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What do you know about LGBT allied organizations?

This article will further your understanding of LGBT alliances by clarifying the aim and background of each respective organization.

What is LGBT?

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.

As with the term heterosexual, LGBT is used to describe one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of sexual attraction to the same or opposite sex or more than one gender.

Additionally, an ally organization is an individual or organization that openly supports and affirms the LGBT community’s rights and dignity.

Reference : “ABOUT – ​​UN Free & Equal”

What are the major LGBT allies?

Major LGBT allied organizations include:

• GLAAD
• GSA Network
• IGLYO
• LGBT Equality Alliance

GLAAD

GLAAD is an alliance that aims to raise awareness about the LGBT community through entertainment, news, and digital media.

Founded in New York City in 1985, the establishment of GLAAD was an act of protest against a discriminatory article in the New York Times.

The organization has since continued to implement the media as a multifaceted device that allows the advocacy of LGBT equality and eliminates discrimination.

Reference : “For over 30 years, GLAAD has been at the forefront of cultural change, accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community. – GLAAD”

GSA Network

GSA Network is an ally community that exists for the LGBTQ+ community.

The GSA Network is an LGBTQ+ youth alliance that aims to mobilize safer schools and communities.

Particularly unique about this network is how the organization fixes its focus on a school setting for younger demographics.

The school environment is no exception to LGBT discrimination, outlining the significance of such support systems, as the United Nations asserts:

Schools have to be inclusive if we want society to be inclusive. If children are being taught that only a certain type of person is accepted, that is going to affect the way they behave towards others

Reference : “Over half of LGBTQI students in Europe bullied in school – UNESCO”

The GSA Network works as a united collective to tackle these issues.

Reference : “Mission, Vision, & History – GSA Network”

IGLYO

IGLYO is a youth activist building alliance that aims to ensure LGBTQ representation within youths.

Board members are elected and must be between ages 18 – 30.

The organization, located in Brussels, Belgium, is characterized by its young network of people.

Reference : “ABOUT – IGLYO”

LGBT Equality Alliance

The LGBT Equality Alliance promotes LGBTQ inclusivity and aims to bring the LGBT community together with the general public.

Key characteristics of this alliance include partnerships with businesses, community groups, schools, foundations, and corporations.

The LGBT Equality Alliance further works towards raising awareness about the LGBTQ+ community.

An example of their educational campaign includes LGBTQ awareness training workshops.

Such cultural competency training allows organizations to ensure a safe environment that welcomes LGBT people.

The alliance strives to break down the walls of prejudice through education.

Reference : “ABOUT – LGBT Equality Alliance”

What is the purpose of an LGBT allied organization?

Each LGBT allied organization works towards their sole purpose of resolving the issues by which the LGBTQ+ community is often affected, including human rights violations.

More than a third of the countries in the world criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, entrenching prejudice, thereby exposing the LGBT community to discriminatory risk.

While it is said in most countries that transgender people are likely to suffer human rights abuses before obtaining legal recognition for their gender identity, the United Nations urges the following:

• Protect individuals from homophobic and transphobic violence.
• Prevent torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
• Repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality and transgender people.
• Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Safeguard freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly for all LGBT people.

Reference : “Combatting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity – OHCHR”

What is the purpose of an LGBT alliance?

The purpose of an LGBT alliance is to form a larger community to protest.

The LGBT community joins forces in the hopes of pushing the boundaries of one’s ability and power to object towards the matter.

Reference : “ABOUT – GLAAD”

LGBT History

• 2400 B.C.: Tombs of apparent homosexuals discovered in Egypt during its 19th dynasty
• 1307: Accusations leveled against the Knights Templar for sodomy and other homosexual acts
• 1432: “Gli Ufficiali di Notte” was founded to eradicate sodomy in Italy
• 1480: Spanish inquisition punishes sodamites through methods including castration
• 1732: The term ‘lesbian’ was allegedly derived
• 1791: The French Declaration of Human Rights decriminalizes homosexuality
• 1861: Section 61 of the British Crimes Against Humanity Act abolishes death penalty for homosexuality
• 1919: The “Institut für Sexualwissenschaft” was founded

What are the United Nation’s views on LGBT?

The United Nations states the following about LGBT:

Discrimination against LGBTI people undermines the human rights principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet discrimination and violence against people in the LGBTI community are all too common. Homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic attitudes remain deeply embedded in many cultures around the world.

Reference : “About LGBTI people and human rights – OHCHR”

Sexual orientation and identity do not make one subject to discrimination, as the United Nations asserts that it is strictly a sexual preference protected by human rights.

The United Nations has further expressed concerns about the prejudices faced by the LGBT community.

Reference : “Born Free and Equal – OHCHR”

What are human rights violations encountered by LGBT people?

LGBT people have faced the following issues:

• LGBTQ parenting issues
• Problems in law enforcement
• Religious conflicts

LGBTQ parenting issues

LGBTQ people may be unfairly deprived of the right to raise children.

Joint adoptions by same-sex couples are legal in 27 countries and some local governments, while others do not allow same-sex couples to retain parental rights at all.

In addition to faults in the legal system, concerns over possible impacts on the adopted child are a reason for this, as anti-LGBTQ activists claim that LGBTQ parenting can influence children negatively.

As there have not been many cases of same-sex parenting, there is a lack of clarity as to how it will affect the child.

Poor law enforcement also contributes to this issue.

In a world where most countries are confined to the norms of having traditionally gendered households, normalizing same-sex parenting is thought to be a time-consuming and controversial process.

Reference : “First UN Committee decision on rights of children of LGBT parents in asylum context – CRIN”

Outdated legislation for LGBTQ rights is another issue

The United Nations states the following about national laws related to LGBTQ:

All States are obligated under international human rights law to promote and protect the human rights of all persons without discrimination. Yet in many countries, laws against cross-dressing are used to punish transgender people on the basis of their gender identity and expression. Additionally, in 70 countries, discriminatory laws criminalize private, consensual same-sex relationships.

Reference : “About LGBTI people and human rights – OHCHR”

As seen above, LGBTQ itself can often be considered an offense.

In fact, in some cases, homosexuality may be punishable by death.

Although it is clear that the LGBTQ community has been a target of human rights abuses, there is yet a lack of legal protection against discrimination.

LGBTQ people consequently fall victim to human rights violations condoned by this legal gap.

Reference : “International Human Rights Law and Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity – the United Nations”

Religious conflicts

LGBTQ rights may be restricted by other human rights such as religious freedom.

While there should be no rational reason for someone to violate another’s human rights based on their sexual preference, conflict can arise when balancing LGBT rights with religious beliefs.

Some religions have strict regulations against homosexuality, within which human rights are often violated.

In some areas where homosexuality is prohibited, being LGBTQ may result in serious human rights abuses.

It should, however, be noted that various interpretations of homosexuality exist within the individual sects of religion and that some religious groups that prohibit homosexuality have shifted towards allowing homosexuality within their traditions.

Reference : “UN experts urge religious leaders to show respect and compassion for LGBT persons – OHCHR”
Reference : “The right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to live free from violence and discrimination based on SOGI are both built on a promise of human freedom – OHCHR”

Broadening our knowledge of LGBT

It is crucial to further our understanding of the LGBT community in today’s climate, where human rights awareness continues to rise.

Eliminating the preconception that LGBT people are sexual minorities will be key moving forward.

In addition to raising each individual’s awareness of LGBT equality, it is essential that we, as a society, join forces to tackle these human rights issues surrounding the LGBT community.