May 17th is recognised globally as the ‘International Day Against Homophobia, Biophobia and Transphobia’ (IDAHOT). This year marks the 15th annual celebration; the first time it was celebrated was in 2005. The date of May 17th itself is significant; it commemorates the 1990 decision of the WHO to declassify homosexuality as a mental health disorder. However, this year, celebrations will be tainted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Secretary General’s message underlined this challenge, emphasising that “among the many severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increased vulnerability of LGBTI people”.
Sadly, although they have greatly progressed since the WHO’s declassification, LGBTQI rights are still under grave threat. More than a third of countries globally criminalise same-sex relationships. Of the 130 countries where IDAHOT is celebrated, 37 deem homosexuality to be illegal. Even in countries that protect LGBTQI rights, discrimination has persisted. The Trump administration is expected to overturn a rule that forbids doctors to discriminate against a person based on their gender, and treat them according to their sex assigned at birth. The ‘conservative backlash’ on LGBTQI rights goes beyond health. Both the Labor Department and Education Department have recently proposed rules allowing universities and business owners to discriminate on the basis of sexuality; officials are justifying these changes on the principle of ‘religious freedom’.
Campaigners are particularly worried LGBTQI rights will be further undermined in light of the pandemic. ‘Contact-tracing’ requires tracking individuals’ interactions with others, a practice which could be used as an excuse to persecute individuals practising same-sex relationships. In South Korea, officials are struggling to balance privacy with their system of tracking the virus. A recent outbreak was linked to nightclubs frequented by the LGBTQ community, where all visitors are required to provide contact information. However, between 2,000 and 6,000 could not be reached, meaning they provided fake names and phone numbers. The government has turned to cell-tower triangulation to track the attendees down, even resorting to public pleas. Since the incident, a rise in homophobic language has been reported. Responding to the criticism, health officials are promising to limit the details released about confirmed cases (which previously could include occupation and travel itineraries), and expand their anonymous testing facilities.
The LGBTQ community is no stranger to discrimination borne from a deadly disease. At the beginning HIV/AIDs epidemic, gay men were singled out as transmitters of the disease, prompting a homophobic and dehumanising media campaign. This stigma still exists, preventing those most at risk from seeking either preventative or curative treatments. In 2017, adult and adolescent gay and bisexual men made up 70% of the 38,739 new HIV diagnoses. Higher HIV incidences add to the mental health problems that many LGBTQI youths already experience, disproportionate to heterosexual communities.
Clearly, stigmas increase the likelihood of the disease’s transmission and survival. Officials should learn this lesson for the COVID-19 response: discrimination worsens health outcomes for all. According to Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), “avoiding a test because of fears of social bias and criticism can damage our entire community”.
This year’s theme for IDAHOT day is ‘breaking the silence’. A campaign video was released by UN Human Rights, championing being ‘fierce’, and ‘fearless’, and most importantly, ‘you’. The chosen theme highlights that discrimination experienced by many LGBTQ individuals forces them to stay silent. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called for unity, stating: “let us counter the homophobic, transphobic and biphobic attitudes and narratives that have such a devastating impact on the lives of so many human beings worldwide”. Health concerns aside, discrimination in all its forms should be eliminated. But amid the global chaos prompted by a coronavirus, this message could save lives.
