Worldwide LGBTQIA+ Equality
Is LGBTQIA Equality Stalling? The truth of how quickly progress can be reversed
- Peter C Williams
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The LGBTQIA+ equality movement has made real progress over the years, with more countries decriminalising antiquated laws targeting same-sex relationships and the community achieving basic human rights that should be afforded to all citizens. Although all the progress made is positive, there is still a long way to go for everyone to be free around the world. With the rise of right-leaning and conservative politics gaining power in long-established democracies and developing countries being lobbied to adopt traditional family values, is all the progress the community has made at risk?
DISCLAIMER
All published articles are intended for an audience aged 18 years and over and have been written by members of the general public. Many will likely not be journalists nor be affiliated with any professional bodies associated with members of the media. The articles will likely be based on the authors' own opinions, views, and experiences...more
Anyone who follows community news and developments will notice a slowing of progress. With anti-LGBT rhetoric, direct or indirect, the information people are digesting has clear undertones with rising costs, fears for the future and world politics that seem designed more to divide than unite; it is starting to feel like history is beginning to repeat itself.
Before the events that took place at the Stonewall riots in the 1970s that sparked the modern-day LGBTQIA+ movement, did you know that the community was making real progress in the 1920s? With people like Dr Magnus Hirschfeld, a renowned physician and sexologist who started the Institute of Sexology in 1919 and the first openly gay Hollywood actor, William Haines, who starred in a number of blockbusters during the 1920s and 30s, the community was beginning to see progress in the bid for equality; however, that all quickly changed.
With the spread of the Spanish flu at the beginning of the 1920s, the outbreak of the Great Depression, and the Second World War, any progress was swiftly halted, and it would not resume until 50 years later. What we saw instead was targeted policies targeting the LGBTQIA+ community and hundreds of thousands rounded up and killed in Nazi death camps. So, is there hope?
Before the events that took place at the Stonewall riots in the 1970s that sparked the modern-day LGBTQIA+ movement, did you know that the community was making real progress in the 1920s? With people like Dr Magnus Hirschfeld, a renowned physician and sexologist who started the Institute of Sexology in 1919 and the first openly gay Hollywood actor, William Haines, who starred in a number of blockbusters during the 1920s and 30s, the community was beginning to see progress in the bid for equality; however, that all quickly changed.
With the spread of the Spanish flu at the beginning of the 1920s, the outbreak of the Great Depression, and the Second World War, any progress was swiftly halted, and it would not resume until 50 years later. What we saw instead was targeted policies targeting the LGBTQIA+ community and hundreds of thousands rounded up and killed in Nazi death camps. So, is there hope?
Placing the debates about religion, belief and protectionism aside, should a person live in fear, be persecuted, or even killed for who they are attracted to or how they choose to identify? If they commit a serious crime, one that applies to everyone and is not targeted, such as assault, then yes, but not because all they want to do is exist.
Although countries self-govern, with or without the will of the people, they will implement laws that supposedly reflect the views, values, and appetite of society; however, there are a few exceptions where antiquated laws can restrict or harm a country’s standing in the world. Whether through trade relationships, regional groupings or unions, targeted policies against minority groups or where human rights have been violated can have serious consequences and impact on a country.
One such group is the United Nations, known as the UN, an international organisation established after World War II in 1945, comprising 193 member states. UN member countries can sign up and make commitments to conventions and protocols, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Refugee Convention and Protocol, and the Convention against Human Trafficking. Those countries signing up to the convention or protocols are making a commitment, and although withdrawing from or violating the agreement may have limited legal implications, it would likely result in a response, such as sanctions and tariffs being placed on the countries violating the terms.
The UN protocols and conventions serve as pseudo-protective rights, ones that are harder for participating countries to ignore or change on a whim, effectively making these laws less likely to be altered by political parties or movements that may occur within a country.
The UN, in creating a convention or protocol directly relating to the LGBTQIA+ community and its rights and freedoms, might initially see low numbers of countries signing up; however, over time, with more members joining, it could lead to lasting and positive change in the rights and freedoms of the community.
Although countries self-govern, with or without the will of the people, they will implement laws that supposedly reflect the views, values, and appetite of society; however, there are a few exceptions where antiquated laws can restrict or harm a country’s standing in the world. Whether through trade relationships, regional groupings or unions, targeted policies against minority groups or where human rights have been violated can have serious consequences and impact on a country.
One such group is the United Nations, known as the UN, an international organisation established after World War II in 1945, comprising 193 member states. UN member countries can sign up and make commitments to conventions and protocols, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Refugee Convention and Protocol, and the Convention against Human Trafficking. Those countries signing up to the convention or protocols are making a commitment, and although withdrawing from or violating the agreement may have limited legal implications, it would likely result in a response, such as sanctions and tariffs being placed on the countries violating the terms.
The UN protocols and conventions serve as pseudo-protective rights, ones that are harder for participating countries to ignore or change on a whim, effectively making these laws less likely to be altered by political parties or movements that may occur within a country.
The UN, in creating a convention or protocol directly relating to the LGBTQIA+ community and its rights and freedoms, might initially see low numbers of countries signing up; however, over time, with more members joining, it could lead to lasting and positive change in the rights and freedoms of the community.
Some countries, citing religious or conservative rights, might be unwilling or unwavering in their positive with regard to LGBTQIA+ rights; however, there is a convenient contradiction. One in which they will partner, fund campaigns featuring queer personalities, host concerts, and welcome LGBTQIA+ visitors, but will not relax or soften its stance regarding the community living within that country.
Some countries in Africa historically had no laws in place criminalising same-sex relationships, only adopting them in recent years. In part due to lobbying by conglomerates and industries that have long been subject to government oversight and control in their countries of origin or operation. They utilise their power and influence through corruption and political influence to potentially gain a competitive advantage while also creating a distraction designed to control the masses.
The argument that it is not happening here is becoming hard for people to use and deny now. The world is changing, and not always for the better. Though many advocating for LGBTQIA+ equality want fast progress, and rightly so, with all the distractions going on around the world, are we sleepwalking into a world that sets the community’s progress back by years?
You would hope not; however, if you asked people in the 1920s that question, the answer might be the same, and we know how that turned out. We collectively need to hold those in people to account, not just at home but also overseas. Leveraging the power and influence the community collectively has in order to see lasting changes that are protected with regard to LGBTQIA+ rights and freedoms protected the world over.
Some countries in Africa historically had no laws in place criminalising same-sex relationships, only adopting them in recent years. In part due to lobbying by conglomerates and industries that have long been subject to government oversight and control in their countries of origin or operation. They utilise their power and influence through corruption and political influence to potentially gain a competitive advantage while also creating a distraction designed to control the masses.
The argument that it is not happening here is becoming hard for people to use and deny now. The world is changing, and not always for the better. Though many advocating for LGBTQIA+ equality want fast progress, and rightly so, with all the distractions going on around the world, are we sleepwalking into a world that sets the community’s progress back by years?
You would hope not; however, if you asked people in the 1920s that question, the answer might be the same, and we know how that turned out. We collectively need to hold those in people to account, not just at home but also overseas. Leveraging the power and influence the community collectively has in order to see lasting changes that are protected with regard to LGBTQIA+ rights and freedoms protected the world over.
Learn more about the exceptional LGBTQIA+ community, discover the community’s history, the ongoing movement for equality, the size of the community and how much it contributes to the world economy, frequently asked questions and much more.
Learn more about the exceptional individuals and groups that advocated and fought hard throughout history to improve LGBTQIA+ rights and conditions across the world
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: All published articles have been written by members of the general public. Many will likely not be journalists nor be affiliated with any professional bodies associated with members of the media. The articles will likely be based on the authors’ own opinions, views, and experiences. Gayther does not endorse or accept any responsibility or liability regarding any materials within the news and media pages. This page may contain external links to third party websites; Gayther provides these links for your convenience and does not endorse, warrant or recommend any particular products or services. By clicking on any external links, you will leave Gayther and be taken to the third-party website, which you do so at your own risk and by accessing the site, you will be required to comply with the external third party’s terms and conditions of use and privacy policies
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