United around the globe

United around the globe

This year’s Mardi Gras theme is Nations United -” so what better time to remember the millions of GLBT people around the globe living in countries that still persecute people for their sexuality?

Gay men continue to be executed in countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, and despite improved security for ordinary Iraqis, sexual minorities are still being kidnapped and murdered by both Sunni and Shiite militiamen -” many of whom work in the country’s security forces by day.

Perhaps the most disturbing news from that part of the globe are claims from a former Algerian al-Qaeda member that the group has been using male rape to shame recruits into becoming suicide bombers, following allegations of similar tactics being used against young women in Iraq.

In all but a handful of Muslim countries, homosexuality remains illegal. But Islamic societies are in no way the only offenders -” much of Eastern Europe and the Balkans remain hostile places for sexual minorities despite their legal status and efforts by the European Union to bring nations into line.

In Russia and Belarus (Europe’s last dictatorship), GLBT people are still struggling to have their rights of assembly respected, with protests and pride marches frequently banned or broken up by police. Neither country extends anti-discrimination protections to sexual minorities.

Majority Christian Nigeria stands poised to make entering into a gay marriage, even outside the country, a very real crime with even the guests facing up to five years imprisonment. The same law would outlaw advocacy for GLBT people in the country. Eighteen men are now before the Nigerian courts on sodomy charges.

In Ethiopia, a coalition of religious groups, including not only Ethiopian Orthodox Christians but also Catholics and clergy from Western denominations, is pushing for a constitutional ban on homosexuality despite it already being illegal in the country.

On the plus side, GLBT people are winning their rights in leaps and bounds in other parts of the world, with Colombia about to grant gay couples similar rights to what we recently received here, Nepal set to become the first Asian nation to recognise same-sex relationships, and India on the brink of a landmark ruling on the legal status of homosexuality.

By the time we come to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Mardi Gras our journey to full equality should be well and truly over -” but let’s never forget the ongoing plight of our brothers and sisters around the globe.

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