October

Topic: Examining LGBTQIA violence and discrimination 

Overview:
This month is LGBTQIA History Month, where we honor those before us who took a stand in the face of violence and discrimination. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Ally/Agender- and tends to encapsulate various forms of other non-heteronormative identities. There are many ways, some obvious and some more subtle, that LGBTQ and non-conforming individuals experience violence. Interpersonal as well as structural violence impacts LGBTQ people both in the United States and abroad, particularly in areas where there is heightened conflict. This month we seek to promote understanding of a harmful and unfortunately common type of identity based violence, and take action to eradicate it. 

Domestic

Identity based violence against LGBTQIA individuals is prevalent pretty much everywhere in the world. We see it regularly in the United States- in our schools, on the news, in our policies, in the media, and in our every-day lives. Harm is not only experienced through direct physical and verbal violence, but also through social institutions, complex histories, and laws that create and propagate inequality. The Student Peace Alliance recognizes that equality, self-expression/identification, and personal freedom for LGBTQIA and all people are necessary for creating and building peace in our society and around the world. While the United States has made strides toward LGBTQIA acceptance, equality is still far from having been achieved. The LGBTQIA community still experiences violence and poverty at a disproportionate rate, which is a result of historically sexist, racist, classist, ableist and gendered social, political and economic systems of oppression. Read on to learn about some of the lesser known, more systemic struggles of the community.

Understanding the Issues

Sexism and Gender Expectations
The underlying reason why people fear or discriminate against LGBTQ people has everything to do with sexism and gender expectations. Religion and general society have crafted specific gender roles or expectations within a binary system that identifies people as either “male” or “female.” The same expectation has been thrust upon our views of sex, asserting that it must only occur between a man and a woman- an understanding that originated when people viewed sex only as a means for procreation. As for gender expectations, the stereotypical “man’s role” versus “woman’s role” has long plagued our society, forcing men to adhere to a machismo attitude and women to present as nurturing and feminine. This norm has been challenged by many, including people with non-normative gender identities or sexual orientations who refused to adhere to patriarchal standards of what “gender” or “sex” are. Homophobia, sexism and transphobia all originate out of the fear that different is dangerous- that threatening the status quo will give social power to those who are different or unfamiliar, thus taking social power away from those who adhere to a very conservative ideal of gender and sex. Many people use religious texts to justify their beliefs, but these texts are also rooted in a very patriarchal and traditional view on gender and sex that has been historically oppressive to women and anyone refusing to conform to these norms or expectations.

Structural Violence
Structural violence is a type of harm produced by a social structure or institution that keeps people from accessing basic needs. Structural violence affects the LGBTQ community in many ways. For example, trans* people who transition to a different gender experience structural violence when they are unable to change their gender markers on government identification to reflect their gender identity. Often, states determine that there are specific types of surgeries or therapies that trans* people must go through in order to change their gender markers on government identification- but many people cannot afford these expensive surgeries and medical costs, and many simply do not want to have surgery or be pathologized. Their inability to change their gender markers can actually lead to physical violence, especially when trans* people need to present their IDs (in airports, to employers, to police officers, to landlords or housing officials, to bouncers at clubs and bars etc.) and those checking their paperwork either don’t recognize them by their gender, or know that they are trans* and choose to use violent behavior or language. Some people feel that gender markers are a form of structural violence in and of themselves, because they don’t account for the fluidity of gender or diversity of gender identities. As we learned last month, trans* people (particularly trans* women of color) are often targeted for incarceration, and many times they are housing in prison facilities that do not match their gender identities. The system often houses people based on their biological sex, which puts incarcerated trans* people at an increased risk for gender-based violence in prison. Additionally, isolation (which is an ineffective method used to punish people) is sometimes used as a “protective measure” for trans* people in prison. Isolation is often referred to as a cruel and unusual punishment which can lead to self harm and mental instability. Trans* people are also often denied hormones and proper therapy treatment while incarcerated (as many have witnessed on Orange is the New Black).  

Youth Struggles
Many young people have especially difficult experiences coming out or openly identifying as LGBTQ. Bullying in school is extremely common, and it can include both physical and verbal abuse. Often times, the schools are ill-equipped to handle such types of incidents, and students who face bullying are left without recourse. Sometimes this is because the administrations and teachers are also engaging in bullying. Many young people also face bullying, intimidation or isolation from parents and family members. LGBTQ youth homelessness is a major issue, as kids are sometimes kicked out of their homes and disowned by their families for coming out- and some shelters discriminate as well. Trans* youth have an especially difficult time with homelessness because shelters usually have separate facilities for males and females, and often will not allow trans* identifying youth (or adults) use the facilities that match their gender identities. Rather, they are forced to stay in facilities based on their biological sex which can lead to abuse and violence by other residents. This is the same for prisons- and often LGBTQ people who end up incarcerated are there as a result of crimes related to homelessness or poverty. The cycle of economic inequality produced by social and political marginalization is particularly harsh for trans* women of color, but affects many in the LGBTQ community.

Advocacy Tensions
There is a struggle within the community as to what truly constitutes the ideals of equality and progress and how we can get there. This tension can be viewed within the context of two very differing types of advocacy. Some LGBTQ organizations advocate for complete inclusion within all social and legal institutions such as marriage or the military, while various other organizations believe that in order to achieve true liberation for the LGBTQ community and all oppressed people, we must dismantle what are viewed as historically violent, racist, sexist institutions rather than advocate for inclusion within them. This view operates by the notion that "no one is free unless everyone is free," so the struggle for LGBTQ autonomy intersects with the struggle for racial and economic equality as well. These two advocacy strategies can be summed up as "working within the system" versus "building a new system." To some, working within an already problematic system is actually harmful to the cause of equality and egalitarianism, while others view it as the best and fastest way to gain rights for the community. 

Incarceration and Violence by the State:
Because many transgender women (particularly women of color) are highly discriminated against in the traditional job market, some turn to sex work to afford their surgeries (if they choose to have them- not all do), hormones, doctor’s appointments, rent and other necessities. Many law enforcement officers assume that all trans women of color are sex workers, so they are stopped, harassed, and arrested at a disproportionate rate- often for just going about their daily lives. A 2005 report by Amnesty International stated that "[S]ubjective and prejudiced perceptions of transgender women as sex workers often play a significant role in officers' decisions to stop and arrest transgender women." Many trans people (those in sex work and others who are not) don’t even feel safe calling for help from police, and often trans people end up getting arrested when they are, in fact, the victims of violence (see CeCe McDonald’s story). Further, many trans* people are placed in detention or prison facilities that do not match their gender identities, which puts them at risk of more violence. This is the same for trans*, lesbian and gay immigrants who are often profiled and experience increased violence in detention facilities. 


Resources:
Guide to Transgender Allyship and Advocacy
Trans 101, by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Establishing an LGBTQIA Safe Space Program
How to be an LGBTQ Ally
How to be an Ally to Queer People of Color
LGBTQ Friendly Colleges & Student Resources
College Cyberbullying Resources
The 20 Best LGBTQ Degrees 
​

Domestic Action

Photo campaigns are a great way to get your peers on campus involved in your student organization. Work with an LGBTQIA student organization to table in the middle of your campus or in a highly trafficked area. Ask students to write their own reasons for "why we need equality."  You can change the prompt to include things like "what does equality mean to you?" or "how can we work towards equality?" or "why does equality matter to you?" - take a picture of each person holding up their paper, and post the pictures on a tumblr, BuzzFeed Community post, or your student organization's Facebook page. Please also email all images to sally (at) peacealliance.org and they will be uploaded to our Facebook page as well as our blog!

International

Evidence of violence and discrimination against LGBT people across the world is terribly easy to find. As we researched for this month’s theme, we found examples of mistreatment across all of STAND’s areas of focus: Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Homosexuality is criminalized in over 75 countries and violence against LGBTQIA people occurs all across the world. When we acknowledge the personal rights of all people across borders as a necessary element of genocide prevention, this gap in rights protection becomes a vital international issue. Suppression of those rights by violence, or the threat of violence, is an issue that the international community continues to grapple with on many levels. Violence cuts off expression and severs the ability to confront this issue and others as we build civil society. Continue reading to learn more about the violence and discrimination LGBTQIA communities face in these various countries.

Understanding the Issues

Burma
Despite Burma’s transition from brutal military dictatorship to quasi-civilian rule over the past several years, Burma is a difficult place to be openly LGBTQIA. Same-sex intercourse and same-sex marriage are illegal in Burma. The current penal code, a remaining legacy from the country’s British colonial past, outlaws “intercourse against the order of nature” with a fine and prison sentence of up to 10 years. However, both laws are vaguely worded and irregularly enforced, seemingly at the government’s will. The Human Rights Education Institute of Burma published a report in early 2013 stating that LGBT individuals living in Burma are regularly victimized or discriminated against by government authorities and members of the public at large, such as the incident involving 12 LGBT who claim they were tortured by police while being held without charge.
Despite this discrimination, however, the status of LGBTQIA individuals has been improving, if only slightly. Burma held its first pride celebration in 2012 and has since held other gay friendly events. There is also a growing campaign within the country to repeal the government’s homophobic legislation.Evidence of violence and discrimination against LGBT people across the world is terribly easy to find. As we researched for this month’s theme, we found examples of mistreatment across all of STAND’s areas of focus: Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Homosexuality is criminalized in over 75 countries and violence against LGBTQIA people occurs all across the world. When we acknowledge the personal rights of all people across borders as a necessary element of genocide prevention, this gap in rights protection becomes a vital international issue. Suppression of those rights by violence, or the threat of violence, is an issue that the international community continues to grapple with on many levels. Violence cuts off expression and severs the ability to confront this issue and others as we build civil society. Continue reading to learn more about the violence and discrimination LGBTQIA communities face in these various countries.

Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) has a mixed record in LGBTQIA rights. In 2008, CAR joined 65 other states at the United Nations’ General Assembly in a statement that called for all nations to “promote and protect” human rights irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity, and to end all criminal penalties targeting individuals for these reason. However, the US State Department reported in 2012 that CAR’s penal code criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity, with penalties ranging from severe fines to imprisonment for up to two years. Despite this official discrimination, the State Department found no reports of the government targeting gay or lesbian individuals. Societal discrimination against LGBTQIA individuals, however, remains a major issue. Many citizens attribute the existence of homosexuality in the CAR to Western influence.

DRC
According to the Congolese constitution, homosexuality is not criminalized in the DRC. However, no anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQIA individuals. A 2009 law forbids the adoption of children by same-sex couples. The U.S. Department of State documents in its 2013 Human Rights Report for the DRC that while LGBTQIA individuals may face harassment at the hands of the Congolese national army (FARDC), Congo’s Ministry of Health remains actively engaged in reducing the stigma attached to homosexuality and works to reduce HIV transmission among homosexual men. Homosexuality remains a cultural taboo in Congolese society. In December 2013, Congolese parliamentarian Steve Mbikay introduced a bill to criminalize homosexuality within Congo. LGBTQIA activists within DRC are optimistic that the law will not pass, decrying it as a mere attention-seeking measure. A similar bill, entitled the “Law Concerning Sexual Practices Against Nature” was proposed in the Congolese National Assembly (CNA) in 2010, but was never brought to a vote.

Sudan
The penal code of Sudanplaces extreme limits on the rights of LGBTQIA communities. According to the Washington Post, homosexual offenders can be punished in a variety of ways. “Three-time offenders under the sodomy law can be put to death; first and second convictions result in flogging and imprisonment. Southern parts of the country have adopted more lenient laws.” Furthermore, social stigma can bring severe social and economic consequences to LGBTQIA individuals in Sudan in addition to the harsh penal system. High ranking Sudanese politicians also deny the existence of homosexuals in Sudan and claim that the population would not accept homosexuals into their society.

South Sudan
Even before South Sudan became an independent country, sharia law criminalized sodomy. In 2008, the penal code of South Sudan renewed the criminalization of sodomy for the new country, under section 248 entitled, “Law of Unnatural Offenses”. Offenders can face fines and be imprisoned for up to 10 years under this law. Extreme societal discrimination against the LGBTQIA community in South Sudan is also well-documented . President Kiir stated in 2011 that South Sudan will be a country of equality except for homosexuals. The president also stated there are no homosexuals in South Sudan and if homosexuality was brought to South Sudan it would be condemned by everyone. A leading member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the governing group in South Sudan, also said that South Sudanese cultures and religions condemn same-sex marriage “in the most serious terms”. 

Syria
We see in Syria that discrimination is heightened in war. LGBTQIA communities have been singled out by both the Assad regime and the Islamist opposition, and struggle to find safe havens abroad – namely in Lebanon – where their sexual minority status, combined with their refugee identity, can make daily life a struggle. Gay Syrian men, the most visible sect of the LGBTQIA community in Syria, face antagonism and consistent threat from every direction. The Syrian opposition, now inundated with hard-line Islamists, present a violent and shocking set of dangers. Gay Syrians living in opposition controlled areas face the dangers of detention, rape, torture and death. Foreign Policy relates shocking stories of detention in subhuman conditions and torture at the hands of Islamist rebels, as well as the practice of summary execution. Gay men are also subjected to “honour killings” so as to prevent the disgrace of their family by association with a cultural taboo. Refugees face intense hardships outside of Syria as well Amnesty International reports that although Lebanon is by and large more liberal than Syria, LGBTQIA issues are still very much taboo. Gay refugees face institutional prejudice from organizations like UNHCR, who Amnesty reports “are not sensitive to their needs,” and subject them to humiliating lines of questioning as well as “anal exams”, a practice ruled illegal years ago. Refugees struggle to find work, and often turn to sex work to survive. The situation for LGBTQIA people is as bleak as ever.

International Action

On September 26th, 2014, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution to combat violence and discrimination based on sexuality. This resolution follows a similar resolution that passed in 2011. As international momentum against violence and discrimination towards LGBTQIA communities grows, it is extremely important that we highlight these benchmark steps. As you begin conversations about this issue on your campus and in your school this month, take the conversation to social media by sharing this article from Human Rights Watch about the UN resolution.

Like our campaign page on Facebook!

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In addition, we encourage you to hold events that raise awareness about these issues. Check out our Program Bank for more awareness- raising event ideas. We are always available to support your planning efforts! Email or call anytime. 

Preview of next month...
Identity based violence against indigenous and native peoples.

International: Most, if not all, of the conflict hotspots in our modern world can be traced back to exploitative colonial powers of years past. We see these patterns from the overt colonialism that existed in African nations up until the 1960s and 70s and in the subtle market colonialism that holds many Asian and South American countries. Burma falls into this all-too-familiar storyline. In November, we will focus on the colonial legacy of the Burma state and how the extreme discrimination against the Rohingya people is something we must dedicate our conversation to.

Domestic: With Columbus Day recently passing, our country once again celebrated one of its most destructive and problematic colonialists. Our history of racism, isolation, punishment, forced assimilation and massacring of Natives and Indigenous people is often forgotten or misrepresented, and this month we seek to explore how our history of violence has translated into the discrimination and cultural appropriation Native and Indigenous people face today.