Pride denied because of anti-LGBTQ laws
In Canada, as in many other nations around the world, celebrations are commencing as international LGBTQ citizens come together to stand up for rights and to be proud of their unique statures.
Parades, flag-raising ceremonies and other activities are being organized, but sadly not all are open to celebrating diversity and indeed we discover that some countries have laws in place where the death penalty and imprisonment are in place.
The following are examples of such rogue nations and the laws that blatantly discriminate.
In Yemen, married men who take part in gay sexual activity face the death sentence. Gay men face whipping or a year in prison and women may be sentenced to seven years in prison.
Iran has the death penalty, according to sharia law, or Islamic law, for gay sexual activity and people can be flogged for lesser acts such as, kissing.
In Mauritania, Muslim men engaging in same-sex activity can be stoned to death and women face prison.
Nigeria’s federal law states “homosexual behaviour as a felony punishable by imprisonment, but several states within that country have adopted sharia law and imposed a death sentence for men. It is also illegal for gay people, countrywide, to hold a meeting or form a club.
Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan laws are in place that gay acts are punishable by stoning to death.
In Somalia the death penalty exists in some southern regions. Many nations have some sort of discriminatory laws in place.
Russia, Uganda, Kenya, some states in the U.S., and the list goes on, have blatantly acknowledged anti-LGBTQ sentiment and in turn many citizens are openly homophobic, biphobic and transphobic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated a few years ago that “homosexuality is the cause of birth decline.”
Pride parades are forbidden in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities in that country.
Gangs search continually for LGBTQ people and threaten them, including beatings and other kinds of attacks that are ignored by authorities. So, as we in the West celebrate Pride, others are not so fortunate and indeed suffer drastic consequences around the globe.
Considering that most of the population exists on the other side of us, it paints a tragic picture. The world population stands at 7.5 billion and we may estimate that, according to my belief, at least 15 per cent belong to the LGBTQ community worldwide. That tells us the equal rights we have in this part of the world are enormous in comparison and we do not have equal treatment in many parts of the West.
The work ahead is ominous and requires our immediate attention. We must show our support across the nations as a necessity and we must join in the fight for LGBTQ across the world by vocalizing our support in any way we are able. Let us not forget our brothers and sisters. Many feel isolated and live in constant fear. Our fight for equality begins at home, but we must extend that fight in an effort to support those who have no way to heal and are at the mercy of archaic laws.
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