Add Gender Identity/Expression to Canadian Human Rights Act

The Canadian parliament will deliberate on bill C-389 which would amend the Human Rights Act to include protections based on gender identity/expression. The bill would essentially offer employment and housing protections as well include transgender people in hate crimes protections.

Please contact your member of Parliament and urge them to schedule a vote and pass this historic piece of legislation.

H/T to Dented Blue Mercedes.

Demand Justice for Abused Argentinian Trans Man

On July 19, 2008, Ian Breppe was verbally assaulted with reference to his transgender identity by the owner of a butcher shop near his bicycle repair shop. The butcher shop owner then beat Ian up. When Ian reported this assault at the police station in La Matanza, the officers rejected the complaint and verbally humiliated him.

The next year, on April 10, 2009, Ian was verbally abused by David Martin Albarran, who grabbed him by his hair, dragged him around, beat him, and then finally threw him against the window, causing Ian serious injuries. Ian had three tendons cut in his right foot, his ribs cracked, and was bruised on various parts of his body He brought complaints to the Attorney General of La Matanza and to the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, which is part of the Ministry of Justice, Security and Human Rights of Argentina. Neither of these institutions responded to the complaints.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) joins Movimiento Antidiscriminatorio de Liberación (MAL) and other organizations in requesting that you contact the Ministry of Justice, Security and Human Rights, the Attorney General of La Matanza, the Director of Human Rights of La Matanza and other authorities, demanding a full and fair investigation into these attacks and calling for the adoption of measures to prevent similar crimes in the future.

Please head over to SexGenderBody for a host of ways to take action on the issue.

Human Rights Groups Urging Guyana to Stop Dress Code Arrests

Guyanese police are targeting LGBT people who have a different gender identity or expression than their birth sex. The police are arresting, abusing, and humiliating these people with such tactics as forcing them to strip down, dress as "gender norm" and to bend over to mock their sexual orientation.

"Guyana should halt arrests and police abuse of transgender people and repeal a repressive law that criminalizes wearing clothes considered appropriate only for the opposite sex, six human rights organizations said today in a letter to President Bharrat Jagdeo.

"Police are using archaic laws to violate basic freedoms," said Scott Long director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. "This is a campaign meant to drive people off the streets simply because they dress or act in ways that transgress gender norms." (Human Rights Watch)

Please join these organizations in sending letters and contacting the President of Guyana to put an end to these egregious human rights abuses.

Office of the President Contact Information
His Excellence Bharrat Jagdeo
592-225-3110

Web Spotlight: Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association

GALHA provides a voice for the many non-religious in the lesbian and gay community in the United Kingdom and elsewhere and promotes a rational humanist approach to homosexuality and to lesbian, gay and bisexual rights as human rights.

An Appeal to the Politically Skeptical

Many people who care deeply about political issues and social justice question the efficacy of activism and being politically involved. It is a legitimate question and concern. People ask why should they bother sending an email/letter, signing a petition, or going to a demonstration. Is it a waste of time and why would someone care that you disagree and hold an alternative point of view?

As someone who has been an activist for many years, I can assure you that I have seen activism to truly work wonders. Does it always work? No. You should not be discouraged when things don't go your way, and with regards to civil rights and equality it comes in strides and not in one shot. However, that being said think about how rewarding it is when you are part of the solution and you can directly affect millions of lives or stand for what is right.

This post is an appeal letter to those who are interested in social change but feel that their efforts are a waste of time. I urge you to be involved send those emails, make those calls, lobby your representatives. Sure you are just one voice, but together we are a collective of voices and we make a dent. If you don't speak up, who will?

Why activism does work...

Business:
Many times companies/organizations take positions on issues that we disagree with. The reason activism can be successful is from a business aspect. The bottom line is companies want profit $$$, if they see a group of activists demonstrating, calling for a boycott or creating negative publicity for them, it is in their best interest to either give in to the activist or try to assuage their concerns.

Government:
Technically speaking elected representatives are supposed to represent the people of their district and thus vote accordingly with the will of the population. There are some politicians who follow this rule of thumb but many others do not. Politicians need your votes, they need credibility and thus will want to do what a vocal lobbying group will tell them to do. If your voice is not heard on an issue, a politician will likely feel no reason to support or take on an issue of concern.

Public Opinion:
If you are a successful activist you are bringing attention to the issue you are concerned with. This will garner media attention, political advocacy, and the like to your issue, you might find more support from others who will join the bandwagon. Even if people do not directly support your efforts you are creating awareness on an issue of importance to you.

So to make a long story short GET INVOLVED! That being said I will leave you with my favorite quote regarding activism.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has". (Margaret Mead)

Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments on this topic.

Protest at Senegal High Commission in London

The planned LGBT / HIV human rights protest outside the Senegal Embassy in London on Friday 23 January has been canceled.

This is at the request of LGBT and HIV activists in Senegal. They say negotiations are going well with the Senegalese government for the release of nine men from jail. Although the activists appreciate our planned protests and have expressed their gratitude for our support, they now feel that negotiations are at a very delicate stage and they are nervous that protests might alienate the government.

For further information contact Dennis Hambridge, of Gay Activists Alliance
Email: dhambridge@btinternet.com

Crossposted via LGBT Asylum News.

Take a Stand for Human Rights!

Demand The U.S. Stand For Global Decriminalization of Homosexuality

The U.N. is scheduled to bring up a legislative vote on decriminalizing homosexuality worldwide. This bill would make it global law that it is illegal to imprison or execute someone solely based on their sexual orientation. There have been protests and anger directed at the Vatican over their refusal to vote in the affirmative. As of right now the United States of America has not pledged to support the legislation.

It is imperative we quickly act to encourage the U.S. a global world leader to take a stance in favor of decriminalizing homosexuality.

Please contact the following high level individuals and tell them to have U.S. representation in the United Nations vote to make sure imprisonment and the death penalty for homosexuals is illegal.

The US President:

The White House
George W Bush, President
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Tel: 202 456 1111
Fax: 202 456 2461

Email: president@whitehouse.gov

US Secretary of State

United States Department of State
Secretary of State Dr Condoleeza Rice
2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520

Tel: 202 647 4000 

TTY: 1 800 877 8339

US Ambassador to the United Nations

Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations
140 East 45th Street
New York, NY 10017

Tel: 212 415 4000

Email: usa@un.int

You can also urge your local senator and congressman as well as President-Elect Barack Obama to speak out on the issue.

The Office of the President-Elect website has a convenient online contact form.

H/T to Mike Tidmus for listing different contacts for action.

Activism Is More Than A Word!

Inspiring video on queer activism and our fight for liberation.

"The Call" for Liberation & Human Rights!

We have 6 days to go to begin a new future in this country, elect a president who respects and recognizes LGBTQ people or one who seeks to kick us to the curb. We have the chance of a lifetime to preserve marriage equality in California and to defeat the amendments that seek to ban our rights in other states. We are almost there! The opposition is mighty and invoking the name of God and religion as evidenced by the frightening yet true video below. The un-religious right is waging a war and urging for "the call" a movement of prayer and activism to restore what they deem are God's morals and virtues.

My friends, we need to stand up and be counted more than ever to defeat these lies and restore America to the beautiful nation we were founded to be. A nation of liberty and justice for all!

I don't mean to be a pest, but the opposition is flooding the airwaves with their hateful lies and are looking to raise millions more to pass prop 8. The No on 8 Equality for All campaign has said "if we don't raise an additional 3 million to combat their lies, we will likely lose." PLEASE find it in your hearts to donate if you have not, or urge a friend to do so, our lives and our liberties are at stake. http://www.noonprop8.com

"The Call" video of right-wing Christians who seek to take away rights.

Transgender Human Rights Activists Arrested in Uganda

"Please take action to protest the detention and intimidation by police of Oundo George and Kiiza Brendah, transgender human rights activists in Uganda who were arrested at home for allegedly attempting to "recruit people to homosexuality." This is a spurious charge that does not exist in Uganda's Civil Code, though homosexuality is illegal and freedom of gender identity is not recognized. Oundo George and Kiiza Brendah were held without cause for seven days and upon release were ordered to return to the police station on September 24."

Lt-Gen (retd) Yoweri Musevini,
Office of the President,
Parliament Building,
PO Box 7168,
Kampala,
Uganda

Contact President & Minister of Justice by Email

H/T to Trans News for the story

Human Rights Commissioner Against Gay Rights

Mr. Joel Edwards was appointed as an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner as part of this non-departmental public body in Great Britain. Unions and activists are currently asking for his removal.

Mr. Edwards is director of the Evangelical Alliance, an organization which works tirelessly against LGBT rights.

"Last year they gave evidence to a House of Commons committee opposing a new crime of incitement to violence on the grounds of sexual orientation.

They also launched large-scale campaigns against the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which ensure equality of gay, lesbian and bisexual people when accessing goods and services."(Pink News)

Mr. Edwards is at odds with the mission of the EHRC which is supposed to promote racial equality, disability rights, and is responsible for age discrimination, sexual orientation, religious plurality as well as human rights.

Please help us in asking for the removal of Mr. Joel Edwards as a commissioner.

info@equalityhumanrights.com

3 More London, Riverside Tooley Street, London, SE1 2RG
Telephone 020 3117 0235 (non helpline calls only)
Fax 0207 407 7557

TAKE ACTION: Urge United Nations to Support Worldwide LGBT Rights

"People around the world face violence and inequality – and sometimes torture, even execution – because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. More than 80 countries around the world still make it a crime for men to have sex with men, or women with women. In some countries, the punishment is death. Many laws punish people for simply looking differently, or not living up to cultural norms of “masculinity” or “femininity.

The Yogyakarta Principles – named for the Indonesian city where they were adopted in 2006 by a panel of international experts – lay out clear standards for how governments should end violence, abuse, and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and ensure equality. We urge the United Nations to endorse the Yogyakarta Principles, and to call for an end to violence and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Tell the world’s governments to stop criminalizing people because of who they are or whom they love."

Click here to Contact the Secretary-General: Mr. Ban Ki-Moon of the U.N.

Keep up the Pressure on Jamaican Government

Prime Minister Bruce Golding of Jamaica has announced he would not allow gay people to be part of his cabinet. This is part of a continuing campaign by the Jamaican government to ostracize and endanger the lives of LGBT citizens. The hate crimes in Jamaica are staggering with several gay people murdered and beaten annually. There is rampant homophobia in the culture, throughout musical lyrics, and hate spewing from religious as well as political authorities.

Please contact government officials and tell them you will be boycotting Jamaican tourism and goods, and demand that they enact laws safeguarding their LGBT citizens.

The following link enables you to send an email to the Prime Minister, his cabinet, the Ministry of Tourism, and other important officials.

Click Here to Contact Government Officials!

Gambia's President Declares War on Gay Community

According to Pink News:

"Gay men and lesbians must leave the country within 24 hours or face "serious consequences," the President of Gambia said on Thursday.

President Yahya Jammeh turned on homosexuals and foreigners in an address at a victory celebration rally in Tallinding.

The Daily Observer reported that the President had issued:

"An ultimatum to homosexuals, drug dealers, thieves and other criminals, to leave The Gambia or face serious consequences if caught.

"The President equally warned all those who harbour such individuals to kick them out of their compounds, noting that a mass patrol will be conducted on the instructions of the IGP and the director of the Gambia Immigration Department to weed bad elements in society."

This is very disturbing, please contact the Gambian State House and voice your concern over these dangerous homophobic statements.

You can contact the government of Gambia here

Mailing Address:
Private Mail Bag
State House,
Banjul, The Gambia.

General Information Line: (220)-4223811
Secretary-General: (220)-4228917 or (220) 4228933
Chief of Protocol: (220)-4201530 or (220) 4200400
Director of Press/Public Relations: (220) 4223851

Safety, Lives of LGBT Moldovans Under Immediate Threat; Action Needed Now!

According to Queer Activism:

"The government refused police protection for this weekend's LGBT Pride March in Moldova's capital city of Chisinau, where members of the International Lesbian and Gay Association of Europe and Romania's human rights organization, ACCEPT, are also gathered. All legal procedures were followed to obtain the appropriate permits, and despite early promises, the mayor of Chisinau has withdrawn approval for the march permits. Police stood by silently as fascists attacked the bus with parade organizers and did not allow the march to take place.

The government of Moldova is threatening to arrest Rev. Elder Diane Fisher and Eastern European LGBT activist Florin Buhuceanu if they hold worship services for the LGBT community this weekend.

And they are refusing to provide police protection, despite numerous death threats made against Diane and Florin and the LGBT community there."

Write a brief e-mail to the Moldovan government. Ask them to honor their nation's laws and to allow the peaceful gathering of LGBT people and their supporters. Ask that the rights of LGBT people be protected. Let them know the eyes of the world are focused on Moldova this week.

The following email will allow you to contact the -- Moldovan Ministry of Justice, Moldovan Ministry of Social Protection, Moldovan Advocate for Human Rights, Moldova's Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Chisinau City Hall (Moldova's Capital City).

Click here to email government officials!

Urgent Alert: Contact Reps Over Arizona Anti-Marriage Amendment

The Arizona House of Representatives are slated to vote Monday over a proposed bill that would place a ban on same-sex marriage amendment to the 2008 ballot for November.

Arizona residents CLICK HERE to find and contact your two representatives and tell them to vote against this hateful amendment and to support equality for LGBT residents.

"Voices Against 377" - Human Rights for India/Singapore!

‘Voices Against 377 is a coalition of Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) and progressive groups based in Delhi. It is a point of intersection and dialogue between various social movements that these groups represent, where a united voice is being articulated against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalizes private consensual sexual acts deemed to be against the order of nature.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is cited below:

“377. Unnatural Offences.
Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

The law penalizes certain sexual acts equally. For example oral sex, regardless of whether it is heterosexual or homosexual; even penile-masturbation of one person by another – is considered criminal. Although facially neutral, the law has effectively stigmatized and criminalized a section more than others, namely same-sex desiring people, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), hijra, kothi and other Queer people. The law has been used by the police to intimidate same sex desiring people and has been a source of serious human rights violations."



Sign the "Voices Against 377" Petition!

U.K. Campaign Against Homophobic Bullying

The Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to end homophobic bullying in schools across the U.K.

The call is for the following to support and protect the victims of homophobic bullying:

1. Homophobic taunts and name calling in schools should be challenged immediately by staff.

2. All schools' anti-bullying policies should be required to include measures specifically to deal with homophobic bullying.

3. At least one teacher in every school should undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.

Please sign the petition which will be sent to the House of Commons and Lords as part on ongoing work to amend the current Education and Inspections Bill to tackle this problem

http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/stop-homophobic-bullying.html

Join MoveOn.org in Pressuring John McCain

Influential right-wing conservative pastor John Hagee has endorsed John McCain for president, the mainstream media has ignored the controversial and radical comments by this leader. Pastor Hagee has said hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for an upcoming gay pride parade that was scheduled. He has made bigoted comments against the Catholic church as well. Moveon.org is protesting John McCain's visit to Louisiana today and calling on him to speak out against these anti-gay, bigoted viewpoints.

Please sign the MoveOn petition and hold John McCain accountable for his allegiance to this homophobe

http://pol.moveon.org/mccain_pander/?r_by=-9222762-XOMBpM&rc=paste

Video of his hateful rhetoric: