LGBT rights

No special rights, just the same human rights as for everyone else.

At our meeting a couple of weeks ago, we welcomed as a guest speaker Martin Lunnon, from AIUK's LGBT network. Martin first spoke about his personal experiences at the Belgrade Pride march only a few weeks ago. Last year the march went ahead, with heavy security to protect the participants. But this year's march was again banned at the last minute by the city authorities.

AIUK representatives have in the past few years also attended several other Pride events in eastern Europe, e.g. the Baltic states, Moscow, Poland, and Kosovo. Although these countries, some members of the EU, have anti-discrimination laws in place, they are not always properly enforced. There is open and violent hostility by political, civil and religious groups. A comparison was made to the Roma attacks we have taken action on in recent months. There is also some good progress, for example the situation in Poland seems much better than only a few years ago.

The aim of this work is to guarantee individual rights for all. The Pride actions have also created many vocal human rights activists in the countries in question, and developed links across Europe. Outside of Europe the situation is sadly often even worse, with constant threats of, and actual violence suffered by LGBT people. The death penalty is still the legal punishment for gay sex in several countries.

AI's work in this area begun properly at the International Council Meeting of 1991. The first lesbian prisoner of conscience was adopted in 1997. The UK LGBT network was also born around this time. In 1999 the first activist meeting was held in the UK. Today, AI has dedicated staff, working on decriminalisation of gay sex in Africa, relationship recognition in Latin America, and so on. There are networks in many countries, and LGBT issues have become a regular part of AI's work. Further information can be found at the AIUK website.

Martin also brought along an action for a man jailed in Cameroon for homosexuality and “attempted homosexuality”, and at risk of violence. Please complete the action!