A Push for Worldwide LGBTQ+ Equity Is Needed More Than Ever!

Erhan Erol, Senior Business Analyst, ERG Lead and Global LGBTQI+ Equity Leader at Novartis, shares with us his contribution to LGBTQ+ History Month!

February is the LGBTQ+ History Month initiated in the UK back in 2005. While various countries have different months for the occasion, the main goal is same to raise awareness of prejudice and injustice against the LGBTQ+ community, combat the discrimination while celebrating the achievements and the visibility of the community throughout the history. 

While we saw great progress in LGBTQ+ Equity in many countries in terms of legislation, recognition and positive visibility, we also see setbacks on the gains we have seen in major Western countries. Individual freedom of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are still very much stigmatized in numerous countries. ILGA Europe 2021 full report tells us some terrible statistics worldwide: 

• Only 33 countries worldwide recognize same-sex marriages
• There are 69 countries that criminalize homosexuality – 11 of them can use death penalty
• It’s not possible to legally change your gender in at least 47 UN member states, 11 of those countries criminalizes being transgender
• 375 trans people killed in 2022 for just being trans worldwide, 4369 murders between  2008-2022  worldwide where it is reported and could be tracked. Real numbers is probably much higher.

These numbers might come as a shock to some allies and LGBTQI community members, this is unfortunately still the reality. It is also important to note that even if a country passed an equitable legislation, the equity is far from the reality, in the countries where LGBTQ+ laws have progressed, in many cases there is discrimination and bullying happening in the society from the schools to the workplaces. 

Source: Marsha P. Johnson at the Second Christopher Street Liberation Day March, 1972, photograph by Leonard Fink

The fight for equity is still on and very much relevant. We should cherish and learn from the sacrifices and works that have been led by various pioneers all around the world. The queer revolution and the fight for LGBTQ+ equity has been and still is fought in every corner of the world. While we get more visibility of western examples, we should be aware that the streets of Istanbul, Kiev, Beirut, Jerusalem, Tokyo, New Delhi, Abuja, Sao Paolo, Mexico city and many more witnessed or witnessing heroes and activists who were/are working towards our collective freedom worldwide! 

I would like to conclude with the words of Marsha P. Johnson who was one of key figures in the Stonewall protests in 1969 in the US: "You never completely have your rights, one person, until you all have your rights."