refugees – Humanist Blog

A Global Crisis

A Global Crisis:
The Impact of Harmful Policies on LGBTQ+ Rights and Healthcare
by Guest Blogger Joseph K.

Many policies have been introduced over the years that have left a lasting, often devastating impact on marginalized communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. The brutal and discriminatory actions against LGBTQ+ individuals, both within the United States and around the world, must not be forgotten. These policies sought to roll back rights, ban organizations that supported the LGBTQ+ cause, and mistreated the most vulnerable.

The Ban on LGBTQ+ Organizations and Movements

One of the most harmful actions has been the direct attack on LGBTQ+ rights. Certain administrations systematically undermined organizations and movements that supported the LGBTQ+ community, specifically by targeting those who provided essential resources, advocacy, and protection. Notably, policies aimed at banning LGBTQ+ flags, pride events, and organizations from participating in public life sent a message that discrimination was acceptable and even supported at the highest levels of government.

LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are transgender, faced increasing violence and discrimination, not only in the workplace and public spaces but even in healthcare. These harmful policies made it harder for LGBTQ+ people to seek proper medical treatment or be respected for their gender identity. The mental and physical toll this took on LGBTQ+ individuals was immense, with many facing hostile environments at a time when they needed support the most.

The Harsh Impact on the Global LGBTQ+ Community

The repercussions of these policies have not been confined to the United States alone. The impact on LGBTQ+ people has been felt worldwide, particularly in Africa, where the situation was already dire. In countries ravaged by war, poverty, and disease, LGBTQ+ people, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS, found themselves even more marginalized and vulnerable. The global community watched in horror as individuals who had already been ostracized were further left to die due to a lack of access to life-saving medications, healthcare, and the protection of organizations that were either closed or defunded.

The USAID Ban: A Catastrophic Blow to Health and Support Services

Among the most disastrous actions has been the recent decision to halt funding for USAID, a choice that has had a catastrophic impact on healthcare systems in many African nations. USAID, which was established in 1961, has been a crucial provider of support for minority and at-risk groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, those living with HIV/AIDS, and women and children facing health crises. The withdrawal of support from USAID meant that thousands of individuals who relied on its services for life-saving treatment found themselves abandoned.

The closure of USAID programs directly impacted hospitals in many African countries, where the health infrastructure was already fragile. Hospitals that once relied on foreign aid for medicine, staff salaries, and essential services saw their operations drastically reduced or shut down altogether. For the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS, the results were deadly. Many may be forced to watch as their loved ones die from preventable diseases because of a lack of access to antiretroviral medications and basic healthcare.

The Need for Global Solidarity and Action

As we reflect on the legacy of harm caused by these policies, it is clear that we must not sit idly by. The devastation caused by the ban on LGBTQ+ organizations, the closure of USAID programs, and the neglect of vulnerable communities calls for immediate action from governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.

We must unite in support of the LGBTQ+ community, especially those in countries where homophobia and transphobia still reign unchecked. The situation for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in Africa and war-torn regions, is dire. Lack of medical resources, the brutal treatment of LGBTQ+ people, and the absence of support networks have left many at risk of dying from preventable causes.

Now is the time to advocate for those whose voices have been silenced. We must call for governments and international organizations to reinstate vital support programs like USAID, ensuring that LGBTQ+ people, regardless of their location, have access to the healthcare, resources, and protection they deserve.

We cannot forget the LGBTQ+ people who are suffering and dying in silence. Their struggles are our struggles, and their survival depends on our collective action. Let us stand together in solidarity and work toward a future where all LGBTQ+ individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and equality—no matter where they live or who they love.

It’s time to keep our eyes open, support the LGBTQ+ community, and hold governments accountable for the choices they make. Their lives depend on our activism.

Written by Joseph.K (He/Him) an LGBTIQ+ Refugee and Writer based in Africa

United for Hope

United for Hope: The World AIDS Day Pledge

Today, we stand beneath the solemn sky,
To honour lives lost, and never let them die.
HIV/AIDS, a shadow we cannot ignore,
Still claiming lives, still knocking at the door.

To every soul, regardless of name,
This is a fight we all must claim.
Keep off the networks where danger may lie,
Protect your heart, your body—don’t let dreams die.

To my queer family, bold and true,
This battle is ours; we must see it through.
For too many loved ones, we’ve had to say goodbye,
Let’s stay vigilant, let’s not let hope die.

Let education be the shield we wield,
Knowledge a weapon, a formidable field.
Empower the youth with facts so clear,
To conquer ignorance, dispel the fear.

International voices, hear this call:
Lend your hand, for this fight affects us all.
To refugees, the displaced, those in war-torn lands,
Palestine, and beyond, let’s extend our hands.

To NGOs, with hearts so grand,
Support the vulnerable; let them stand.
Medication, care, and hope to renew,
For the LGBTIQ, and the broken too.

HIV/AIDS is real, a foe we all face,
Let’s combat it together, with love and grace.
On this World AIDS Day, let unity shine,
For a future of health, for a brighter design.

Composed by Joseph K (He/Him)

In Solidarity with Palestine

Commemorating International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People,
commenced by the United Nations in 1977.

By Orionist, previous versions by Makaristos, Mysid, etc. – Own work using: Law No. 5 for the year 2006 amending some provisions of Law No. 22 for the year 2005 on the Sanctity of the Palestinian Flag, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=433206

“We are witnessing a genocide in real time”
– Spokesperson for the Defense for Children International – Palestine

I’m sorry Ahmed, Ibrahim, Sarah and Jana, Mohamad and Jusuf, and all the other 17,400 children killed by Israel in Gaza since 7 October 2023, along with possibly 20,000 of your mothers, fathers, and other family members.

On behalf of the civilised world, I am sorry for the deaths and genocide across Palestine, I apologise that many international leaders are ignoring the catastrophe (or looking the other way for political reasons), or providing military equipment to the aggressor nation in order to empower this genocide.

I am sorry that a national political and military machinery that purports to represent the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, is itself enacting a new Holocaust. This does NOT reflect the wishes nor morality of many Jewish people in Israel and around the world.

Anti-Semitism

Please understand, kids, that some adults state that your murder is part of a response to a terrible attack on 7 October 2023, during which 38 Jewish children and 1101 other people were also killed. The 7 October atrocity deserved a firm response (one example being the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for the Hamas leadership responsible), but the Israeli response has killed over 40,000 Palestinian civilians and elicited a similar ICC arrest warrant.

We must be careful to avoid inflaming passions on either side of this catastrophe. The hate speech and negative behaviours connected to antisemitism have traditionally focussed upon Jewish people, but Arab people (including Palestinians) should also be protected from antisemitic words and behaviours. Within both Israel and within the diaspora communities of all the world, including Australia, there are strong voices speaking against the war crimes committed against tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians. “Antisemitism” is criminal because it tars all Jews with the brush of genocide, without differentiating. For the same reason, Islamophobia is a crime, because it tars all Muslims as terrorists.

We must be careful that accusations of antisemitism are not trivialised, nor distorted to shut down valid criticism; nor can we ignore the reality of antisemitism and thereby allow hatreds to manifest during this time of division. It must be emphasised that we are all humans with dignity and nobility, and if we want to see humane and just behaviour by those on all sides, then we must set the example.

People in both Israel and Palestine have an equal and inalienable right to live peacefully, freely, autonomously and safely.

Solutions

The genocide against children (and their parents) must stop.

How?

In Humanism and Democratic Criticism, Palestinian-born Edward Said argues:

“Humanism is the only and the final resistance we have against the inhuman practices and injustices that disfigure human history…

“The essence of humanism is to understand human history as a continuous process of self-understanding and self-realization, not just for us, as white, male, European, and American, but for everyone…

“A fair degree of my own political and social activism has assured me that people all over the world can be and are moved by ideals of justice and equality.”(cited in Zakarriya, 2015, 198 – 199).

Israelis and Palestinians must be assisted to sit down together at the negotiation table. It must be made clear that hostilities cannot continue. The ghosts of the Holocaust, and of the genocide in Gaza, demand it.

Palestinian-born poet Mahmoud Darwish has written of Palestine and Israel as a place of both terrible tragedy and incurable optimism:

“This land absorbs the skins of martyrs.
This land promises wheat and stars.”
(Diary of a Palestinian wound)

US President Jimmy Carter has previously called for peace:

“Down through the years, I have seen despair and frustration evolve into optimism and progress and, even now, we need not give up hope for permanent peace for Israelis and freedom and justice for Palestinians if three basic premises are honoured: Israel’s right to exist – and to live in peace – must be recognised and accepted by Palestinians and all other neighbours; the killing of innocent people by bombs or other acts of violence cannot be condoned; and Palestinians must live in peace and dignity, and permanent Israeli settlements on their land are a major obstacle to this goal.”

The Larger Genocide

Palestine is not the only genocide that is being ignored by the world. Other children named Celine, Farah, Ibrahim, Khalid, Sarah and Tala are also dying in Sudan and Yemen and Syria; meanwhile Daniel, Joseph, Marie and Sarah are dying in the Democratic Republic of Congo. One predominant feature of these nations is that the main religion is often Islam (with Christianity as a runner-up); another common feature is the racial/cultural demographics of these children. Either way, our world leaders need to consider why these children (like the children in Gaza) apparently do not currently matter. When seeking to focus on the killings in Gaza, we must not ignore these other deaths. Genocide everywhere must end; the killings must stop.

The world (and the judgement of world history) are watching and judging us all. As Mahmoud Darwish writes about Israelis and Palestinians alike:

“Then what? A woman soldier shouted:
Is that you again? Didn’t I kill you?
I said: You killed me … and I forgot, like you, to die.”
– from In Jerusalem, Mahmoud Darwish, 2007.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Jimmy Carter, 2006. “Jimmy Carter Op-Ed: Colonization of Palestine Precludes Peace, 12 March, Carter Center.

Mahmoud Darwish, 1969. Yawmiyyat jurh filastini (Diary of a Palestinian wound). (Poetry Foundation)
– – – – – – – – -, 2007. In Jerusalem, from The Butterfly’s Burden, (Copper Canyon Press). (Poetry Foundation)

Jihan Zakarriya, 2015. “Humanism in the autobiographies of Edward Said and Nelson Mandela: memory as action”, Third World Quarterly, Vol. 36, No. 1 (2015), pp. 198-204.

Edited 30 November 2014 to expand and clarify some points, particularly about antisemitism.

CHOGM: The Cry for Justice

“As the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, I deeply regret both the fact that such laws were introduced and the legacy of discrimination, violence and death that persists today.” – Theresa May, 2018.

From 21st to 26th October 2024, a collection of representatives from some of the most homophobic nations on Earth are meeting in Samoa alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and India; and celebrate their collaboration. Welcome to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The theme of the event is: “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth” and the Samoan Prime Minister has declared that its goal is to help: “transform our one resilient family into a Common Wealth.”

And yet the Commonwealth family is torn asunder from within – division and prejudice from Jamaica to Uganda – and beyond.

I give a voice to a gay refugee who has fled Uganda, whose voice is ignored by the CHOGM delegates. Yet his message speaks of the Commonwealth and the wider world:

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The Cry for Justice: LGBTIQ Refugees Deserve Our Help and Protection

In a world that prides itself on progress, compassion, and human rights, it is heart-breaking to see how certain groups remain marginalized, persecuted, and silenced. Among the most vulnerable are LGBTIQ individuals, especially those living as refugees or in war-torn areas, where their very existence is criminalized. These people are not just fleeing poverty, conflict, or oppression like many others; they are running for their lives because of who they are — because of their identity.

The Reality of Persecution

In countries like Nigeria, Iran, Uganda and Russia, simply being LGBTIQ can be a death sentence. Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, passed in 2023, makes same-sex relationships punishable by life imprisonment and, in some cases, even death. This law has emboldened public violence, fuelled hate crimes, and caused countless LGBTIQ Ugandans to flee their homeland in search of safety.

In Russia, LGBTIQ people face continuous state-sponsored repression. From the infamous “gay propaganda” law to arbitrary arrests and brutal violence, the situation for LGBTIQ individuals is dire. These aren’t isolated incidents—across the globe, in many places ravaged by war and instability, LGBTIQ refugees face threats of imprisonment, torture, and even execution just for being who they are.

A Fundamental Human Right

In this so-called civilized world, it is fundamental that every person has the right to live as who they are. Being LGBTIQ is not a choice, nor should it be a crime. No one should have to hide their love or identity in fear of violence. Human dignity demands that all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are treated with respect and have the freedom to express themselves safely. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights explicitly states that everyone is entitled to the same rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind. Yet, for LGBTIQ individuals, especially refugees, these rights are constantly violated. They are left without safe spaces, often hiding in fear, struggling with suicidal thoughts, and feeling completely abandoned by the world.

War-Torn Countries: A Crisis Within a Crisis

For LGBTIQ individuals in war-torn countries, the situation is even more tragic. In places where survival is already a daily challenge, being openly LGBTIQ becomes nearly impossible. They face the double threat of violence from both the general conflict and targeted hate from those who view their existence as illegitimate. Humanitarian aid often overlooks their unique plight, as LGBTIQ refugees are frequently discriminated against even within refugee camps, denied resources, and left without protection. This is a crisis within a crisis, and it calls for immediate action.

The Call to Action: Stand with Us

This is a call for the world to open its eyes and ears to the cries of LGBTIQ refugees. These individuals are not seeking anything other than the right to exist peacefully. They deserve protection, support, and empathy. In this era of human rights, no one should be persecuted for their identity, especially in countries that claim to champion progress and justice. Governments, NGOs, activists, and global citizens must step forward. We need to amplify the voices of those who are silenced and ensure that their rights are respected, no matter where they are in the world. Policies should be enacted to guarantee safe asylum for LGBTIQ refugees, and aid organizations must include protections specifically for them.

It’s not just about saving lives—it’s about acknowledging the humanity of LGBTIQ individuals, standing against hate, and ensuring that every person, regardless of who they love or how they identify, can live without fear.

A World United for Equality

Now, more than ever, we must recognize that the fight for LGBTIQ rights is not over until everyone, in every corner of the globe, is free to be who they are. This is a fundamental human right, one that no law or war should ever be able to strip away. Let us not turn our backs on those who need us most. Every voice matters, every life matters, and together, we can create a world where no one has to live in fear for simply being themselves.

LGBTIQ refugees are calling for our help—let’s answer.

By Joseph.K (He/him)

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Does the world care? Does CHOGM care? Nelson Mandela is recorded as stating that: “The Commonwealth makes the world safe for diversity”. Let’s see these words finally become truth.