Sexual minorities

UNAIDS urges Russia to repeal 'LGBTQ propaganda' law

28 October 2022

GENEVA, 29 October 2022—Responding to the statement by the Russian government that it intends to extend the so-called “LGBTQ propaganda” law, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has joined with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in expressing deep concern.

“Extension of this law,” said Ms Byanyima, “is a further violation of the rights of people to autonomy, dignity and equality. Not only will it harm the security and general wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals, it will have a serious negative impact on people’s health outcomes. The evidence is clear that punitive and restrictive laws, including those restricting free speech, increase the risk of acquiring HIV and decrease access to services. Such laws reduce the ability of service providers, including peer networks, to provide critical sexual and reproductive health information and services, and increase stigma related to sexual orientation, making it harder for people to protect their health and that of their communities. This will undermine Russia’s efforts to end AIDS by 2030. Our call to the Parliament and Government of Russia is to withdraw these harmful proposals and indeed to repeal the existing law. Stigmatising approaches damage public health, perpetuate pandemics and hurt everyone. Social solidarity, inclusion and protecting every person’s human rights are key to ending AIDS and ensuring health for all.”

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Addressing the vulnerabilities and challenges facing LGBTI people in and fleeing from Ukraine

17 May 2022

On 17 May, people around the world came together to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) to champion inclusion and build a better world for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community. In many countries, lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity exposes many LGBTI people to violations of their human rights. This is even more the case within the context of war and humanitarian crisis, as currently experienced in Ukraine.

UNAIDS and ILGA-Europe co-hosted an event, moderated by Cianán B. Russell, Senior Policy Officer, ILGA-Europe, to mark IDAHOBIT. The event brought together LGBTI representatives and a wide range of thought leaders, policymakers and practitioners.

The panellists highlighted the multiple vulnerabilities and challenges facing LGBTI people in and fleeing from Ukraine during the war. These vulnerabilities and challenges were clearly articulated by two LGBTI representatives.

“Levels of discrimination, violation of rights and hate crimes have risen in Ukraine since the start of the war. Meanwhile, no regulations or specific measures have been put in place in shelters to protect key populations. LGBTI people have no safety net since the war started,” said Olena Shevchenko, from Insight. “Go to local organizations and ask them what they need if you are intent on helping Ukraine. Ensure the accountability of humanitarian missions to fulfil the needs of the local community,” she added.

Tymur Lysenko, a Ukraine crisis consultant working for Transgender Europe, spoke about the essence of leaving no one behind, saying ““Leave no one behind” should work, not just be empty words. Trans people in Ukraine should be provided with humanitarian support, safe evacuation and access to medical care, and functioning gender recognition regulation procedures. Foster direct connections that are strong and sustainable between local organizations and international humanitarian missions. Stick to organizations that have a track record in providing direct support to LGBTI people.”

Reflecting on their own work and experiences, the panellists also reviewed the actions taken to date to protect the human rights of LGBTI people in and fleeing from Ukraine and the existing gaps within the humanitarian response and concluded with recommendations and commitment to better protect the human rights of LGBTI people staying in Ukraine or who have left.

“Humanitarian agencies must ensure that civil society organizations with expertise are included in the planning and implementation of all humanitarian assistance and in recovery efforts,” said Victor Madrigal-Borloz, a United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

This was echoed by Kate Thomson, Head of the Community, Rights and Gender Department at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), who referred to the need for all partners to work collectively to build back resilient health and community systems. “All partners to work together to support access to HIV services in Ukraine, including those led by LGBTI communities, inside Ukraine and abroad. Let’s work collectively to help Ukraine build back better its health and community systems,” she said.

Matthew Kavanagh, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, a.i., spoke about the importance of maintaining and increasing the funding for the AIDS response. “We stand with the Ukrainians who are fighting so hard to make sure that their responses—the AIDS response, the community response, the rights response, the LGBTI response—are not destroyed by the moment that we are in now. There is an urgent need to move funding towards that, and an urgent need to fund the Global Fund at the same time. We cannot choose between these two things or we will end up in a less safe world—we have to do both,” he said.

Joanna Darmanin, Head of the Humanitarian Aid Thematic Policies Unit, European Union Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, reiterated the European Union’s commitment for an inclusive humanitarian response. “Supporting Ukraine and neighbouring countries remains the priority for the European Union, and we remain committed to providing humanitarian support in an inclusive manner, taking into account the specific needs and vulnerabilities faced by the LGBTI community,” she said.

This commitment was re-echoed by Katalin Cseh, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, who pledged to fight for inclusiveness of the LGBTI community. “I pledge to fight with all my means to ensure better consultation with the LGBTI communities on the ground in Ukraine and also within the European reception area.”

Maria Arena, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, highlighted the need to position the humanitarian response to the needs of LGBTI people, saying, “The conflict zones are putting at risk people with these vulnerabilities, so we have to be really aware of the situation and to adapt our answers for the needs of these people, including with traceability of these funds.”

Marc Angel, Co-President of the European Parliament LGBTI Intergroup, emphasized the importance of ensuring that promises made correspond with funding. “Action and money must follow words and promises,” he said.

Valeriia Rachynska, from the Global Partnership against All Forms of HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination, spoke about the Global Partnership’s commitment to fight for and save all lives, saying, “Our main target is to save and fight for life; we will do everything in our power to save the lives of LGBTI people in Ukraine.”

Indeed, to champion and build a better world for the LGBTI community, and to end inequalities for an effective AIDS response, especially in a humanitarian crisis context, institutional actors with differing responsibilities must ensure that no one is left behind. This among others, includes directed action to: combat discrimination targeting LGBTI people and people living with HIV, rebuild or reinforce the HIV response system, meaningfully engage LGBTI civil society both in crisis planning and in crisis response systems, ensure that LGBTI-led humanitarian efforts are adequately resourced and ensure that human rights violations faced by LGBTI people are documented, investigated and result in access to justice. 

Keeping LGBTI people safe in times of war

16 May 2022

Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHoBiT) held annually on 17 May, UNAIDS talks to Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, the Europe-based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association about protecting the rights of LGBTI people in humanitarian crises. 

How do humanitarian crises particularly affect LGBTI people?  

Humanitarian crises affect everybody, however, some communities sometimes need a targeted response because of pre-existing vulnerabilities. These particular vulnerabilities make people feel unsafe when dealing with humanitarian organisations providing safe shelter, basic necessities food and medical aid. Not knowing if they will be treated without discrimination, simply welcomed and be taken care of, is a barrier for people in accessing humanitarian support.

ILGA-Europe is heavily involved in the Ukraine crisis.  What are the main challenges facing LGBTI people affected by the war? 

In the Ukraine crisis, what we are seeing is that LGBTI people are not de facto integrated in first aid supply chains. Transition-related and intersex-specific medication, such as hormone replacement therapy, and to a certain extent medicines for people living with HIV, are not ensured in humanitarian packages at the moment. On top of this, a significant portion of the LGBTI community cannot meet their basic needs, due to pre-existing socioeconomic inequalities.

Trans women with a male gender marker on their documents can be obliged to join the army or cannot leave the country along with other women, which puts them in a potentially very harmful situation.

Having access to safe shelter is also an issue. In Ukraine, many LGBTI people don’t feel safe to be ‘out’ in regular shelter, while some who are displaced in the country are reporting facing discrimination when trying to rent an apartment. As a result many of the LGBTI groups have set up shelters to support their communities. Some of those who are staying and are visible have been physically attacked, as LGBTIphobia was already an issue in Ukraine before the war.

This is all happening while LGBTI people face the same struggles everyone else is facing; money, food, caring for loved ones, and so much more.

What are organizations like ILGA-Europe doing to help? 

We are sending direct financial support to groups who are staying in Ukraine and are providing direct support to their communities, as well as to LGBTI groups in hosting countries. We’re also actively working to mobilise resources for all the LGBTI groups working in support of LGBTI people in Ukraine and abroad. We’re working with large humanitarian groups and organisations like UNAIDS and connecting them to the needs on the ground, while advocating with European institutions and governments to take action both in support of LGBTI communities in Ukraine and for LGBTI people who have left the country.

What can be done to better address the unique needs of LGBTIQ+ people in humanitarian crises?  

What we are seeing is that an LGBTI perspective is really not integrated into humanitarian work and the development of protection measures, such as protection from gender-based violence or access to medicines. In many ways we have had to start from zero, including having to establish contacts with actors in the humanitarian sector.

While it is still early in this particular crisis to have specific recommendations, there will be no doubt be a lot of learning to be done from the work currently happening, so that we make sure that in future LGBTI perspectives and needs are integrated in the way humanitarian actors respond from the start.

Many civil society and community organizations are supporting LGBTI people affected by the war in Ukraine.  What challenges do they face in carrying out this important work?  

Most LGBTI organisations are not set up to be doing humanitarian work, and yet they are supporting basic needs in addition to the work they continue to do for their communities. But they cannot do it all. If they become the first point of support and assistance, there’s a lot of other work, like advocating for rights, that will not be done. This is true in Ukraine as well as in hosting countries.

Inequalities, stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against are continuing to prevent LGBTI people from being able to access the HIV and health services they need. How can we achieve positive political, legal and social change?  

The work that has started with the humanitarian sector shows there’s a need, but it’s also an opportunity. If the humanitarian sector incorporates an LGBTI perspective and LGBTI people in their work from the start, this can mean a positive change for these communities, especially in times of crisis.

Evelyne Paradis will be one of the speakers at an IDAHOBIT event held on the 17 May focusing on how to better protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, and how to ensure equal rights for all. More information

A grandmother’s transformative love for her transgender grandchild

20 May 2021

Mampolokeng Mosolo is the picture of a dignified, proud African gogo (granny). Dressed in her Sunday best—pressed white shirt, knee-length black pencil skirt, impeccable hair and sensible heels—Ms Mosolo commands a soft power during the Khoelenya Community Council meeting in Mohale’s Hoek, a remote area in the west of Lesotho.

The council members are discussing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Ms Mosolo addresses her peers on the council with the quiet assurance of someone who has been on a life-changing journey she could not have imagined for herself as a younger woman.

When Ms Mosolo first found out that her grandchild—who was assigned female at birth and she raised as a girl—identified as a boy, she thought Mpho had been sucked into a satanic cult.

“I didn’t take it very well to hear that my grandchild thought of herself as a transgender boy,” Ms Mosolo says, a term she heard for the first time when Mpho broke the news of his gender identity to her.

When Mpho was 16 years old he would wear trousers to school as the institution’s policy gave girls the option to wear dresses or slacks.

“When girl students were then told to wear dresses, he refused and stopped going to school,” Ms Mosolo says. 

Mpho eventually went back to school later that year to take exams but failed his assessments. He dropped out and then went to a local vocation school to learn sewing. That did not last long either, Ms Mosolo says, as her grandchild faced stigma and discrimination from students and teachers for being a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community.

Tampose Mothopeng, a Mosotho activist and human rights defender, says LGBTI people in the small mountainous country often face a backlash from their families, peers and members of the broader community. 

“LGBTI people face a lot of challenges daily,” he says. “Rejection, limited access to health-care services, stigma and discrimination and psychological issues. For instance, the health-care system is designed by the very system that rejected you. We must challenge the system until it sees us as human beings,” he emphasizes.

Mr Mothopeng runs the People’s Matrix Association, a community-based organization that advocates for LGBTI and gender-nonconforming people in Lesotho. Mr Mothopeng says it is essential to have a community driving its own mandate, otherwise organizations cannot fully understand, “the true challenges that communities are going through.”

“Without passion there is no way we can sustain volunteerism,” he continues. “Communities can stand up for their rights better than others. We need communities running their own projects.”

Indeed, Ms Mosolo and Mpho’s relationship took a positive turn after Ms Mosolo was referred to the People’s Matrix Association after attending a local HIV and gender-based violence workshop in her community, where issues of sexual orientation and gender identity were raised, and she wanted to know more.

“I received training from the People’s Matrix Association. I then sat Mpho down and said, “My child, I have accepted this because this is something that exists. They say that you are born with it and that you feel it in your blood,”” she says.

The People’s Matrix Association works with a wide range of partners to conduct sensitization workshops on LGBTI issues and works closely with faith-based organizations in Lesotho to foster a culture of acceptance between the church and LGBTI people.

The Khoelenya Community Council works in partnership with Phelisanang Bophelong, a community-based organization that provides HIV prevention and treatment support to people living with HIV. PB, as it is known locally, with the support of UNAIDS, supports the council to run HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence sensitization dialogues with the local community.

Through this forum Ms Mosolo was further exposed to LBGTI people and, through this experience, came to understand her grandchild better.

Mpho is now 23 years old and works in Cape Town, South Africa. Ms Mosolo hopes he will return home to Lesotho one day. She says she would like to build him and his future wife a home on her land. “I would rest knowing Mpho has a place to call his own,” she says.

Ms Mosolo’s journey has brought her a great deal of acceptance, a quality she promotes to her peers on the council and to people in her community. She too has become a human rights defender.

“As people we need to accept and embrace that this is here. I have seen with my own eyes that some men fall in love with men. We need to embrace it for children to progress with their lives,” she says.

UNAIDS calls on Poland to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of LGBTI people

14 August 2020

GENEVA, 14 August 2020—UNAIDS is deeply concerned by reports of the targeting and arrest of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights activists as they peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association, as well as reports of discrimination, repression, and scapegoating of LGBTI people.

UNAIDS has been made aware that on August 7 a protest against the detention of LGBTI activist, Margot Szutowicz, currently being held for two months of pre-trial detention, resulted in reports of police violence and over 50 arrests. This followed recent arrests of activists for placing rainbow flags on public monuments, ostensibly carried out under Article 196 of Poland’s criminal code, which calls for up to two years in prison for anyone who “offends the religious feelings of others by publicly insulting a religious object or place of worship.”

International and European human rights bodies have affirmed the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. They have also affirmed the fundamental right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The 2016 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Political Declaration on Ending AIDS recognizes that discrimination, particularly discriminatory and abusive use of law enforcement powers, create significant barriers to people’s health and well-being, including their access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services, barriers that governments have committed to removing. Stigma and discrimination have been shown to increase violence, abuse and harassment against LGBTI people and to cause significant harm to their physical and mental health and well-being, their inclusion in society and their ability to access work, education and essential services.

The actions in Poland limit freedom of speech and, when combined with discriminatory application that targets human rights defenders, undermine equality, the rule of law and people’s access to essential services. In the context of closing civic space for advocacy to end discrimination in areas such as LGBTI rights, sexual and reproductive health and gender equality, freedom of speech protections are more vital than ever.

UNAIDS is concerned by the ongoing and intensifying persecution of LGBTI people in Poland, including the encouragement of so-called “LGBT ideology-free zones” throughout the country over the last year and up to recent mounting crackdowns on human rights defenders exercising their fundamental human rights to advocate for an end to discrimination.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Contact

UNAIDS Geneva
Michael Hollingdale
tel. +41 79 500 2119
hollingdalem@unaids.org

Contact

UNAIDS Media
tel. +41 22 791 4237
communications@unaids.org

Survey shows that the COVID-19 pandemic increases vulnerability of LGBTI people

10 July 2020

The opening session of the 2020 International AIDS Conference shared the findings of a rapid online survey demonstrating the increased socioeconomic vulnerability of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people due to COVID-19.

UNAIDS, the LGBT+ Foundation and researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other universities around the globe convened a COVID-19 disparities working group. It surveyed more than 20 000 LGBTI people in 138 countries in April and May and found that three quarters (74%) were fully or partially locked down, leading to economic consequences for many.

About 13% of the survey participants have already lost their jobs in the wake of the pandemic and a fifth (21%) are expecting to lose it in the near future. Nearly half the survey participants (47%) faced economic difficulty, with a quarter unable to meet their basic needs, skipping meals or reducing meal sizes.

Of concern, 21% of participants living with HIV reported that they had experienced “interrupted or restricted access” to refills of antiretroviral therapy and 42% of those said they had less than a month’s supply on hand. Worrisome disruptions were also reported for pre-exposure prophylaxis and access to HIV testing. The study also highlights that racial and ethnic minorities consistently have lower access to HIV services.

Erik Lamontagne, Senior Economist at UNAIDS and one of the members of the working group, reported at the conference that the crisis had pushed 1% of respondents to start engaging in sex work and that 2% had to continue to sell sex during the COVID-19 pandemic, risking exposure to the coronavirus. The pandemic has reduced the ability to negotiate safer sex for 13% of respondents, potentially increasing their risk of acquiring HIV. Respondents also reported reduced access to safe injecting equipment and opioid substitution therapy.

“What worries us is that socioeconomic factors, such as limited access to health care, lower income, unemployment and food insecurity, combined with higher anxiety and depression rates, may place some at higher risk of contracting HIV and affect treatment adherence among people living with HIV,” said Mr Lamontagne.

The study shows that COVID-19 increases the vulnerability of groups that are already disproportionately affected by HIV. Solutions and targeted programmes are required from the global community and governments to sustain prevention, testing and treatment services and to help the LGBTI community not only to survive but emerge from the crisis.

UNAIDS and MPact are extremely concerned about reports that LGBTI people are being blamed and abused during the COVID-19 outbreak

27 April 2020

UNAIDS and MPact call on governments and partners to protect, support and respect the human rights of LGBTI people during the response to COVID-19

GENEVA, 27 April 2020—UNAIDS and MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights are extremely concerned that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people are being singled out, blamed, abused, incarcerated and stigmatized as vectors of disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNAIDS and MPact are also deeply troubled that this discriminatory action is compounding the challenges that LGBTI people already face in accessing their rights, including safe and quality health services.

“HIV has taught us that violence, bullying and discrimination only serve to further marginalize the people most in need,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “All people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, are entitled to the right to health, safety and security, without exception. Respect and dignity are needed now more than ever before.”

In Belize, reports have detailed abuse by the police of a gay man who was arrested, humiliated and beaten for breaking a curfew imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The 25-year-old was living with HIV and is believed to have died as a result of complications sustained from injuries inflicted by the police.

“We are receiving reports that government and religious leaders in some countries are making false claims and releasing misinformation about COVID-19 that has incited violence and discrimination against LGBTI people,” said George Ayala, Executive Director of MPact. “Organizations and homes are being raided, LGBTI people are being beaten, and there has been an increase in arrests and threatened deportation of LGBTI asylum seekers.”

In Uganda, 20 LGBTI people were recently arrested in a raid on a shelter, which police authorities claimed was due to their disobeying social distancing procedures. In the Philippines, three LGBTI people were among a group who were publicly humiliated as punishment for breaking the curfew. After segments of the incident went viral online, the police captain was forced to apologize for singling out the LGBTI group members and asking them to dance and kiss each other.

“There is also growing concern over privacy and confidentiality in the way governments are using Internet-based technologies and smartphones to monitor people’s movements during lockdowns or curfews,” Mr Ayala added. “Gay men and gender non-conforming people are often the first targets and among the most impacted by increased policing and surveillance efforts.” 

For some LGBTI people, self-isolation and physical distancing can be particularly challenging, even dangerous. Many LGBTI people face violence and/or ill-treatment while sheltering in homes with unaccepting family members. LGBTI people may also suffer from intimate partner violence while staying at home, without the ability to report cases of abuse to the police owing to fear of repercussions. Isolation can also exacerbate pre-existing mental health challenges, common among LGBTI people, including loneliness, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.

The COVID-19 pandemic leaves many gay men and transgender women without adequate tools for taking control of their sexual health and rights. Gay men account for nearly 20% of all new HIV infections and are 22 times more likely to become infected with HIV than other men. Transgender women shoulder a risk of acquiring HIV that is 12 times higher than the general population.

Stay at home orders, especially when implemented without flexibilities, compound the difficulties these groups already experience in accessing antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and gender-affirming services, including hormone therapies. This is especially true for LGBTI people who are poor, unemployed, homeless or marginally housed.

UNAIDS and MPact are urging countries to:

  • Denounce misinformation that scapegoats, slanders or otherwise blames LGBTI people for the spread of COVID-19.
  • Stop raids on LGBTI-led organizations, shelters and spaces and desist from arresting people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
  • Ensure that all measures to protect public health are proportionate, evidence-informed and respect human rights.
  • Prevent the use of state surveillance on LGBTI people’s personal communication technologies.
  • Invest in the COVID-19 response, while safeguarding funds and HIV/sexual health programmes that are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of LGBTI people.
  • Safeguard continued access to life-saving medical support, including harm reduction, condoms and lubricant, preexposure prophylaxis, antiretroviral therapy, hormone replacement therapies and mental health services for LGBTI people.
  • Provide flexible service delivery options, from multimonth dispensing to community delivery and virtual consultation and support options.
  • Consider designating community-led service organizations as essential service providers so that they can provide flexible, safe delivery of key services.
  • Include LGBTI people in national social protection schemes, including income support.
  • Increase access to appropriate emergency and safe housing for homeless and recently evicted LGBTI people.
  • Engage LGBTI people in public health planning and messaging around COVID-19.
  • Implement safety monitoring and hacking mitigation during virtual meetings.

Now more than ever, we must stand together to protect and promote the health and human rights of LGBTI people worldwide.

 

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

MPact

MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights was founded in 2006 by a group of activists concerned about HIV-related disparities as well as stigma discrimination, violence, and criminalization experienced by gay men and other men who have sex with men in all parts of the world. MPact is now an established international advocacy network dedicated to ensuring equitable access to HIV services to all gay men, while promoting health and human rights. Directly linked with nearly 150 community-led organizations across 62 countries and thousands of other advocates through its various social media platforms. MPact accomplishes its mission by: watchdogging governments, funders, and other decision makers; strengthening capacities of community-led organizations and healthcare providers; supporting the proliferation of networks led by gay men; conducting and commissioning research; and facilitating inter-regional information exchange.

Contact

UNAIDS Geneva
Sophie Barton-Knott
tel. +41 79 514 68 96
bartonknotts@unaids.org

Contact

MPact, Oakland, USA
Greg Tartaglione
gtartaglione@mpactglobal.org

Rights in the time of COVID-19

A tribute to Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean

09 April 2020

In the 15 years since I went public with my diagnosis of HIV, it remains daunting to stand in front of a new audience and share my story. Though I expect them, I have never quite gotten used to the disbelief and shock I see in people’s eyes, the jaws gone slack, the overwhelming empathy. Because we have come such a long way in the journey against HIV, my story now is a happy one, meant to inspire people to know more, do more, support more so we can reach all those who still need access to prevention, testing, treatment. I do what I do because I hope others will feel more comfortable getting tested and treated for HIV if they see someone who has been healed, who is still embraced by their family, friends, colleagues and community.

And yet, while I have done it many times, and it’s a story with a positive bent, each time I share it publicly my heart pounds and my mouth runs dry. Early in my days of disclosure, a friend suggested I look for a smiling face in the crowd, someone who looked strong and positive, so I could absorb their energy and stay calm and upbeat even as I was full of fear.

Recently, the Atlantic invited me to a talk for World AIDS Day in Washington, DC, and I was particularly nervous. Having been at UNAIDS for nearly six years at the time, I was out of practice having my personal journey with HIV be the focus of my work. I knew a lot of people in the audience, professionally, but not personally. As I took the stage, I found myself shaking. I sat down, straightened the creases in my pants and scanned the room hoping for an encouraging looking face.

And then I saw Maeve. She smiled that radiant, confident smile that could say so many different things, as needed, in any moment. She seemed to understand that this was different, that it was personal, and that I was afraid. She nodded. And just like that, I was fine. I took a deep breath and told a room full of strangers and professional colleagues about what it’s like to live with HIV, to face the fear of death, the stigma, the treatment, the guilt that you have survived and others have not.

These last days, mourning her loss, I remembered a conversation I had with Maeve about the idea of survivor guilt. She pointed out that those of us who work daily to protect and extend the lives of others shouldn’t feel guilty, but rather, responsible—it was an idea that came from the AIDS community. I loved that idea. Survivor guilt became survivor responsibility to me because of Maeve.

Maeve’s amazing contributions to social justice, to global health, to policies that made people’s lives safer, longer, happier and healthier are multitudinous. A public health and human rights lawyer, Maeve’s deep commitment to immigrants, refugees, women and children, including issues of violence, and rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, was rarely matched. She inspired so many of us and served as a role model in myriad ways. Many words have been said about her contributions by many who knew her longer or better than I did. But perhaps because I knew her less well, and yet felt that she was there deeply, personally, profoundly for me when she could sense I needed it, several times, I can uniquely appreciate some of Maeve’s finest qualities. She had an almost extrasensory perception of what was needed, especially in delicate moments. She shared her strength, her courage, and in doing so, made difficult things seem possible, doable.

From Capitol Hill in the United States of America, where she worked for Senator Dianne Feinstein, to the Peace Corps in Mozambique, where she was a volunteer, to the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, where she served in various roles for President Barack Obama, Maeve’s ability to advance social justice was remarkable. Her lifelong commitment to public service was infused with her effervescent spirit, her indefatigable energy and that famous smile, capable of lighting up a whole room and lifting your heart.

It is difficult to describe the loss one feels when someone like Maeve leaves us. The world hardly makes sense. Why would someone so talented, so helpful, so selfless, so beautiful in every sense be taken so early? It raises all kinds of existential questions. And creates a new type of survivor guilt in those of us who were not taken instead. But remembering that conversation I had with Maeve and, in her honour, instead of being sad, I will recommit myself to the work with an even deeper sense of responsibility to carry on, to continue to try to extend the kinds of elemental forces for good she so often instigated.

A granddaughter of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and grandniece of former President John F. Kennedy, Maeve embodied the best qualities of a global humanitarian. The effects of her efforts will be felt for generations to come. It will take many of us working together to fill the gaps left by Maeve. But she lives on through and in us. I know I, for one, whenever I think something is too hard, or too daunting, will conjure her smile, see her nod and simply get on with it, as I know she would do.

Maeve worked with many UNAIDS colleagues over the last decade and was a strong ally of the organization. UNAIDS deeply mourns her loss and the whole of its global staff extend our heartfelt condolences to her family.

 

Regan Hofmann, Director, a.i., United States Liaison Office, UNAIDS

Be proud

04 March 2020

Ronie Zuze believes in the power of information. Not only did it save them (Ronie uses the pronouns them/they/their), they are convinced that it can change lives and mindsets.

As the first born, their father was ecstatic when he was told he had a son, they recounted. “I was born with ambiguous genitalia, so doctors assigned the male gender,” Ronie said.

Ronie grew up as a boy until the age of 16 years.

“That’s when my body started developing some female features, despite the fact that I associated myself with being a boy,” the Zimbabwean said.

Ronie’s father panicked and sent Ronie to live in another town with his former wife.

“My father became very confused and fearful of the stigma and discrimination,” Ronie said, “so he sent me away.”

Ronie’s mother cautioned them—she immediately told they must now be a girl—to be careful around other people. “Sleepovers and contact sports were forbidden,” Ronie recalled.

Ronie believes the shame around who they were propelled them into a tailspin of denial and self-hate. “I attempted to kill myself two to three times and consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs,” Ronie said.

They started seeking out help on the Internet, convinced there were others in the same situation, which led to a slew of information about what it meant to be an intersex person.

Intersex people are born with any of several variations in sex characteristics, including chromosomes, gonads or genitals that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female.

“The flood of information empowered me to understand who I was,” Ronie said. “I stopped being shameful of myself.”

Most of the people they engaged with were in Europe or North America. “If 1.7–2% of the global population is intersex, then I knew there must be more than just me in Africa,” Ronie said, brushing aside a dreadlock.

Ronie joined a local group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and initially self-identified as a lesbian, but it did not feel right. Even the community didn’t understand intersex people, Ronie said. That’s when they decided to become a voice for people like them and started an organization, the Intersex Community of Zimbabwe, in 2018. Ronie now identifies as non-binary.

“As an activist, it means I empower other intersex people, I speak for those who cannot speak out, I encourage them to be proud and I provide information to them as well as support them,” Ronie said.

Ronie spends a lot of time with other intersex people and their immediate families. They pound the pavement telling parents to let nature take its course and not rush into assigning one gender to their intersex children. They believe an intersex person should decide for themselves when they are old enough to make that decision.

“I know there is a lot of stigma and misconceptions about intersex bodies, but parents need not panic,” Ronie said. “I want intersex people to know there is nothing to be ashamed of, so be proud.”

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