Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating Triumphs in the LGBTIQ+ Community
By Emmanuel Valentine Onu
Every year, we commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia on 17th May. On a day like this, it is critical to pause and consider the advancements made by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and other (LGBTIQ+) community, recognising the obstacles they have overcome and their significant achievements. Throughout history, the LGBTIQ+ community has faced numerous challenges and obstacles, yet they have consistently demonstrated remarkable strength and unwavering resolve.
LGBTIQ+ Rights in the Global Context
Over recent decades, the global movement advocating for the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals has achieved significant milestones, particularly in advancing marriage equality. Nevertheless, LGBTIQ+ communities continue to confront repression, incarceration, and the looming threat of violence globally. The widespread and serious nature of these injustices emphasises how crucial it is to enact laws that will combat discrimination and address the political, social, and economic marginalisation this community faces. Activists, alongside an expanding coalition of governments, now prioritise the implementation of comprehensive laws and measures aimed at securing the rights and safety of LGBTIQ+ individuals.
Since its inception in 1945, civil society organisations persistently advocated for the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity within the United Nations framework. The UN Human Rights Committee only formally acknowledged discrimination based on sexual orientation as a violation of international human rights law in the landmark 1994 Toonen v. Australia case. Over time, with the gradual evolution of case law and heightened visibility of LGBTIQ+ rights violations, a cohort of independent experts convened in Indonesia in 2007 to delineate clear guidelines for international human rights standards regarding sexual orientation issues. Their collaborative effort culminated in the formulation of the Yogyakarta Principles, which have since served as a foundation for the protection of LGBTIQ+ rights around the world.
In 2011, then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton garnered support from the UN Human Rights Council, which replaced the Human Rights Committee, to successfully approve a resolution that dealt with human rights, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Her famous declaration that "gay rights are human rights" marked this historic moment. Building on this momentum, in 2016, the Council passed another significant resolution urging Member States to prevent violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also established the mandate of an independent expert, whose task is to evaluate the global implementation of these protective measures.
Despite these advancements, legal protections for LGBTIQ+ individuals remain patchy across the globe, with persistent instances of discrimination. Shockingly, approximately seventy countries still criminalise same-sex relationships, and in twelve nations, consenting adults engaging in same-sex acts can face the death penalty.
Law enforcement, militant groups, street gangs, and tragically, even their own families, often ignore the abuse and murder of LGBTIQ+ individuals in regions where same-sex relationships are not criminalised. The horrors extend to forced marriages, so-called "honour killings," and the heinous tactic of using rape to "correct" a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. These atrocities persistently endanger lives, particularly in areas where governmental resources are scarce. Transgender people, in particular, bear the brunt of such violence. Furthermore, in some countries with a strong religious majority and a history of authoritarianism, conservative interpretations of religious texts are often weaponised, ostracising the LGBTIQ+ community and legitimising discrimination against them. For instance, in some countries LGBTIQ+ individuals confront pervasive structural discrimination and persecution, with an alarmingly high risk of being killed.
The Challenges of LGBTIQ+ Defenders
LGBTIQ+ rights defenders face multifaceted challenges as they strive to eradicate violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They are often targeted due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, and face compounded risks as human rights defenders. Many defenders experience severe backlash, with advocates for LGBTIQ+ rights facing particularly elevated risks. In their pursuit of gender equality and LGBTIQ+ rights, defenders frequently encounter resistance, rejection, or even violence. UN experts Victor Madrigal-Borloz and Mary Lawlor spearheaded the "Diversity in Adversity: Stories from SOGI Rights Defenders" video campaign, which highlighted the struggles of LGBTIQ+ rights defenders who peacefully combat discrimination worldwide.
International organisations dedicated to monitoring the plight of LGBTIQ+ rights defenders consistently describe them as operating in the most hostile environments. Recent studies reveal that globally, LGBTIQ+ rights defenders are among the most targeted, closely trailing behind land, environmental, and Indigenous peoples’ rights defenders. Globally, LGBTIQ+ rights defenders endure significant abuses, such as physical attacks, arbitrary arrests, raids on their homes and offices, and smear campaigns. Despite these alarming statistics, impunity for such attacks persists, exacerbated by stigmatising rhetoric from public officials that fosters a hostile environment against LGBTIQ+ defenders. Furthermore, 69 UN Member States still uphold legislation that criminalises individuals based on diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, often rooted in discriminatory colonial-era laws. These laws not only hinder defenders' efforts but also perpetuate the stigma associated with LGBTIQ+ rights, fostering a hostile environment that demonises defenders. Additionally, the historical pathologisation of LGBTIQ+ identities may lead to the endorsement of harmful "conversion practices" or the criminalisation of affirming treatments, further marginalising LGBTIQ+ communities and defenders.
LGBTIQ+ Rights in Honduras
Despite global progress for LGBTIQ+ rights, Honduras presents an increasingly hostile environment for both the LGBTIQ+ community and defenders. The 1982 Honduran constitution, amended in 2020 via Articles 60, 112, and 116, expressly prohibits same-sex marriage. This legal stance serves as a foundation for discrimination, intimidation, and heightened violence against gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals. Particularly alarming is the plight of transgender women in Honduras, who face one of the highest rates of systematic discrimination and violence globally. Consequently, Honduras stands out as one of the most hostile settings for LGBTIQ+ individuals. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Honduras, these issues may be a result of the nation's moral stance, which is firmly rooted in religious convictions regarding binary identity.
The conservative pushback against gender equality and sexual diversity campaigns has made the situation for LGBTIQ+ rights defenders in Honduras much worse. The government's hostile opposition has resulted in public condemnation and aggression of LGBTIQ+ individuals and organisations. During the 2021 election campaign, then-President Juan Orlando Hernández even branded LGBTIQ+ defenders as "enemies of independence." Within this contentious atmosphere, the Arcoíris LGBT Association of Honduras, which has been supported by PBI since 2015, has documented a disturbing escalation in acts of homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia, particularly following the 2009 coup d'état. Donny Reyes, a representative for the organisation, emphasises the distressing regression in human rights over the previous 12 years, which is characterised by the normalisation of violence and discrimination against marginalised communities. This normalisation perpetuates a cycle of harm, necessitating a fundamental deconstruction of entrenched societal norms to pave the way for genuine progress and inclusivity. Moreover, the situation in Honduras underscores broader challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ rights defenders globally, highlighting the need for robust international solidarity and advocacy efforts to support their struggle for equality and dignity.
An average of 40 LGBTIQ+ individuals tragically lose their lives each year in Honduras, a harrowing statistic that sets the tone for the plights of this community. The distressing trend continues into 2024, with approximately 50 transgender individuals experiencing violence within the first quarter alone, according to data from the Cattrachas Lesbian Network. The report reveals a troubling trend of violent attacks targeting LGBTIQ+ individuals, documenting over 140 incidents from 2017 to 2024, underscoring the widespread danger LGBTIQ+ individuals encounter in the country. Transgender women, whose life expectancy is shockingly less than 35 years, face a dire situation that paints a grim picture of the challenges they endure. The pervasive social marginalisation, exclusion, and abuse experienced by transgender women often force them to flee Honduras to seek refuge in less hostile environments due to the constant threats to their lives.
What you can do
Given these challenges, governments, civil society organisations, and international bodies must redouble their efforts to advance LGBTIQ+ rights. This entails not only enacting and enforcing inclusive laws, but also fostering societal acceptance and dismantling systemic barriers.
On this International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, we should reflect on the challenges faced by the LGBTIQ+ community and celebrate their achievements. At PBI, we acknowledge that we can only truly achieve a world that fully recognises and protects the rights and dignity of all LGBTIQ+ individuals through collective action and unwavering commitment.
You can help our global teams to mobilise, advocate, protect LGBTIQ+ defenders, and uplift their impact by donating to PBI here!
Watch this video to learn more about the struggles of the Honduran LGBTIQ+ community and learn more about how you can get involved with supporting human rights defenders by signing up to our newsletter here!
Spread the word about how the UK Government can better support human rights defenders globally by checking out our policy hub here!
