In Cambodia, gay bar attacked, police want bribe

Rainbow Bar owner Kye Poirrier and staff

Source: Cambodian Center for Human Rights

In the early hours of Sunday 15 May 2011 the staff and clientele of the gay-friendly Rainbow Bar on Street 172 in Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district were subjected to a vicious and unprovoked homophobic attack by neighbors, which left several people badly injured and caused significant damage to the bar. The establishment had been hosting a drag queen competition as part of Pride Week 2011 celebrations. More worryingly, according to witnesses, police refused to intervene until they had been paid a bribe of US$500.

The attack fell during Pride Week 2011, a week designed to promote tolerance of - and to celebrate - sexual and gender diversity. Pride Week 2011 passed off with great success in Cambodia, with more than 1,300 people showing their support and attending a wide range of events in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other parts of the country. It is clear from the popularity of the festivities that ordinary Cambodians are beginning to embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual ("LGBTI") people.

While the attack itself is a matter of concern, the failure of the police to intervene and discharge their duties to maintain the safety and security of the staff and patrons at the bar is a significantly more serious matter. The failure on the part of the police to intervene and arrest the perpetrators at best suggests negligence on their part and, at worst, tacit approval of the attack and its discriminatory motivations. Such failures on the part of the police are likely only to encourage additional homophobic and transphobic sentiments and attacks.

Responding to the violent attack on Rainbow Bar, Ou Virak, President of CCHR, a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia, commented:

"This is a shocking and entirely unprovoked attack on innocent people peacefully and joyfully celebrating Pride Week 2011. CCHR condemns this heinous and cowardly act, but congratulates the staff of Rainbow Bar for refusing to be cowed by such behavior and having the courage to continue with their Pride Week celebrations after the attack. However, we are gravely concerned by the reports of a lack of police intervention and urge that the attack be properly investigated. The ignorance of a bunch of thugs is one thing; gross negligence on the part of the authorities is altogether more troubling."

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Video: Holocaust Memorial Day 2011 film trailer

Watch the making of the HMD 2011 online film: 'Untold Stories' and discover the stories behind the trailer.

Ali is a Iraqi LGBT activist who has experienced discrimination and persecution. His name has been changed and his face obscured to protect his identity as he still faces persecution today in London.

Apolinaire Kageruka is a survivor of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He has never recorded his testimony before.

Astrid Aghajanian survived the Ottoman Empire’s destruction of its Armenian population. For more information on the events of 1915-18, please visit the USHMM site.

Hawa is a survivor of the genocide in Darfur. She has covered her face for filming in order to protect her identity. Hawa is not her real name.

Margret is a German Jewish Refugee. She and her family fled Nazi persecution and settled in the UK.

Michel is a photographer living in the UK. In 2010, he was a victim of hate crime when his home was vandalised and a swastika was painted on his door.

Mukesh Kapila was working as Head of the UN in Sudan in 2004 and brought the genocide in Darfur to the attention of the international community.

Safet Vukalic survived the genocide in Bosnia. He now lives and works in the UK.

Simon Winston survived the Holocaust in hiding. He is filmed at The Holocaust Centre.

Sokphal Din survived the genocide in Cambodia (1975-1979).

Vicky Botton lives in the East Midlands and is a Traveller. She speaks about the Untold Stories of the persecution of Gypsy and Travellers in the UK today. Vicky refers to the ‘gadje’ in her film. This is a Romani term meaning ‘non-gypsy.’

Groundbreaking report looks at LGBT Cambodians

Image via Wikipedia

Source: PinkPaper.com

By Rex Wockner

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights released a groundbreaking report on the 9 December titled "Coming Out in the Kingdom: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Cambodia."

It says that LGBT Cambodians face unique challenges, including ostracism from their families and communities that often leads to economic hardship as well as discrimination by employers and authorities.

The report argues that the concept of homosexuality as understood in "the West" may not directly transfer to Cambodia.

"The Cambodian understanding of sexuality is derived from concepts of gender, character and personality," it says. "The focus on these character traits and outwardly visible characteristics instead of sexual orientation means that many Cambodians who are homosexual do not identify themselves as such."

Buddhism, the report says, generally tolerates homosexuality.

Read more »

Video: In Phnom Penh, the amazing work of a 70-year-old transgender sex worker

Source: IRIN News



Sou Southevy is a 70-year-old transgender sex worker who has been working the streets of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh since he was thrown out of home by his parents at just 14 years old. Through the worst ravages of the Khmer Rouge regime and since, Sou has been subjected to terrible discrimination and at times violence, and in the absence of any support groups working with transgender and gay men, he decided to start one himself.

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In Cambodia, gays take refuge in their own 'town'

Source: Global Post

By Terry McCoy

Along the train tracks in one of Phnom Penh’s ubiquitous slums, the noise never stops and everything is changing. Longtime residents are fearful that they’ll soon have to move. This place isn’t safe anymore, they say. It isn’t moral anymore.

Along these same tracks, roughly 100 new residents, in search of asylum and community, have trickled in over the last several years and now lead lives of shocking desperation. Most of them only sleep during the day. Some perform acts of prostitution. Others dress as women. Almost all of them are homosexual men. And this place, Beoung Kak 2, has become a home: Cambodia’s first gay town.

But this isn’t Boystown in Chicago, nor the Castro in San Francisco. This isn’t a place where homosexuals can celebrate sexuality, individuality, love. Make no mistake: It’s a place for survival.

Every month more newcomers arrive, and as this community expands and supplants longtime residents, it represents both a burgeoning confidence among Cambodia’s gay population, as well as the difficulties that lie ahead for homosexuals here struggling for acceptance and equality.

Read more »

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

By Paul Canning

Hundreds of events have been scheduled across the world to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), 17 May.

Cuba will commemorate for the third consecutive year the International Day against Homophobia with activities May 11-18, announced Mariela Castro, director of the National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX).

The major Hungarian LGBT organisation Hatter, is organizing a workshop to celebrate IDAHO titled 'Rainbow families: the question of same sex couples and their children in light of political debates and international requirements'.

There will be more than 150 events mark IDAHO across France. Highlights of the programme include :
A national conference on Religions, Homophobia and Transphobia, with high level representatives of the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim cults. The French Minister for Interior/Domestic Affairs will chair the conference that will take place in the Parliament building.

In Kenya, GALCK shall mark the day by presenting dances, and acting a play based on the Ugandan Law. IDAHO shall also be marked in at least two other cities in Kenya, including Nakuru and Kisumu.

In Solvakia Idaho day will be marked by the first Pride March ever to be organised.

Various Brasilian Ministerial agencies, Members of Parliaments, UN agencies and civil society organisations will come together on 18 May in Brasilia to discuss the perspectives of Human Rights.

In Cambodia, this year, a Pride Parade will mark the International Day Against Homophobia, with an extensive program of activities. In addition to the parade itself, the association organized Pride Cambodia also a whole series of events between 10 and 17 May.

• See the Idaho website for more on international events.

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