International Day Against Homophobia (17 May)

SERIOUSLY...when i first got the alert on this...i wondered...and really, i wondered... why do we need to celebrate such a day? especially in this part of the world... "Homophobia is expressed in ways which does not treat MSMs, lesbians and transgenders with respect, and prevents their access to basic human rights, particularly the right to live with dignity...

Then again, i realised after some brief findings from couple of acquiantances, the day is imperative to draw the attention of various countries, particularly of the African region, to this fact.

The main challenge before all of us is to create a conducive atmosphere for making appropriate health and other services accessible to persons with different /alternate sexuality...

As human beings, we must respect our fellow beings, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, cultural and sexual preferences. Why should anyone of us be denied basic human rights, just because we do not conform to the social norms of others? This may be tall order for countries like Nigeria, where even heterosexual relationships invite the wrath of the so called moral leaders; where fathers/brothers are killing their own kith and kin in the name of family honour.

We indeed have a long way to go, as . But the process has been set into motion, and would, hopefully, be propelled forward by this forthcoming meet...


Shobha Shukla - CNS

(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS), Director of CNS Diabetes Media Initiative, and CNS Gender Initiative, has worked earlier with State Planning Institute, UP, and teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. She is invited by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to write on the International Day Against Homophobia in Hong Kong. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org )