This document discusses several key points regarding LGBTQI rights around the world: 1) While there is a fragile consensus on universal human rights and dignity, discussing LGBTQI issues often involves navigating different cultural sensitivities. 2) The experiences of those under the "LGBTQI" umbrella vary greatly based on factors like location, priorities, and legal/funding situations. 3) Gender identity and sexual orientation are distinct, and not all transgender or intersex individuals are gay. 4) Violence and discrimination against LGBTQI individuals is severely underreported due to social stigma, and occurs in epidemic proportions globally.

1. The World, and LGBTQI
Chloe Schwenke, Ph.D.
www.chloemaryland.net
Human Development and Capability Association Pre-Conference Workshop
Thursday, September 10, 2015
A joint effort of the HDCA Ethics, Human Rights, and Sustainability Thematic
Groups, and the International Development Ethics Association

2. 1. There’s no such thing as “LGBTQI rights”
• A modest rights agenda
– Be who you are
– Love who you love
• But don’t talk about sex!
• A fragile consensus on
universal “truths”
– Human dignity
– Human rights
– Avoiding “other”
• Being “special” is
counterproductive,
maybe even “Western”

3. 2. “LGBTQI” are many letters
• Different realities
• Different priorities
• Different public reactions
• Different funding realities
• Different definitions
• Different leadership
• Different demographics
• Different politics and laws

4. 3. Gay ≠ LGBTQI
• Gender identity is NOT
the same as sexual
orientation
• Only some transgender
and intersex people are
gay
• Yes, it matters

5. 4. It’s a lot worse than you think
• Extreme homophobic and
transphobic violence is in every
region of the world
• LGBTQI people are often targets
of organized abuse or mob
violence
• Violence against LGBTQI persons
is especially vicious compared to
other bias-motivated crimes
• Violent incidents or acts of
discrimination often go
unreported, because victims:
– do not trust police, with reason
– are afraid of reprisals
– are unwilling to identify
themselves as LGBTQI, or as an ally
– face social and cultural taboos

6. 5. We have to talk about religion
• The exercise of religious
freedom must not be
allowed to “qualify”
universal human dignity
– “Those people…”
– Sinners and
“abominations”
– Religious exemptions
– Religion and politics
– Religions and the “T”
– “Traditional values”