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There is a kind of noise that LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More persons around the world know all too well: lesbophobiafear, unreasonable anger, intolerance or/and hatred directed towards women attracted to other women. More, homophobiafear, unreasonable anger, intolerance or/and hatred directed towards people attracted to others of the same gender. More, biphobiathe fear, unreasonable anger, intolerance or/and hatred toward people attracted to more than one gender. More, transphobiarefers to negative cultural and personal beliefs, opinions, attitudes and behaviours based on prejudice, disgust, fear and/or hatred of trans people or against variations of gender identity and gender expression. More and interphobia are a constant presence in our lives. They sometimes are in the background, like an annoying buzz that we try our best to ignore. Some other times, they dangerously come to the forefront, in all shapes and sizes.
What’s more, they may not even come from the outside. The negativity long directed at us is always ready to surface in how we talk to ourselves, or in how we point fingers at people within our own community.
These negative feelings do not act by themselves: they intersect with other aspects of our identities, and with the discriminationunequal or unfair treatment which can be based on a range of grounds - such as age, ethnic background, disability, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions or sex characteristics, amongst others. More that we face based on them. They stay with us every time. Each of them different from one another, each of them taking its toll.
It seems like a pretty grim picture.
But if there’s one thing we can do, is to keep talking about how this negativity impacts our lives. We speak up to silence the noise.
Today, ILGA is proud to launch its #TurnItOff campaign.
Starting on May 17, and running for a whole week, the campaign will give voice to LGBTI persons and human rights defenders from around the world. They will tell their stories, casting a light on how LGBTI-phobia had an impact on their lives and it intersected with their identities, and will share practical tips for our allies to support rainbow communities.
This year’s theme for IDAHOTB is Alliances for solidarity, and there has never been a better time to point out how this vital battle for our communities can’t be won in isolation.
We must keep building bridges, while we fight against the human rights violations that we keep on facing every day and we speak up to change hearts and minds.
Lesbophobia. Homophobia. Biphobia. Transphobia. Interphobia.
Isn’t it time that we turn them off for good?
It is all about intersectionality and inclusion
Soudeh Rad
Queerpreviously used as a derogatory term to refer to LGBT individuals in the English language – and still perceived as offensive by some - queer has been reclaimed by people who identify beyond traditional gender categories and heteronormative social norms. Although not universally accepted, it is often used as a catch-all to include many people within the larger community of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. More feminist activist, President of Spectrum, ILGA-Europe board member
Silent violence
Aleksander Berezkin
Intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More activist, political immigrant
arsintersex.org
We live with you
Mazen
Transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. More man and human rights defender from Libya
My kids now know you can change a law
Bess Hepworth
founder and Executive Director of Planet Ally, co-founder of Asia-Pacific Rainbow Families Forum
Owning space to tackle homophobia
Jürgen Lasavanne
Young Queer Alliance, Mauritius
youngqueeralliance.com
Just like anyone among you
Luz Elena Aranda Arroyo
Las Reinas Chulas Cabaret y Derechos Humanos AC (Mexico),
ILGA Board member
How do you turn lesbophobia, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and interphobia off? What do you think it could be done to reduce their level among the general public? How can people who are not part of the rainbow community actively contribute in turning them off? We want to hear from you!
Head to social media and share your story adding the hashtag #TurnItOff. Don’t forget to tag @ilgaworld in your posts!