Examine the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) movement in developed societies and how it is affecting the political participation in developing societies. (UPSC CSE Mains 2017 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
- Discriminatory laws and socio-cultural norms continue to marginalize and exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender-diverse persons from education, health care, housing, employment and occupation, and other sectors. This environment of exclusion lends itself to violence and discrimination. Exclusion also leads to inequality of opportunity and of access to resources.
- In many countries, it is especially difficult to tackle LGBTI exclusion, discrimination, and violence. First and foremost, there is a deeply entrenched stigma against LGBTI people. Lack of an enabling legal framework, which often is a result of such stigma, is another important reason.
- A major barrier to addressing this stigma and SOGI-based exclusion is the lack of data on the lives of LGBTI people. Robust, quantitative data on differential development experiences and outcomes of LGBTI people—especially those in developing countries—is extremely thin. This data gap poses a challenge to the World Bank and other development institutions. Most importantly, this data gap puts in jeopardy the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and countries’ commitment to the principle of “leaving no one behind” in the effort to end poverty and inequality.
- Social inclusion requires dismantling all legislation that criminalizes sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, and that negates a person’s identity. It also requires urgent measures to dismantle the systems of repression that enforce the idea that diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity is somehow harmful to society, that LGBT people are somehow disordered, or that their identities are criminal.
- States must also adopt a robust legal framework protecting LGBT individuals from discrimination in all sectors, and prevent discrimination in the fields of health, education, employment, housing, poverty, and access to justice, among others. Further, States should adopt comprehensive programmes and plans, adopt measures of sensitization and training of State agent and service personnel, and ensure access to justice and effective remedies to victims. Measures of commemoration and celebration of human diversity also send a strong message of inclusion, belonging, and love.
- All measures adopted by the State must recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination and exclusion, address their root causes, and ensure meaningful participation of different peoples in decision-making processes.
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