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HI , JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL
DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, AND BIPHOBIA

Today, on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia,
we celebrate activists’ advocacy for equality around the world – as
well as raising awareness of the threats and rights violations that LGBTQI+
communities continue to face.

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In UGANDA, LGBTQI+ people have come under fierce attack: from the
government’s forced closure of the campaign group Sexual Minorities
Uganda to parliament passing an anti-LGBTQI+ bill [4]this spring that
allows, in some cases, for the death penalty.

In POLAND, from 2019 to 2021, authorities, politicians and state-run media
launched a smear campaign [5] against LGBTQI+ communities and
demonstrations, and proposed a ban on ‘homosexual propaganda’.

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In EGYPT, LEBANON, and TUNISIA, law enforcement has used evidence illegally
scraped from digital devices [6] to identify, harass, and prosecute LGBTQI+
people – especially refugees, sex workers, and other multiply
marginalised people.

YET, IN THE FACE OF THESE HARROWING AND SUSTAINED ATTACKS, LGBTQI+
ACTIVISTS AND ALLIES AROUND THE GLOBE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY AND
HUMAN RIGHTS WITH INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE AND COURAGE.

‘LGBTQI+ equality and the right to freedom of expression are deeply
intertwined. Government authorities, religious figures and society-at-large
who are against LGBTQI+ rights overtly seek to silence the community,
obstructing LGBTQI+ people from communicating with one another, banning
books, prohibiting the sharing of information on sexual health, and beyond.
It is critically important, now more than ever, to centre and amplify the
voices of LGBTQI+ people.’

– Judy Taing, Head of Gender and Sexuality

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#FREETOPROTEST EPISODE 4 WITH RITA NKETIAH AND MARKO MIHAILOVIĆ  

ARTICLE 19's #FREETOPROTEST podcast heard from activists [8] Rita Nketiah
in GHANA and Marko Mihailović in SERBIA, who spoke powerfully about not
only the hostilities they encounter but also their commitment to making
their voices heard.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Google Podcasts [9]

Together with partners, we have worked with tech companies [10], including
Grindr, Google, Meta, and Microsoft to encourage broader adoption of
harm-reduction measures that protect LGBTQI+ people in repressive regimes.
As a result, WhatsApp recently introduced new safety features to protect
LGBTQI+ people.

To propel change in 2023 and beyond, ARTICLE 19 will continue to defend
LGBTQI+ rights worldwide and to find unity within our movement’s rich
diversity – for, as lesbian writer and activist Audre Lorde said:

‘IT IS NOT OUR DIFFERENCES THAT DIVIDE US. IT IS OUR INABILITY TO
RECOGNIZE, ACCEPT, AND CELEBRATE THOSE DIFFERENCES.’

Find out more [3]

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