International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has called for an end to persecution and violence against the LGBTI community in a new statement made to mark the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Commonwealth citizens remain victims of stigma and discrimination in many of our communities. Appalling persecution and violence are suffered merely because of innate sexual orientation and gender identity. Such abuse is unacceptable: it robs millions of our fellow citizens of the right to live lives of dignity, undermining their mental and physical health, and sense of well-being. It leads to social estrangement, ostracism and isolation, and economic marginalisation. It flies in the face of our core values of equality and non-discrimination.”