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ACSC/APF Participants Came Out as One ASEAN Community Clamoring for Human Rights!
April 27, 2015| Contributed by Ging Cristobal, Project Coordinator for Asia, IGLHRC
Instead of a protective indoor location, the closing ceremony of the civil society conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took place on one of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s busiest streets on Friday, April 24, providing activists from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community a very public setting to raise their voices.
Claiming LGBT Rights in the ASEAN Community
April 22, 2015| Contributed by Ging Cristobal, Project Coordinator for Asia, IGLHRC
Alongside 11 country flags of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists waved a rainbow flag Wednesday at the opening of the region’s Civil Society Conference and People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Human Rights, Transparency, Accountability Are on Agenda for Annual Civil Society Conference of Southeast Asian Nations
April 21, 2015| Contributed by Grace Poore, Regional Program Coordinator for Asia, IGLHRC
Starting Wednesday, over 1400 representatives of grassroots and community groups and national, regional and international non-governmental organizations will convene in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 10th Civil Society Conference (ACSC) and People’s Forum (APF) of the ten countries that form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Indonesia: Fatwa Prescribes Death Penalty for Same-sex Relations
March 25, 2015| Contributed by Grace Poore, Regional Program Coordinator for Asia, IGLHRC
Indonesia’s central body of Islamic clerics, Majlis Ulema Indonesia (MUI) issued a fatwa (religious edict) on March 4 that calls for whipping and even the death penalty for men or women engaged in same-sex relations.
Turkey: Campaigning for LGBTI rights in school, at work and in Parliament
February 26, 2015| Contributed by Brian Tofte-Schumacher, Digital Communications Manager, IGLHRC
"You don't have rights if you are not present," is the rallying call of a new campaign headed by IGLHRC's Istanbul-based partners at SPoD LGBTI. With the campaign, advocates hope to encourage active participation of LGBTI people in decision- and policy-making processes in advance of the country's general election in June 2015.
Niñez y adolescencia LGBTI: un reto para la justicia en Colombia
January 27, 2015| Contributed by María Mercedes Gómez, Coordinadora Regional para Latinoamérica y el Caribe, IGLHRC
El Estado colombiano decidió no tocar el tema de la niñez y adolescencia LGBTI durante su reunión con el comité sobre los derechos del niño el 20 y 21 de enero de 2015 en Ginebra. El silencio del Estado ante la pregunta del Comité sobre población infantil y adolescente vulnerable a ser discriminada por estereotipos de género, orientación sexual e identidad de género, es un silencio que dice más que las palabras. 
Pope Francis in the Philippines
January 27, 2015| Contributed by Ging Cristobal, Project Coordinator for Asia, IGLHRC
Last week Pope Francis conducted a five-day “Mercy and Compassion” visit to the Philippines, to be with survivors of super-typhoon Haiyan, the strongest on record. The visit was an inspiring moment to the majority of Filipinos where almost 80% are Catholics, while at the same time offered crucial insight into the limitations to Pope Francis’ apparent openness about welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals of faith to the church.
Gambian President’s 20-Year Assault on Human Rights Just Got Worse for LGBT Community
January 15, 2015| Contributed by Suzanne Trimel, Communications Director, IGLHRC
For too long, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has peddled hate and abused with impunity lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in The Gambia. Jammeh scapegoats LGBT people to deflect attention from failed leadership that has lately brought the country to the brink of famine, food shortages and a quick devaluation of its currency.
A Conversation with Cameroonian Activist Josephine Mandeng
December 22, 2014| Contributed by IGLHRC
During the week of Dec. 7, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission hosted a delegation of 50 LGBTI activists from across the world to share their deepest concerns about the rights of LGBTI people with representatives from member states and agencies at the United Nations.
AIDS Continues to Spread at an Alarming Rate Among LGBT Africans
December 19, 2014| Contributed by IGLHRC
Micheal Ighodaro, a policy and program assistant with the Aids Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, was among 50 activists who participated in a U.N. advocacy delegation hosted in December by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. He wrote the following perspective about facilitating the HIV/AIDS discussions during the activist planning sessions and as part of the group that visited UNICEF, UNDP and UNIADS. Micheal, who is from Nigeria, was a fellow with IGLHRC last summer.
Speak OUT: Fight Back Against Homophobia and Transphobia
December 9, 2014| Contributed by IGLHRC
Unchecked prejudice often leads directly to discrimination, violence and the denial of basic human rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. We want you to help us change this.
#WAD14: Close the Gap
December 1, 2014| Contributed by IGLHRC
To help close the information gap about AIDS in Iran, IGLHRC has translated materials into Persian, including a fact sheet on HIV and information about vulnerable populations.
Groundbreaking Video series Breaks LGBTI Silence in Morocco
November 25, 2014| Contributed by Loubna Ghrib, Middle East and North Africa Program Intern, IGLHRC
The first episode of a new series that uses first-person stories to document oppression and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in Morocco—“Kaynin”—has received an amazing response, with over 269,000 views on YouTube.
Volunteer with OutRights for Human Rights Day and OutSummit
November 24, 2014| Contributed by
Each year in celebration of Human Rights Day, IGLHRC brings human rights activists from around the world together in New York for intensive advocacy at the United Nations and strategic cross-regional discussions. This year, we're coming together Sunday, December 7th to Wednesday, December 10th.
Transgender Day of Remembrance: Remaining hopeful as we remember
November 20, 2014| Contributed by IGLHRC
As we honor the 16th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance today, we are reminded once again of the extreme vulnerability of trans people, especially trans women, around the world—who are targeted for murder because of who they are or the way they express their gender.