Political ‘scapegoats’ Increased hate crime during pandemic

FOR many LGBTQI people in Fiji, the COVID-19 pandemic led to even higher levels of violence and discrimination including domestic violence, hate speech and hate crimes.

Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network (PSGDN) CEO Isikeli Vulavou said findings and feedback from network members in Fiji and the region found many young LGBTQI individuals, in particular those who lost their jobs, had faced these issues.

“Those who had their jobs face disproportionate levels of family rejection, bullying, homelessness and restrictions on access to information which have all been exacerbated in the context of the pandemic,” Mr Vulavou said.

“When they lost their jobs they could not afford rent and were forced to go back to home they had gladly left because of mistreatment, discrimination and violence and live dependently again.”

Mr Vulavou said the pandemic also led to shrinking civic space, physical attacks and psychological trauma for human rights defenders protecting the rights of LGBTQI persons in the region.

“These acts are unaccepted and PSGDN stresses the importance to prevent and denounce all forms of discrimination against LGBTQI persons, including homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic violence while promoting their access to equal opportunities in all spheres of life.”

Mr Vulavou said it was also important that discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, including the criminalisation of consenting same-sex relations that expose these individuals disproportionally to social exclusion, unemployment and poverty are fought in the Pacific.

OVER the years there has been a rise in divisive and hateful rhetoric within public discourse and election campaigns where LGBTQI communities have been attacked and scapegoated by politicians.

Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network (PSGDN) CEO Isikeli Vulavou said these politicians were out of touch from the day to day realities of these individuals.

“Fiji is gearing up for the 2022 General Election with politicians and political parties already starting their campaigns on the ground,” Mr Vulavou said.

“I urge politicians to be very careful with the words they use when making references to the LGBTQI community.

“Their nonsensical, divisive and hateful rhetoric can translate into real hate for the LGBTQI community in the streets.”

He urged politicians to refrain from further marginalising and excluding LGBTQI community by using the rights and bodies of LGBTQI communities as a political tool.

“We have all witnessed on social media how some hostile leaders have blamed the LGBTQI people for COVID-19.

“We need political leaders to be inclusive, talk to the LGBTQI communities before drafting policies for their manifestos, invite LGBTQI individuals to be candidates and make valuable contributions to the party and the country.

“Most importantly to come and talk to us and other LGBTQI organisations if they need information or clarification instead of saying the wrong things and misleading the public.”

Mr Vulavou said PSDGN along with the Rainbow Pride Foundation has planned to write open letters to political parties demanding inclusivity in their manifestos.

“These political parties are there for us so they should be the ones reaching out to us instead of expecting people to come to them.”