Tutu calls for end to gay stigma to help tackle HIV
Archbishop Tutu heads an HIV foundation in South Africa
Showing posts with label Gay Rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gay Rights. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Mounting Violence On Homosexuals Like in Uganda
Sent from the CNN App for Android
Uganda's gays in fear after bill's passage
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/23/world/africa/uganda-anti-gay-bill/index.html
Bigots Try To Block Gay Marriage
Utah bid to halt gay marriage fails http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25501630
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Elton John Calls for End of Gay Discrimination
Elton John 'sad' over Russia gay law http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25258448
Friday, November 08, 2013
Bill Against Prejudice on Gay Workers Passed
US Senate passes gay workers bill http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24860616
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Gay Rights Reach France
Hollande to sign gay marriage bill http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22579093
Saturday, July 21, 2012
End Stigma Against Gays Now! Says Archbishop
20 July 2012
Last updated at 02:19 GMT
Archbishop Tutu heads an HIV foundation in South Africa
Archbishop Tutu heads an HIV foundation in South Africa
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for homosexuality to be decriminalised to help tackle HIV.
His comments come in an analysis in The Lancet journal of why
incidence of the virus continues to grow among men who have sex with
men.
Dr Tutu said anti-homosexuality laws would in the future be seen as "wrong" as apartheid laws are now.
Campaigners said it was important for community leaders to speak out.
The archbishop is patron of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, based in Cape Town, which provides treatment for HIV and carries out research.
Writing in The Lancet, he said: "In the future, the laws that criminalise so many forms of human love and commitment will look the way apartheid laws do to us now - so obviously wrong.
"Never let anyone make you feel inferior for being who you are. When you live the life you were meant to live, in freedom and dignity".
Also writing in The Lancet, an international team of researchers, led by Prof Chris Beyrer of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, said men who have sex with men (MSM) bore a "disproportionate burden" of HIV.
The fact HIV was first identified in gay men has "indelibly marked the global response" and "stigmatised those living with the virus", they said.
The researchers' paper said there was optimism among HIV specialists about the potential to use prevention, such as the drug Truvada, to reduce levels of HIV in men who have sex with men.
Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada for preventative use in those at high risk of infection and who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners, the first time it has approved a drug to prevent HIV infection.
Dr Tutu said anti-homosexuality laws would in the future be seen as "wrong" as apartheid laws are now.
Campaigners said it was important for community leaders to speak out.
The archbishop is patron of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, based in Cape Town, which provides treatment for HIV and carries out research.
Writing in The Lancet, he said: "In the future, the laws that criminalise so many forms of human love and commitment will look the way apartheid laws do to us now - so obviously wrong.
"Never let anyone make you feel inferior for being who you are. When you live the life you were meant to live, in freedom and dignity".
Also writing in The Lancet, an international team of researchers, led by Prof Chris Beyrer of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, said men who have sex with men (MSM) bore a "disproportionate burden" of HIV.
The fact HIV was first identified in gay men has "indelibly marked the global response" and "stigmatised those living with the virus", they said.
The researchers' paper said there was optimism among HIV specialists about the potential to use prevention, such as the drug Truvada, to reduce levels of HIV in men who have sex with men.
Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada for preventative use in those at high risk of infection and who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners, the first time it has approved a drug to prevent HIV infection.
'Struggle for equity'
But the international team said the picture was very different in many other countries.
"In too many settings in 2012, MSM still do not have access to the most basic of HIV services and technologies such as affordable and accessible condoms, appropriate lubricants and safe HIV testing and counselling," they said.
But the international team said the picture was very different in many other countries.
"In too many settings in 2012, MSM still do not have access to the most basic of HIV services and technologies such as affordable and accessible condoms, appropriate lubricants and safe HIV testing and counselling," they said.
"The struggle for equity in HIV
services is likely to be inseparably linked to the struggle for sexual
minority rights—and hence to be both a human rights struggle, and in
many countries, a civil rights one."
The paper, published on the eve of the international Aids 2012 conference, adds that by the end of 2011, only 87 countries had reported prevalence of HIV in MSM.
Data is most sparse in the Middle East and Africa, where homosexual activity is a criminal offence.
The researchers call for same-sex relations to be decriminalised in all countries, so that a true picture of the scale of HIV in men who have sex with men can be ascertained.
A spokeswoman for the UK's Terrence Higgins Trust said: "We've got to have community leaders and people with influence speaking out.
"That's why what Desmond Tutu is saying is so important."
And she said it was right to focus efforts on men who have sex with men, in all countries.
She added: "In London, one in seven gay men has HIV."
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The paper, published on the eve of the international Aids 2012 conference, adds that by the end of 2011, only 87 countries had reported prevalence of HIV in MSM.
Data is most sparse in the Middle East and Africa, where homosexual activity is a criminal offence.
The researchers call for same-sex relations to be decriminalised in all countries, so that a true picture of the scale of HIV in men who have sex with men can be ascertained.
A spokeswoman for the UK's Terrence Higgins Trust said: "We've got to have community leaders and people with influence speaking out.
"That's why what Desmond Tutu is saying is so important."
And she said it was right to focus efforts on men who have sex with men, in all countries.
She added: "In London, one in seven gay men has HIV."
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Gay Marriage Leads To Happiness And Health
BBC ONLINE 16 December 2011 Last updated at 01:25 GMT 
Gay men appeared less likely to experience stress
Gay marriage 'improves health'
Gay men appeared less likely to experience stress Legalising same-sex marriage may create a healthier environment for gay men, say US researchers. The number of visits by gay men to health clinics dropped significantly after same-sex unions were allowed in the state Massachusetts.
This was regardless of whether the men were in a stable relationship, reported the American Journal of Public Health.
A UK HIV charity said there was a clear link between happiness and health.
Research has already suggested that gay men are more likely to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts than heterosexual men, and that social exclusion may be partly responsible.
This was regardless of whether the men were in a stable relationship, reported the American Journal of Public Health.
A UK HIV charity said there was a clear link between happiness and health.
Research has already suggested that gay men are more likely to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts than heterosexual men, and that social exclusion may be partly responsible.
'Lasting repercussions' Same-sex marriages are legal in six US states, with Massachusetts the first to allow them in 2003.
Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health surveyed the demand for medical and mental health care from 1,211 gay men registered with a particular health clinic in the 12 months prior to the change, and the 12 months afterwards.
Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health surveyed the demand for medical and mental health care from 1,211 gay men registered with a particular health clinic in the 12 months prior to the change, and the 12 months afterwards.
They found a 13% drop in healthcare visits after the law was enacted.
There was a reduction in blood pressure problems, depression and "adjustment disorders", which the authors claimed could be the result of reduced stress.
Lesbian women were not included in the study as there were insufficient numbers to give a statistically meaningful result.
Dr Mark Hatzenbuehler, who led the study, said: "Our results suggest that removing these barriers improves the health of gay and bisexual men
"Marriage equality may produce broad public health benefits by reducing the occurrence of stress-related health conditions."
A spokesman for the Terrence Higgins Trust, a UK-based sexual health and HIV charity, said: "There is a known link between health and happiness.
"It's no surprise that people who are treated as second class citizens tend to have low self esteem, which in turn makes them more likely to take risks.
"Whether this is drugs, alcohol abuse, or unsafe sex, treating gay men unequally has lasting repercussions for their health."
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
There was a reduction in blood pressure problems, depression and "adjustment disorders", which the authors claimed could be the result of reduced stress.
Lesbian women were not included in the study as there were insufficient numbers to give a statistically meaningful result.
Dr Mark Hatzenbuehler, who led the study, said: "Our results suggest that removing these barriers improves the health of gay and bisexual men
"Marriage equality may produce broad public health benefits by reducing the occurrence of stress-related health conditions."
A spokesman for the Terrence Higgins Trust, a UK-based sexual health and HIV charity, said: "There is a known link between health and happiness.
"It's no surprise that people who are treated as second class citizens tend to have low self esteem, which in turn makes them more likely to take risks.
"Whether this is drugs, alcohol abuse, or unsafe sex, treating gay men unequally has lasting repercussions for their health."
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Gay People Are Forced To Live Hidden Lives
COMMENT from Malaysiakini
Many people, especially heterosexuals, mistakenly believe that the gay rights movement is only about gay people. They have ignored the fact that our lives in society are highly intertwined.
As John Donne beautifully wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind...”
Homophobia and heterosexism are irrational and unreasonable. They have done no justice to whole segments of the population. For a long time, due to ignorance and religious fanaticism, gay people have been systematically demeaned and stigmatised.
In many societies and communities, gay people are denied the right to live an authentic life. They are forced to live hidden lives and pretend to be someone they are not, otherwise they will be harassed, abused, intimidated, and egregiously injured, or even murdered. Being gay in Malaysia is not easy, being a gay Christian is tough, and I can only imagine what my gay Muslim brothers and sisters have to go through in this country.
I was raised a Methodist. I had been a serious Christian and knew I was called to the ministry when I was twelve years old. But I also knew that I was gay.
I knew that I was attracted to men even though I was five and six years old. I had done everything I could to not to be gay. I fasted, I prayed, I cried to God until I was speechless; the only request I made was, “I don't want to be gay, make me straight please, God, I know nothing is impossible for you. Just make me straight!”
But nothing changed.
When I was twenty-four years old, I met a beautiful lady. She was the kind of woman with a beauty that almost every man desired.
I said to myself that if she would love me, I could love her and marry her.
And she did. I thought God had finally listened to my prayers, and that she was the angel sent by God to rid me of my gayness. We married two years later.
Before our first date, I told her that I had had a sexual relationship with a man before I met her, that I knew that it was wrong, and that I had confessed my “sin” to God, I hoped she could forgive me and give me a chance.
I told her I loved her. I told her the truth about my past because as much as I was afraid to admit that I was gay, I felt I owe her the truth; I believe that it was the least I could do for her.
We had a relatively good marriage. We never fought.
We did disagree with each other sometimes on certain things, but we could always settle in love and treat each other with respect. As much as we thought we had a good marriage and were a perfect couple by any standard, we knew that something was missing in our relationship.
I just could not love her passionately as a heterosexual man.
She knew that I was gay after she studied psychology in the United States, but she waited for me to confess it to myself and to her. Finally, I told her the truth, “I am gay.”
We hugged and cried a lot after my confession because, as much as we loved each other deeply and knew that we were soul mates and best friends, we were not a heterosexual couple. She encouraged me to come out.
Angel to help embrace sexuality
In retrospect, I finally realize that she indeed was my angel, not to help me rid myself of gayness, but to help me to embrace my sexuality.
I am a fortunate gay man for having had a supportive wife. We were divorced two years later.
We remain soul mates. I am fully aware that not every gay person is as fortunate as I. I know many of them who have hidden in a heterosexual marriage for their entire lives. Most of their wives suffer without knowing the reason.
Some even blame themselves for not being good enough, wonder why they are not loved, and craved to be passionately loved by their husbands. Some gay men have wanted to commit suicide. Some could not deny themselves any longer, and, to save themselves from going insane, had affairs with other men. Some gay Christian and pastors that I know of, have even become anti-gay spokespersons.
Many homophobes and heterosexists do not know, or refuse to know, that if anyone wants us to change, no one wants to be “changed straight” more badly than we! And yet, they accuse us of willingly choosing to be gay.
Worse still, in addition to this accusation, they curse us to hell, and then say, “We love you, we just hate the sin.” What kind of insensitive love is it? Or, to excuse themselves for being rude, they pass the problem off to God, “It is not I who condemn you, but God.”
I did not choose to be gay. But since I now have known myself better and understand homosexuality, I willingly choose to be part of the worldwide social justice movement to educate the public about homosexuality which aims at dismantling heterosexism and bringing forth justice to our society.
Fears of rocking the boat
I am aware of the fact that this is the least popular and most rejected movement in Malaysia and that it receives powerful resistance and few concessions. Not only heterosexists would oppose me, even gay people who have internalized heterosexism would disagree with me, fearing that I am rocking the boat.
But society needs to know that the gay rights movement is not only about gay people, it is about everyone; homosexuality is an issue of social justice!
Homophobia and heterosexism not only hurt gay people, but, by forcing gay people to hide themselves in heterosexual marriages, they harm almost everyone in society. This offers no justice to the spouses of closeted gay persons, nor does it help their children.
Living hidden loves does no good for our society.
When it is normative to lie in order to survive, it is no wonder that many of our politicians have no integrity! We should not only blame our politicians or the government, we should also ask ourselves, what kind of culture we are cultivating?
Until we establish a social environment that is more responsive to and supportive of gay people, gay people will continue to be the subject of discrimination and thus afraid to come out.
Many people will continue to be hurt directly or indirectly, regardless of being gay or straight.
Gay people are everywhere, but, unfortunately, many people do not know that their best friends, co-workers, much admired writers, teachers, political leaders, priests, religious leaders, siblings, and even their beloved children, are gay.
One can never know who would be hurt by one's heterosexist remarks and homophobic attitudes.
No man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manner of thine own or of thy friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Therefore, ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our reports and stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then is now 70,000 and going strong! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Sometimes even twice or three times a day. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook as PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support. Thank you!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Gays Denied Healthcare - bbc online
Most gay men in Asia-Pacific region 'denied HIV care'
 HIV-positive Indians have been campaigning for better healthcare |
Some 90% of gay men in the Asia-Pacific region are denied access to HIV/Aids help because of discriminatory laws in many states, a UN-backed report says.
Almost half the region's countries criminalise gay male sex and the report says this is worsening a situation in which infection rates are climbing. Repressive laws "often take on the force of vigilantism", it argues.
Governments were urged to reform legal systems and policing to ensure an effective response to the crisis.
The report, produced jointly by the UN Development Programme and the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health, noted that several countries including Nepal, India, the Philippines and South Korea had brought in new laws and policies to address the problem.
"However, these are exceptional developments and action is required to improve the legal environment in all countries," it added.
'Condoms seized'
The report said the high-risk group, which includes homosexuals and bisexuals, can potentially account for between 10 and 30% of new HIV infections in a typical Asian country.
Nineteen out of 48 countries in the region criminalised male-to-male sex and these laws often led to abuse and human rights violations, it said.
Punishments for sex between men ranged from the death penalty in Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan to whipping in Malaysia and Indonesia's Aceh region, the report found.
Even if punishments were not enforced, they provided the basis for extortion, harassment and violence, it said.
Police enforced public order and prostitution laws selectively against gay men in some countries, the report went on.
In Sri Lanka and the Philippines, for example, vagrancy laws were used in this way, the report said.
Another abuse reported in countries such as Thailand and India was the confiscation of condoms as evidence of illegality.
In China and Singapore, the report found, HIV education materials were censored.
"The effectiveness of the HIV response will depend not just on the sustained scale up of HIV prevention, treatment and care, but on whether the legal and social environment support or hinder programmes for those who are most vulnerable," the UNDP's Mandeep Dhaliwal said in a statement.
Note: This article first appeared on Monday.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our contents are ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then is 35,000 hits and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my
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