh bahkan mereka rela berdiri untuk mendengarkan presentasi para peserta. Satu lagi catatan keberhasilan yang perlu dicatat yaitu memasukan isu LGBTIQ di kelompok perempuan dengan ikut sertanya Mami Yuli di workshop Hak-hak Perempuan dan Kesetaraan gender:”menuju Keadilan Gender di komunitas Asean.

Tapi ada hal yang patut disayangkan dalam konferensi ASEAN Civil Society ini. Di mana dalam acara pembukaan yang dibuka oleh Wakil Presiden RI Boediono tidak ada satupun yang menyebutkan atau mengangkat isu LGBTIQ didalam pidato mereka. Bahkan Indah Sukmaningsih selaku Ketua Steering Committee ACSC/APF 2011, atau Erna Witoelar selaku keynote speaker tidak ada menyinggung isu LGBTIQ meskipun mereka menyebutkan semua isu yang ada di acara itu kecuali LGBTIQ.

Bahkan pada sesi Plenary yang salah satu pembicaranya adalah mantan menteri luarnegeri Nur Hasan Wirajuda, saya sempat memprotes dan mentanyakan hal ini tetapi tetap saja kita harus kecewa karena tidak mendapat jawaban sampai acara selesai. Ini menunjukan bahwa perjuangan LGBTIQ untuk diakui hak-haknya masih panjang dan harus terus semangat untuk berjuang. Dan kita tidak sendiri dalam berjuang, banyak sekali dukungan dan kerjasama yang dilakukan dengan kawan-kawan dari kelompok Perempuan, Buruh, Youth, Kelompok Disable, Kelompok Hak Anak, dan tentu saja Human right.

Kita harus terus bergerak menuntut pemimpin ASEAN dan pemerintah untuk mencabut peraturan-peraturan yang secara langsung maupun tak langsung mengkriminalisasi SOGI; mengakui hak-hak LGBTIQ sebagai hak azasi manusia, dan mengharmonisasi hukum-perundangan nasional, kebijakan-kebijakan dan praktek-prakteknya sesuai dengan Prinsip Yogyakarta.

[Laporan: Poedjiati Tan]

PERNYATAAN PERS: Gay, Lesbian, Biseksual dan Queers Mengambil Bagian dalam ASEAN People’s Forum (APF)

2011-05-06T06:30:00.001+07:00

Jakarta, 4 May 2011

Untuk dipublikasikan

Untuk pertama kalinya dalam sejarah Konferensi Masyarakat Sipil ASEAN, hak-hak kelompok lesbian, gay, biseksual, trans, interseks dan queer (LGBTIQ) diangkat. Mereka berdiskusi dalam workshop Promosi dan Perlindungan hak-hak azasi manusia kelompok-kelompok yang disebut LGBTIQ di ASEAN, yang mendiskusikan situasi, tantangan-tantangan, capaian, dan tuntutan-tuntutan yang disusun oleh kelompok tersebut.

ASEAN adalah tempat kelahiran Prinsip Yogyakarta mengenai Penerapan Hukum-hukum HAM Internasional dalam kaitannya dengan Orientasi Seksual dan Identitas Jender (SOGI). Hingga saat ini LGBTIQ di ASEAN masih menghadapi pelecehan yang jahat atas hak-hak mereka dan terus menerus dilanggar, didiskriminasi, dihukum, dan dikriminalisasi atas dasar siapa mereka, yang dilakukan baik oleh aktor negara maupun non negara. Beberapa contoh, hukum yang asalnya netral, seperti hukum anti-penculikan, hukum tindakan mesum di muka umum, dan hukum anti-obat-obatan juga digunakan secara tidak adil untuk menargetkan komunitas LGBTIQ. Kurangnya pengakuan terhadap otonomi-diri sendiri juga membuat individu transjender dilarang melakukan operasi ganti kelamin, mengganti jenis kelamin mereka di dalam dokumen-dokumen resmi dan mencari layanan medis yang layak. Karena kurangnya pengakuan terhadap hak-hak hukum mereka, banyak kaum LGBTIQ berada dalam situasi tanpa perlindungan hukum untuk mencari keadilan atas kejahatan dan pelecehan yang mereka alami.

Namun demikian, para aktivis telah sukses menciptakan ruang dan pergerakan untuk mempromosikan hak-hak LGBTIQ, seperti parade kehormatan di Philipina, pertemuan Pink Dot di Singapura, Seksualiti Merdeka di Malaysia, Phnom Penh Pride di Kamboja, Q Film Festival di Indonesia, Hari Keragaman Seksual di Thailand, dan lain-lain. Banyak negeri juga merayakan peristiwa-peristiwa seperti Hari Melawan Homophobia Internasional (International Day Against Homophobia-IDAHO) .

Dengan demikian, kaukus LGBTIQ ASEAN, atas dasar masukan dari peserta workshop, dan dengan mengakui atas keterbatasan formatnya, membuat tiga rekomendasi pada pemerintah-pemerintah di ASEAN:

Mencabut peraturan-peraturan yang secara langsung maupun tak langsung mengkriminalisasi SOGI; mengakui hak-hak LGBTIQ sebagai hak azasi manusia, dan mengharmonisasi hukum-perundangan nasional, kebijakan-kebijakan dan praktek-prakteknya sesuai dengan Prinsip Yogyakarta.
Menetapkan mekanisme-mekanisme di tingkat nasional dan meninjau instrumen-instrumen rejional HAM yang berlaku saat ini (AIHRC, ACWC) menyertakan promosi dan perlindungan terhadap hak-hak yang sama bagi semua rakyat termasuk SOGI dengan keterlibatan aktif komunitas LGBTIQ.
Tidak lagi menganggap SOGI sebagai penyakit dan mempromosikan kebahagiaan psikologis keragaman SOGI sesuai dengan standar WHO, dan menjamin akses setara atas kesehatan dan layanan sosial.

http://hrwg.org/acs/en/news/press-release/item/83-pernyataan-pers-gay-lesbian-biseksual-dan-queers-mengambil-bagian-dalam-asean-people%E2%80%99s-forum-apf

New OHCHR video and pamphlet on homophobic violence and discrimination

2011-05-06T06:05:00.003+07:00

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today releases a video and a pamphlet on violence and discrimination targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. Both video and pamphlet may be relevant in the context of any events planned on or around the International Day Against Homophobia on 17 May.

In the video, the High Commissioner talks about recent violent attacks against LGBT people in the United States, Brazil, Honduras and South Africa, stressing that such incidents are not isolated but part of a global problem. “Ultimately, homophobia and transphobia are no different to sexism, misogyny, racism or xenophobia”, she notes “but whereas these last forms of prejudice are universally condemned by Governments, homophobia and transphobia are too often overlooked.” She appeals to those most hostile to LGBT persons to “think again” and calls on States to take steps to ensure equal rights for everyone, “whoever they are, whoever they love”. The video is released in English, with a French sub-titled version also available (Spanish subtitled version to follow). It has been posted on the OHCHR website, on YouTube and on OHCHR’s (new!) Facebook page (please see instructions, below). The full script is also provided on the OHCHR website as a Word document in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

The pamphlet, entitled The United Nations Speaks Out: Tackling Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is a collaborative effort between OHCHR, UNDP, UNAIDS and WHO. It presents extracts from many of the strong statements on the subject made by the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner and other senior UN officials, as well as by the UN treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and other UN agencies. By issuing the pamphlet jointly, the participating agencies/entities hope to convey the impression that United Nations partners speaks together on the issue. The pamphlet is available from the OHCHR website in two formats: a full-colour, three-fold pamphlet available in hard copy or electronically for local printing and dissemination; and a ‘stripped-down’ version, suitable for low-volume desk-top printing using A4 paper. French and Spanish versions of the pamphlet will follow in the coming days and will be posted alongside the English-language original version.

We hope you will find both the video and pamphlet a useful public information resource in the lead-up to and beyond the International Day Against Homophobia. For additional information on OHCHR’s work in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, please refer to our webpage (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx), where you will find links to recent speeches and newspaper articles by the High Commissioner, statements of the Secretary-General and other relevant materials.

Best regards,

Charles Radcliffe
Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Chief, Global Issues, OHCHR-New York
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

To download the pamphlet:

The pamphlet is available as a pdf file from the OHCHR website (go to http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx and look for the link “brochure” in the right-hand column). It may be reproduced and disseminated locally, using the pdf file “Brochure – printer (with crop marks) (PDF)”. A ‘stripped-down’ version of the pamphlet in English (and in due course in French and Spanish) is also available, suitable for low-volume desk-top printing (click “brochure – A4 format (PDF)”.

To view or download the High Commissioner’s video:

The video is in English, with a French sub-titled version also available (Spanish subtitled version to follow shortly). The script is also available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. The video and scripts are available to view or download from the following platforms:

· OHCHR website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx
· YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/UNOHCHR
· Facebook: “United Nations Human Rights”

If you wish to show the video at an event, it is recommended that you download the ‘high-res’ version, which will be available shortly on the OHCHR website.

Pertemuan Evaluasi CAN Indonesia

2011-04-28T14:38:00.003+07:00

Hari Selasa taggal 26 April 2011 di GNCC diadakan pertemuan evaluasi untuk CAN Indonesia. Pertemuan ini dihadiri oleh dewan presidium CAN Indonesia, perwakilan dari GAYa NUSANTARA (GN), APCASO dan AFAO. Pertemuan ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi kegiatan CAN Indonesia selama ini, terkait kemitraannya dengan APCASO yang akan berakhir Juni 2011 mendatang. Dari hasil evaluasi tersebut diharapkan dapat diputuskan bagaimana keberlangsungan CAN Indonesia selanjutnya setelah tidak bermitra lagi dengan lembaga donor.

Dalam pertemuan ini dipresentasikan aktivitas-aktivitas kegiatan CAN Indonesia yang sudah dilakukan selama ini. Dibahas pula hal-hal apa saja yang menghambat CAN Indonesia sehingga terjadi kevakuman aktivitas yang cukup lama. Masalah komunikasi yang kurang bagus antar anggota presidium, banyaknya anggota presidium yang bergabung dengan jaringan lain sehingga prioritas terhadap CAN Indonesia menjadi sedikit terabaikan, merupakan catatan untuk diperbaiki ke depannya. Didiskusikan juga apakah konsep CAN Indonesia yang salah atau proses menjalankannya yang salah? Disepakati memang konsepnya sudah bagus, hanya mekanisme kerjanya yang tidak sempurna, sehingga terjadi kemacetan aktivitas yang cukup lama dan berimbas dengan kurang dikenalnya CAN Indonesia di jaringan-jaringan lainnya.

Dari hasil evaluasi tersebut diputuskan juga CAN Indonesia tetap akan dipertahankan keberadaannya meski kerja sama dengan APCASO berakhir Juni 2011. Direncanakan akan ada pertemuan pada Pernas AIDS IV 2011 di Yogyakarta untuk membahas keberlangsungan CAN Indonesia selanjutnya dengan memperbarui komitmen-komitmen yang sudah. (KB)

10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific

2011-04-27T06:17:00.003+07:00

The 10th ICAAP is definitely on. Please note:

- Here is an extension of abstract submission to 10 May 2011
- Skills Building Sessions to CBOs will be free
- The pre-congress Community Forum will be 24-26 Aug 2011
- The dates of registration and scholarship application may also change
or be adjusted. [Will keep you posted.]
- *the 7S secretariat will start up a mailing list for this group

Please forward this to your networks and contacts. Let me know if you have
any questions. Also please report any problems with the ICAAP 10 website.

Pakistan allows transsexuals to have own gender category

2011-04-27T06:11:00.002+07:00

Pakistan has taken the landmark decision to allow transsexuals to have their own gender category on some official documents.

The country's Supreme Court has ruled that those Pakistanis who do not consider themselves to be either male or female should be allowed to choose an alternative sex when they apply for their national identity cards.

Aleem Maqbool reports from Karachi.

For more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13192077

Join the Courage Unfolds Campaign & Support LGBT Activism in Asia

2011-04-21T10:33:00.002+07:00

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission invites you to view the trailer of the soon to be released film "Courage Unfolds" highlighting the issues faced by LGBT people in Asia and encouraging the use of the Yogyakarta Principles as a tool to promote LGBT human rights.

Join the Courage Unfolds Campaign »

The Courage Unfolds Campaign calls for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to be protected by law, respected by society, and accepted by family. It is a call for the use of the Yogyakarta Principles as a tool to ensure that governments respect, protect and promote the human rights of all people - including LGBT people. This set of international legal principles addresses the application of international law to human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The full 33-minute film will be released on May 17, 2011.

LEARN: Learn more about the Yogyakarta Principles and LGBT activism in Asia by watching the Courage Unfolds video.

SHARE: Tell your friends and community about this Campaign and how they can join you. Share your actions with us and with others on IGLHRC's Courage Unfolds Map.

ACT: Screen Courage Unfolds, hold a rally, a training or a community event, write about using the Yogyakarta Principles, or petition your government to address violence and discrimination against LGBT people.

Third gender issued citizenship certificate

2011-04-16T05:57:00.000+07:00

KATHMANDU: The District Administration Office, Myagdi, has recently issued citizenship certificate based on gender identity to Dilu Budujha, a third gender, of Narchang VDC in the Myagdi district.

Also known by the name Badri, the recipient was born as female and grew up as a masculine person. Dilu has currently been working for the Blue Diamond Society (BDS), an orgainisation working for rights of third genders in Nepal, as human rights activist.

Issuing a press statement today, the BDS commended the decision to grant citizenship certificate to Dilu, saying the move reflects the state’s respect to all Nepali citizen regardless of gender identity and sexuality.

This is only the second instance in Nepal that citizenship certificate has been issued to a third gender. In 2007, the District Administration Office, Kaski had issued such a citizenship document to Bishnu Adhikari.

In the statement, the BDS also urged Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to issue circulars, instructing the Chief District Officers of all the districts of Nepal to provide citizenship certificate to third genders.

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Third+gender+issued+citizenship+certificate&NewsID=284117

Pertemuan Nasional AIDS IV akan diselenggarakan di DI Yogyakarta

2011-04-08T18:45:00.001+07:00

Pertemuan Nasional (Pernas) AIDS IV akan diselenggarakan pada tanggal 3–6 Oktober 2011 di Propinsi DI Yogyakarta. Kegiatan ini akan diawali dengan pertemuan Forum Komunitas pada tanggal 1–2 Oktober 2011 di tempat yang sama, dan diperkirakan akan melibatkan sekitar 1500 peserta melalui registrasi, abstrak dan beasiswa dari seluruh provinsi di Indonesia. Acara pembukaan akan dilaksanakan pada pagi hari tanggal 3 Oktober 2011 bertempat di Graha Sabha, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Sedangkan sore harinya akan diselenggarakan Rakernas Khusus Penanggulangan AIDS Daerah bersama Gubernur, Walikota dan Bupati dari seluruh tanah air.

Pertemuan Nasional AIDS merupakan forum diskusi akbar para pemangku kepentingan dari setiap tingkatan dan sektor, untuk melakukan review bersama atas situasi epidemi HIV dan AIDS di Indonesia, upaya penanggulangan yang telah dilakukan dan tantangan kedepan dalam rangka pencapaian Akses Universal dan Tujuan Pembangunan Milemium (MDG). Kesepakatan untuk memilih DI Yogyakarta sebagai tempat penyelenggaraan Pernas AIDS IV 2011 adalah rekomendasi dari Pernas AIDS III yang diselenggarakan di Surabaya 4-8 Februari 2007.

Secara umum Pernas AIDS IV akan melakukan review program penanggulangan HIv dan AIDS selama lima tahun sejak Perpres 75/2006, pencapaian Target MDG Untuk HIV dan AIDS menuju tahun 2015, serta konsolidasi upaya penanggulangan lima tahun kedepan. Sedangkan Track Ilmiah dalam Pernas AIDS IV yang menjadi konteks umum pembahasan dari abtrak yang akan diseleksi adalah Track A: Pencegahan HIV melalui penggunaan napza suntik; Track B: Pencegahan HIV melalui transmisi seksual; Track C: Perawatan, Dukungan dan Pengobatan, Serta Penguatan Sistem Kesehatan dan Penelitian Biomedis; dan Track D: Pencegahan HIV dan mitigasi dampak pada masyarakat umum.

Secara khusus Pernas AIDS IV 2011 juga akan memberikan perhatian kepada review upaya penanggulangan HIV dan AIDS pada pengguna napza suntik (Penasun). Pada pertemuan Harm Reduction II yang dilaksanakan di Makassar pada tanggal 15-18 Juni 2008, telah disepakati bahwa kegiatan Pertemuan Nasional Harm Reduction (PNHR) akan dilaksanakan setiap dua tahun sekali. PNHR adalah forum untuk mengumpulkan para pelaksana kegiatan harm reduction di Indonesia yang mendiskusikan hasil yang sudah tercapai melalui berbagai kegiatan tersebut dan mengidentifikasi kesenjangan respon di berbagai wilayah di Indonesia. Mengingat tujuan dan besaran skala kegiatan yang serupa, maka PNHR III yang seyogyanya dilakukan pada tahun 2010 diputuskan untuk disatukan dalam Pertemuan Nasional AIDS IV. Oleh karena itu, Pernas AIDS IV akan memberikan kesempatan diskusi yang signifikan terhadap review upaya penanggulangan AIDS bagi penasun.

“Besar harapan saya, Pernas AIDS IV di tahun 2011 ini dapat digunakan secara strategis dan optimal untuk melakukan review bersama atas situasi epidemi HIV dan AIDS di Indonesia, kemajuan yang telah dicapai dan tantangan kedepan untuk menekan laju epidemi, menghentikan infeksi baru HIV, meningkatkan kualitas hidup bagi orang yang hidup dengan HIV (ODHIV) dan mengurangi dampak HIV dan AIDS di masyarakat umum,” demikian disampaikan Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, SpA, MPH selaku Sekretaris Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS Nasional menyambut rencana pelaksanaan Pernas AIDS IV mendatang.

Untuk mendukung partisipasi seluas-luasnya dari masyarakat, Panitia Pernas AIDS IV telah membuka program beasiswa. Prioritas beasiswa adalah untuk calon peserta yang mengirimkan abstrak dan aktif dalam upaya penanggulangan HIV dan AIDS baik sebagai pekerja kesehatan, petugas penjangkau, aktivis komunitas & populasi kunci, orang yang hidup dengan HIV (ODHIV), remaja dan pewarta media yang akan mengambil manfaat dari Pernas untuk kegiatan selanjutnya. Pendaftaran peserta, pengajuan lamaran beasiswa dan abstrak untuk presentasi oral dan poster telah dibuka pada tanggal 1 April 2011 melalui website Pernas AIDS IV di www.pernasaids.org.

Evaluasi Program GN-FHI oleh Kemenkes RI

2011-04-08T12:59:00.002+07:00

Hari Rabu tanggal 6 April 2011 sekitar pukul 15.00 WIB, GAYa NUSANTARA (GN) kedatangan tamu dari Kemenkes RI dan Family Health International (FHI). Tim yang berjumlah 13 orang ini sebelum ke GNCC sempat melakukan kunjungan kepada wakil gubernur Jawa Timur terlebih dahulu. Maksud dan tujuan dari kedatangan tim Kemenkes RI ini adalah untuk mengevaluasi semua program kegiatan yang sudah dilakukan oleh FHI di Indonesia, sehingga dari hasil evaluasi itu nantinya akan diputuskan apakah program kegiatan FHI di Indonesia masih akan diperpanjang atau tidak. GN sendiri sebagai eks mitra kerja dari FHI diminta untuk menceritakan semua program kerja yang sudah dilakukan selama ini.

Dalam kesempatan tersebut, tim GN mempresentasikan program kerja yang sudah dilakukan selama bermitra dengan FHI, yaitu: “Program pencegahan IMS, HIV dan AIDS pada kalangan MSM melalui Intervensi Perubahan Perilaku di Surabaya”. Program ini berlangsung dari tahun 2002 hingga tahun 2009. Di mana beberapa kegiatan yang dilakukan antara lain: pengadaan GNCC, perekrutan staf dan relawan untuk Petugas Lapangan (PL) dan Peer Educator (PE), peningkatan kapasitas untuk PL dan PE, pemetaan, pendekatan kepada Kelompok Dampingan (KD) dan orang-orang kunci, menjalin kerja sama dengan pemangku kepentingan dan layanan kesehatan, outreach, distribusi materi KIE, distribusi kondom dan pelicin, rujukan pemeriksaan IMS dan VCT, mobile clinic, edutainment, diskusi kelompok, dukungan untuk ODHIV melalui KDS dan kegiatan terkait lainnya. Seusai presentasi dilanjutkan dengan tanya-jawab.

Selain berkunjung ke wakil gubernur Jawa Timur dan GN, pada hari Kamis tanggal 7 April 2011 tim dari Kemenkes RI juga akan berkunjung ke Dinas Kesehatan Kota Surabaya dan Puskesmas Perak Timur Surabaya. (KB)

New Book: Queer Bangkok

2011-04-01T10:58:00.002+07:00

Queer Bangkok

21st Century Markets, Media, and Rights

Edited by Peter A. Jackson

Queer Asia Series

April 2011 320 pp.

Hardback ISBN 978-988-8083-04-6 HK$395 / US$50.00

Paperback ISBN 978-988-8083-05-3 HK$195 / US$25.00

Market Rights: Worldwide except Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore

http://www.hkupress.org/book/9789888083046.htm

http://www.hkupress.org/book/9789888083053.htm

"The myriad faces of Thai gender/sexuality culture have been an attraction for both pleasure-seekers and researchers/scholars/activists. Exploring the rapidly changing LGBT cultures and Thai queer identities, the essays collected here provide insightful analyses of historical continuities as well as developing variations within the highly complex erotic/economic texture of Thai society." — Josephine Ho, National Central University, Taiwan

- Analyses the roles of the market and media -- especially cinema and the Internet -- in the transformations of Thailand's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual (LGBT) cultures.

- Considers the ambiguous consequences that the growing commodification and mediatization of queer lives have had for LGBT rights in Thailand.

- Traces Bangkok's emergence as a central focus of an expanding regional network linking gay, lesbian, and transgender communities in other East and Southeast Asian societies.

Peter A. Jackson is professor of Thai cultural studies in the Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific.

Obama Mendukung Hak Homoseksual di PBB

2011-04-01T09:55:00.002+07:00

Pada tanggal 22 Maret, pemerintahan Obama mengibarkan kembali bendera pelangi dalam pengakuan politik untuk lobi “gay”, dengan meminta Dewan HAM PBB di Jenewa untuk melakukan kampanye global atas hak-hak homoseksual. “Hak asasi manusia adalah hak yang tidak bisa dicabut dari diri setiap orang, siapa pun dia atau siapa yang dia cintai,” kata Chamberlain Donahoe, Duta AS untuk Dewan HAM, dalam sebuah pernyataan yang dirilis bersamaan dengan pidato deklarasi AS, yang diakui lebih dari 80 negara lain di dunia. “Pemerintah AS dengan tegas berkomitmen untuk mendukung hak-hak individu lesbian, gay, biseksual, dan transgender untuk menjalani kehidupan yang produktif dan bermartabat, bebas dari rasa takut dan kekerasan.”

Langkah ini diambil sebulan setelah pemerintahan Obama meminta Departemen Hukum untuk menyetop Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) dalam sidang pengadilan federal, dan dipandang sebagai kemunduran dalam kebijakan Presiden George Bush terkait dengan hak-hak homoseksual.
Selain itu, seminggu yang lalu Presiden mengeluarkan pernyataan bersama dengan Presiden Brasil, Dilma Roussef, dengan mengumumkan adanya penciptaan jabatan setingkat pemerintah yang akan memonitor sejauh mana hak dan pengakuan khusus telah diterapkan bagi kaum homoseksual di belahan dunia Barat.

Fred Sainz dari Human Rights Campaign, salah satu organisasi aktivis homoseksual pertama di AS, mengatakan bahwa itikad baik yang ditawarkan pemerintah kepada kaum homoseksual di AS dan mancanegara menjadi indikasi bahwa Amerika Serikat akhirnya melakukan langkah penting untuk memainkan peran sebagai pemimpin “hak homoseksual”. “Bagi mereka yang hak-haknya telah dicampakkan selama berdekade, perubahan akan segera tiba,” ujar Sainz. “Namun tidak dapat dipungkiri bahwa dua tahun terakhir terjadi perubahan positif bagi kaum homoseksual dalam sejarah AS.”

Deklarasi AS, yang berjudul “Mengakhiri Tindakan Kekerasan dan Pelanggaran HAM Terkait Berdasarkan Orientasi Seksual dan Identitas Gender,” meminta seluruh pemerintahan di dunia untuk mengambil langkah khusus “untuk mengakhiri tindakan kekerasan, sanksi kriminal, dan pelanggaran HAM terkait yang ditujukan bagi para individu karena orientasi seksual atau identitas gendernya.” Seperti yang dilaporkan dalam Christian Post, AS dan banyak negara lain telah menandatangani deklarasi “menegaskan pernyataan bersama pada tahun 2008 oleh beberapa negara yang mewakili lima wilayah PBB yang meminta untuk mengakhiri diskriminasi berdasarkan orientasi seksual dan identitas gender. Dalam pernyataan mereka kepada PBB, mereka juga meminta untuk memberikan perhatian pada pelanggaran HAM berdasarkan orientasi seksual dan identitas gender oleh mekanisme HAM internasional dan dalam konteks Universal Periodic Review.”

Associated Press memberitakan bahwa isu perlindungan hak bagi kaum homoseksual “telah mempolarisasikan negara-negara di PBB selama bertahun-tahun. Dan terlepas dari bertambahnya penerimaan terhadap homoseksualitas di negara-negara Barat dan sebagian Amerika Latin, para pengacara mengatakan bahwa masih terdapat kesenjangan besar dalam kesepakatan HAM dalam perlindungan bagi kaum homoseksual atas diskriminasi dan penganiayaan. “ Suzanne Nossel, sekretaris asisten deputi pemerintah untuk organisasi internasional, mengatakan bahwa pemerintahan Obama “sangat prihatin bahwa masih banyak individu yang dibunuh, ditahan, dan dianiaya di seluruh dunia hanya karena orientasi seksual atau identitas gender mereka. Pernyataan ini mengirimkan pesan tegas kepada seluruh dunia bahwa penganiayaan seperti ini tidak boleh ditoleransi.”

Yang kentara hilang dari pembicaraan seputar “hak asasi manusia” adalah suara kolektif mengenai nilai-nilai keluarga tradisional, seperti yang dijalankan oleh para penganut keyakinan Judeo-Kristen. Salah satu dari segelintir pemimpin pro-keluarga yang menghadiri pertemuan tersebut adalah Uskup Agung Gereja Katolik Silvano Tomasi, yang mengatakan kepada badan “HAM” OBB bahwa pada saat ini, mereka yang memandang homoseksualitas sebagai tindakan moral yang salah justru difitnah dan dibungkam oleh kelompok yang memperjuangkan kesetaraan hak. “Banyak yang diserang karena tidak mendukung perilaku seks sesama jenis,” kata Uskup Agung. “Ketika mereka mengekspresikan keyakinan moral atau keyakinan tentang sifat manusia…mereka distigma, dan lebih buruk lagi, difitnah, dan dituntut.” Ia mengatakan bahwa serangan seperti ini “merupakan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia yang fundamental dan tidak dapat dibenarkan dalam keadaan apa pun.”

Uskup Agung tersebut menjelaskan bahwa istilah “orientasi seksual” yang terdapat dalam resolusi dan teks yang diadopsi oleh badan “HAM” PB, merujuk dengan tepat pada “perasaan dan pikiran, bukan perilaku”—pembedaan yang menurutnya krusial demi menghindari sikap yang permisif atas perilaku seksual. “Demi tujuan hukum HAM, ada perbedaan besar antara perasaan dan pikiran, di satu sisi, dan perilaku, di sisi lain,” kata Uskup Agung. “Suatu negara seharusnya tidak boleh menghukum seseoarang, atau menghalangi seseorang untuk menikmati hak asasi manusia apa pun, hanya karena berdasarkan pikiran dan perasaan individu tersebut, termasuk juga dorongan dan perasaan seksual.”

Namun demikian, kata perwakilan Vatikan ini, “negara dapat, dan wajib, mengatur perilaku, termasuk berbagai perilaku seksual. Di seantero dunia, ada kesepakatan umum di dalam masyarakat bahwa jenis perilaku seksual tertentu harus dilarang oleh hukum…” Meskipun negara tidak wajib mengatur pikiran atau perasaan, kata Uskup Agung, negara juga tidak boleh menganggap perilaku seksual sebagai sesuatu yang benar-benar bersifat privat dan berada di luar jangkauan hukum. “Seksualitas manusia, seperti halnya kegiatan lain yang disukainya, memiliki dimensi moral,” katanya, sembari menjelaskan bahwa mereka yang menolak elemen moral dari seksualitas dengan alasan “orientasi” justru menenggelamkan argumen mereka sendiri mengenai kebebasan manusia.

Seperti yang dilaporkan oleh Catholic News Agency, “Uskup Agung Tomasi juga menambahkan perihal tentang posisi Vatikan atas seksualitas manusia – yang dianggap oleh Gereja Katolik bukan saja bagian dari keyakinan, tetapi juga sebagai bagian universal dari hukum alam.” Pemimpin Katolik tersebut menjelaskan kepada badan PBB bahwa “seksualitas manusia merupakan anugerah yang diekspresikan dalam hubungan yang saling melengkapi dan bertahan seumur hidup melalui pernikahan antara laki-laki dan perempuan.”

Sumber: http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/family/6858-in-another-concession-to-gay-lobby-president-calls-on-un-to-support-homosexual-rights
Penerjemah : Devri

The 12th AWID International Forum on Women's Rights and Development: Call for Proposals

2011-03-31T18:20:00.001+07:00

April 19-22, 2012 | Istanbul, Turkey

Call for Participation

Submission Deadline: May 27, 2011

Transforming economic power... are you up to the challenge?

Are you willing to move beyond your comfort zone? To question your usual thinking? To engage with actors outside of your every day activism or workplace? Are you ready to build alliances across boundaries so that together we can transform economic power?

Through the 2012 AWID Forum, we aim to explore how economic power is impacting on women and the planet, and to facilitate connections among the very diverse groups working on these issues from both human rights and justice approaches so that together we contribute to stronger, more effective strategies to advance women's rights and justice.

Download the Full Text PDF Call for Proposals for More Information:
http://www.forum.awid.org/forum12/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/CFP03291-1.pdf

PH gay group protests censorship of Lady Gaga song

2011-03-25T04:45:00.002+07:00

MANILA, Philippines - An alliance of progressive Filipino LGBTs and its allies on Thursday rallied behind the "war call" issued by pop star Lady Gaga against anti-gay censorship in Malaysia.

Radio stations in Malaysia and Hong Kong-based music cable programmer Channel V were playing censored versions of "Born This Way." They removed the line, "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track, baby."

The multi-awarded singer called on Malaysian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to oppose such censorship.

In an online interview, Gaga said: "What I would say is for all the young people in Malaysia that want those words to be played on the radio, it is your job and it is your duty as young people to have your voices heard."

In the Philippines, gay activists protested the censorship made by Channel V.

Goya Candelario, spokesperson for the Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay Philippines), called on the group's members to boycott Channel V and its advertisers.

"We, the oppressed LGBTs in the Philippines, are united behind our Malaysian LGBT comrades. We demand that all media outlets in Asia play `Born This Way' in its original version and stop censorship that will victimize LGBT freedoms," the group said.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/03/24/11/pinoy-gay-group-protests-censorship-lady-gaga-song