New report: Urgency Required: Gay and Lesbian Rights are Human Rights

Source: Hivos

Contents

Introduction - Ireen Dubel and André Hielkema
Foreword - Chris Carter

Part 1 The Netherlands then and now

Urgency and Strategy: Homosexual Men and Women in the First Half of theTwentieth Century - Bert Boelaars
Act Naturally - That’s Crazy Enough - Judith Schuyf
Homosexuality as Touchstone. Islam, Christianity and Humanism Compared - Rob Tielman
‘For Me Both Sides are a Struggle’. Living a Double Life - Linda Terpstra andMariette Hermans

Part 2 Concepts

Of all Times, in all Cultures: Robert Aldrich’s Gay Life and Culture: A World History - Leontine Bijleveld
Homophobia - Leontine Bijleveld
Lesbian Identity and Sexual Rights in the South: an Exploration - SaskiaWieringa
The Emancipation of Transgenders - Thomas Wormgoor
Queering Politics, Desexualizing the Mind - Robert J. Davidson
The World Minimized, The Homosexual Maximised? - Gert Hekma

Part 3 Africa

Behind the Mask - Bart Luirink
Simon Tseko Nkoli - Ireen Dubel
Queer Jihad. A View from South Africa - Scott Kugle
Self-portrait - Chan Mubanga
How to be a ‘Real’ Gay - Gert Hekma
Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men and Ancestral Wives. Female Same-Sex Practicesin Africa - Gertrude Fester
Black Bull, Ancestors and Me. My Life as a Lesbian Sangoma - Boshadi Semenya
Self-portrait - Victor Juliet Mukasa
Homosexuality in Cameroon. Identity and Persecution - Peter Geschiere
Urgent Goals of LGBTI Liberation - David Kuria

Part 4 Asia

Challenging the Anti Sodomy Law in India: Story of a Continuing Struggle - Arvind Narrain
Self-portrait. Being Queer in India - Pramada Menon
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 8 April 2008. Police Raid of Hivos Partner Labrys - Ireen Dubel
Following the Rainbow. MSM, HIV and Social Justice in South Asia - Shivananda Khan
Self-portrait. Struggling for Equality and Fairness for LGBTIQ People in Indonesia - Dédé Oetomo
Saying the ‘L’ Word - Maggie Tiojakin
The Struggle of the Tongzhi. Homosexuality in China and the Position of Chinese‘Comrades’ - Ties van de Werff
The Voice of a Lesbian from Hong Kong - Franco Yuen Ki LAI
Saving Gays from Iran: The IRanian Queer Railroad (IRQR) - André Hielkema
What is it to be a Palestinian Lesbian? - Rauda Morcos

Part 5 Latin America

Recovering the Lost Memories of Bravery: Latin American Non-Normative
Sexualities in the 21st Century - Alejandra Sardá-Chandiramani
‘A Common Agenda Requires an Authentic and Open Mind’ - Monique Doppert
Gender Identity and Extreme Poverty - Marcelo Ernesto Ferreyra
Self-portrait - Hazel Fonseca Navarro
Self-portrait - Jorge Bracamonte Allaín
Non-Heterosexual Parenthood in Latin America - Juan Marco Vaggione

Part 6 Strategies

Hivos and Gay Liberation. How Does It Work? - Monique Doppert
International Challenges for Education Regarding Sexual Diversity - Peter Dankmeijer
The Montreal Declaration of Human LGBT Rights - Joke Swiebel
The Yogyakarta Principles - Boris Dittrich
LGBT Rights in the Workplace:  The UK Experience - Peter Purton
United by Love, Exiled by Law. Immigration and Same Sex Couples - Martha McDevitt-Pugh
‘The Greenwood’ in Maurice and Brokeback Mountain. The Sorrowful Farewell of a Hope-giving Metaphor - André Hielkema
EU Support for LGBT People in Neighbouring Countries: Is It (good) Enough? - Maxim Anmeghichean and Aija Salo
The Tyranny of the Majority. Gays in Poland - Wendelmoet Boersema
Self-portrait - Radenka Grubacic
‘Equality is a Moral Imperative’. LGBT Equality under Obama - Martha McDevitt-Pugh

Urgency Required: Gay and Lesbian Rights are Human Rights

New appeal for Iraqi LGBT

Source: Iraqi LGBT

Iraqi LGBT has started new projects for housing, asylum for the group work in Iraq, Syria and Europe.

As of today, we have only two safe houses open and running funded by HIVOS a Dutch based human rights organization.

The members of our group inside Iraq urgently need funds to open at least two more safe houses. These funds will allow us to keep the two safe houses open and running, and provide safety, shelter, food and many other needs for our LGBT friends inside Iraq. Any funds we receive that go beyond what we need for these two safe houses could be used to open more safe houses in the near future. We desperately need to add more because we have so many urgent cases in other cities in the south of Iraq. We receive requests for shelter every day, but we are not able to help yet as the situation getting very dangerous for them.

Other projects for Iraqi Lgbt is to help and support Lgbt people removed and relocated in neighbouring countries Syria and Lebanon.

These people have been registered with the UNHCR to for a resettlement programme to a third western country.

Third and new project is to establish a network of Iraqi Lgbt people in Europe in the Netherlands, France and Sweden.

The programme includes support for all asylum seekers to help provide information and guidance on asylum in the country they are seeking refuge in.

The Safe Houses in Iraq

The safe house harbours 10 to 12 people, so is very overcrowded. The residents are struggling badly because of the shortages of almost all the basic necessities in Iraq.

Rent: We have paid three months rent in advance. The most recent payments were in August. The average rent per safe house per month is $ 800 US Dollar.

Security: We paid the salaries of two guards per house, at $ 200 US Dollar per guard per month.

Other expenses of each house: We have paid $ 600 a month for each house approximately for natural gas and kerosene for cooking, and for food, fuel for generators which provide the electricity supply.

Urgent priority needs: Our priorities at this stage are: natural gas or kerosene for cooking and heating; fuel for generating electricity; food; mobile phones and calling cards; money for transportation to allow residents some freedom of movement; beds, mattresses, blankets, sheets and pillows; cameras; printers; two computers; house supplies, such as cooking pans, dishes, and flatware; some furniture; clean water for drinking and bathing; soap for washing and bathing, tooth paste, razors and of course housing, guards etc.

Amount needed and how it would be spent (per month):

Natural gas or kerosene for cooking and heating - 50 GBP

Fuel for generating electricity – $ 300

Food - $ 600

Mobile phones, calling cards, and internet café charges - $ 450 etc.

Transportation – $ 250

Clean water for drinking and bathing; $ 250

Toiletries (soap for washing and bathing, tooth paste, razors etc.) – $ 150

We also need to pay for medicines for the members of our group, doctors will come and have a home visit monthly for all members their cost is $ 400 US Dollar each month.

To send help and donation
People can send donation throughout Paypal by paying to our paypal account email: iraqilgbt@yahoo.co.uk

You can also send a Cheques payable to (IRAQI LGBT) and send it to:

Iraqi Lgbt
22 Notting Hill Gate
Unit 111
W11 3JE London
http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/

Iraqi LGBT welcome Human Rights Watch report on pogrom, urges practical aid

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate use

Iraqi LGBT welcome Human Rights Watch report on pogrom, urges practical aid

The Iraqi LGBT group today welcomed the release by Human Rights Watch of its report 'They want us exterminated' which documents the killing of LGBT people in Iraq, in particular the extensive media coverage it has generated. Much of the information in the report is sourced from Iraqi LGBT members.

"This report underlines what we have been saying since our group's formation in 2006," said Iraqi LGBT spokesperson, Ali Hili. "We have information on over 700 killings including honour killings."

However Hili says that the group, which has 100 members inside Iraq (as well as refugees in neighboring countries) and supports LGBT people through safe houses, offers practical support (food etc.), psychological and educational support, is chronically underfunded.

"We are the only people offering support to our fellow Iraqi LGBT inside Iraq but because we do not have the funds we have had to turn people away," he said.

The group recently published its annual report, available on its website, which showed how the money it receives is spent.

The report explains how it has developed methods of operating clandestinely which are essential for such an operation in the Middle East. Hili is the only visible member of the group and as a result has attracted death threats in his exile in London. He is under police protection.

Recently it received a second substantial donation from a Dutch group. However due to low funding it has had to close safe houses and slow its development plans.

At the same time it has seen very large amounts of money raised in the United States go to a Lebanese group which is supposed to be supporting Iraqi LGBT refugees. Ali says that the refugees, delivered to Lebanon by Human Rights Watch, have in fact been abandoned and some have returned to Iraq because they had no practical support.

"We have been trying to support one refugee who returned to Iraq from Lebanon because his medical needs were not being supported and who is now in danger. Through the United Nations, he has actually been accepted as a refugee by Sweden however it costs $2000 just for him to get back to Lebanon and then there are his travel costs to Sweden on top of that plus organising support in Sweden."

"This is an example of a case where we have great difficulty helping. It also shows something of the real costs involved in actually supporting people. Another example of that would be the bribes we have had to pay to save peoples lives."

"Our group represents Iraqi LGBT - they are our members - and, despite immense difficulties, our group has gained a lot of experience since we were established. Please support us if you want to help save LGBT people in Iraq."

Donations to Iraqi LGBT can be made to the PayPal Account iraqilgbt@yahoo.co.uk .

Or make cheques payable to (IRAQI LGBT) and send them to:

Iraqi LGBT
22 Notting Hill Gate
Unit 111London,
W11 3JE
United Kingdom

For further information please call ++44 (0) 79-819 59453 or email iraqilgbt@googlemail.com or see http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com

Ali said that the group also welcomed those who could donate their skills.

ENDS


ATTACHMENT

The Safe Houses Project

IRAQ: Emergency Shelter, Human Services and Protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People:

IRAQI LGBT started to establish a network of safe houses inside Iraq in March 2006.

As of today, we have only two safe houses open and running funded by HIVOS a Dutch based human rights organization.

The members of our group inside Iraq urgently need funds to open at least four safe houses. These funds will allow us to keep the four safe houses open and running, and provide safety, shelter, food and many other needs for our LGBT friends inside Iraq. Any funds we receive that go beyond what we need for these four safe houses could be used to open more safe houses in the near future. We desperately need to add more because we have so many urgent cases in other cities. We receive requests for shelter every day, but we are not able to help yet.

Every safe house has around 200 square meters of living space, but harbors 10 to 12 people, so is very overcrowded. The residents are struggling badly because of the shortages of almost all the basic necessities in Iraq.

Rent: We have paid three months rent in advance. The most recent payments were in August. The average rent per safe house per month is $ 600 US Dollar.

Security: We paid the salaries of two guards per house, at $ 200 US Dollar per guard per month.

Other expenses of each house: We have paid $ 600 a month for each house approximately for natural gas and kerosene for cooking, and for food, fuel for generators which provide the electricity supply.

Urgent priority needs: Our priorities at this stage are: natural gas or kerosene for cooking and heating; fuel for generating electricity; food; mobile phones and calling cards; money for transportation to allow residents some freedom of movement; beds, mattresses, blankets, sheets and pillows; cameras; printers; two computers; house supplies, such as cooking pans, dishes, and flatware; some furniture; clean water for drinking and bathing; soap for washing and bathing, tooth paste, razors and of course housing, guards etc.

Amount needed and how it would be spent (per month):

• Natural gas or kerosene for cooking and heating - 50 GBP
• Fuel for generating electricity – $ 300
• Food - $ 600
• Mobile phones, calling cards, and internet café charges - $ 450 etc.
• Transportation – $ 250
• Beds, mattresses, blankets, sheets and pillows – $ 1,300 – onetime payment
• Cameras – $ 100 – onetime payment
• Printers – $ 100 - onetime payment
• Two computers – $ 1,200 - onetime payment
• Kitchen supplies, such as cooking pans, dishes, and flatware – $ 400 – onetime payment
• Some furniture – $ 500– onetime payment
• Clean water for drinking and bathing; $ 250
• Toiletries (soap for washing and bathing, tooth paste, razors etc.) – $ 150

We also need to pay for medicines for the members of our group, doctors will come and have a home visit monthly for all members their cost is $ 400 US Dollar each month.

• Iraqi LGBT Annual Report and Financial Statements For the period ending 31 May 2009

• Human Rights Watch Report Says

• Report: The Iraqi anti-LGBT pogrom

Ali Hili - Iraqi Lgbt - Chair
22 Notting Hill Gate
Unit # 111
London , W11 3JE
United Kingdom
Mob: ++44 798 1959 453
Website : http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/

On-going arrests in Uganda

By Frank Mugisha, David Kato Kisule, Victor Mukasa

The situation in Uganda is still hectic and tension is still on as ex-gay George “Georgina” Oundo continues to have media platforms to “out” LGBT people and organizations. Oundo has weekly programs on different television stations where he continues his smear campaign against LGBT groups and individuals. He is also naming specific organizations as the key funders of the LGBT movement in Uganda, including IGLHRC, Human Rights Watch, Hivos, Amnesty International, and the Astraea Foundation, among others.

The situation also has taken a new direction after a 19-year-old man accused Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Center of having sodomized him. This story has been running in the Uganda media for almost two weeks now. After police cleared the pastor of sodomy charges, the President of Uganda came out and blamed the Ugandan police for not handling the investigations very well. Anti-gay groups are also strongly supporting the Pastor’s accuser.

So far there are no new developments from Parliament about the proposed bill or amendment to the penal code. However, Christian fundamentalists continue to press the government to toughen the laws against homosexuality. Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has reported the birth of a new anti-gay Christian group whose name has not yet been made public.

SMUG is following up on the arrests of individuals on charges related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity, trying to determine the exact circumstances of the arrests and to provide legal and psycho-social assistance as appropriate:

Mbale Case 1:
A student was arrested in Mbale and eventually set free by police. By the time SMUG visited the police station in Mbale, he was not there and the police file with his case was missing. However SMUG learned that he was a Kenyan student and that he was taken back to Kenya by his parents. His current whereabouts is unknown.

Mukono Case:
Semondo Simon was arrested on charges of aggravated defilement. After visiting Mukono police post and Kawuuga prison, SMUG learnt that Simon was taken to Luzira maximum prison. SMUG is trying to get a letter of introduction from Uganda Prisons to go and interview Simon at Luzira prison.

Entebbe case:
Kalule was arrested on charges of carnal knowledge against the order of nature and was granted bail. After anti-gay groups demonstrated in Kampala, he was re-arrested on charges of aggravated defilement. Kalule appeared in court on May 18, 2009. The magistrate informed the court that she had no jurisdiction to grant Kalule bail since this must be granted by the High Court.

Mbale case 2:
Wasikira Fred, a transgender person also known as Namboozo Margaret, and Pande Brian were charged with carnal knowledge against the order of nature. On May 21, 2009, the two appeared before Chief Magistrate Margaret Tibulya, who granted bail to Wasikira Fred. Pande Brain was denied bail because his sureties were not substantial. Wasikira told SMUG that while in prison, he and Brian were subjected to cruel and inhuman degrading treatment that included being subjected to a forcible examination of their anuses for signs of penetration.

There are additional reports of arrests of men on charges related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Kampala, Kapchorwa and Busheyi districts. IGLHRC and SMUG are following these cases and will post updates when we have them.

Source