A chat with the Foundation Reflejos and a survey among Italians on the topic of sexual diversity. "We fight for gay, lesbian, the transgender, transsexuals, the bisexual, the hermaphrodite. Without Borders. Because what we are fighting for is respect and recognition of human rights that we are entitled as citizens."
of Monica VistaLite
CARACAS - On Sunday we celebrated the World Day against homophobia, and transphobia lesbofobia. The LGBT community, but not limited to, took to the streets to commemorate this May 17, 1990, the day the World Health Organization (WHO) officially removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses.
"We have to conquer space with dignity, without forcing anyone. It 's a war without weapons but can not afford to lose the spaces losers, "says Elena Hernaìz serene and resolute, president of the Foundation Reflejos.
Although, not surprisingly, the statistics on the LGBT community (lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual) are almost absent, according to the latest data available on 17% of the population is homosexual, while one in 2000 is transsexual. Recognizing this segment of the citizens in recent years more and more countries have drawn up rules on the rights of sessodiversi and, at least at the regulatory level, have acted to protect this fact. Sweden knocked down a wall historic legalizing homosexual unions (Argentina will be the first Latin American country to do so) and adoption for same-sex couples (in March, a Brazilian judge granted the adoption of twins to a homosexual couple). Just in recent months, Venezuelan National Assembly is discussing an article that, among other things, would allow the "unions of cohabitation."
Despite this social advancement, in many countries continues to severely punish sexual diversity with sentences ranging from jail, lashes and death. The absurdity is so strong that it also discriminates in the discrimination itself: in many countries - Singapore, India, Uganda, Burma, Jamaica, Kenya, among others - is legal but not female homosexuality than male.
In our two lands separated from the ocean, homosexuals should not suffer these outrages, but at the same time, a category not considered legally, often victims of verbal and physical violence at the hands of the large group of homophobia in society or hidden within the ranks of police, of health professionals, clergy. Last March the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has denounced the continued escalation of crime and hate speech against gays and lesbians.
also working at the exclusion is more than alive: a few days ago, near Peru has legislated against gay people, which is now prohibited from entering the police, Italy, and very often the parenting groups do not accept gay or lesbian as a teacher for their children. It is feared that homosexuality can 'teach' or 'infected', and anyway can not 'set a good example'.
"Clearly, sexual diversity is not accepted. There is respect but do not agree - says Elena -. They are good infidels and sadistic, not gays and lesbians. " Points out as the companion of Helen, " homosexuals the scapegoat of promiscuity."
Despite the difficulties, the representative of the Foundation Reflejos brings a lot of hope in itself. "Some years ago the situation was much worse. Today the world is opening up the doors slowly, driven by an increasing number of people coming out of the closet and fight at the institutional level. But the path must be to achieve synergy between Law and Society . The first has a legally binding agreement in the second to press because they modify the rules. This is the time. If we do not act now, we do not recognize anymore. "
educate, train and inform. This line of work for a business that means consistent language and visibility.
"Until now, many activists have alleged in a television with fictitious names or the hidden face - regrets Elena -. and some associations are ghettos in their struggle. Instead, we fight for gay, lesbian, the transgender, transsexuals, the bisexual, the hermaphrodite. Without Borders. Why what we are fighting for is respect and recognition of human rights that we are entitled as citizens. We want to educate about what unites us, rather than focus on what differentiates us. "
In this vein, the Foundation is committed Reflejos today in a radio program (the first in Venezuela on the theme LGBT), a web page ( http://www.fundacionreflejosdevenezuela.com/ ) and in four projects. The first, "Soy Mujer y point," is directed at lesbians and transsexuals considered only as a woman, and nothing more while the second, "Trans ... pasemos las barreras", deals with ideological barriers, social, legal and individual impeding the path of transsexuals and trangender. Then there's "Nuevos Modelos de Familia" dedicated to families composed of parents or children sessodiversi and finally "a Hagamos hecho de nuestro Derecho", for all those human rights that are not yet a reality for a significant fringe of citizens.
"What is lacking - Elena insists - is education. I once gave a talk about homosexuality without talking about sex and all were amazed. 'How is it possible?' I asked. They do not understand that it is a problem of human and civil rights, not sex. Unfortunately, even today, when we talk about homosexuality immediately think of orgies, promiscuity, sexual degeneration and morbidity. means that until recently on TV could not deal with LGBT issues before eleven at night, in what was considered pornography. This fruit of ignorance, rather than help, affects our image. "
The lack of contact with the "different" can be seen clearly in the statements of the Italian-Venezuelan on the issue of sexual diversity.
Some, especially young people, stressing the equality of all persons and the prohibition laid down by law, all forms of discrimination. They speak of homosexuality "normal sexuality and emotional" and criticized his "stripping of any aspect sentimental and loving."
Others speak of "psychological illness", "unnatural act", "degeneration" declare the need for the "outpouring homosexuals" are expressed "indoors, in private, not public" in order "not to affect modesty of ordinary people ". These ideas then generate a widespread feeling that spreads and regenerates. As one interviewee tells us: "I too am annoyed to see homosexual acts in the street. This is because I am the son of the conditioning society that raised me. But I find the strength to rebel against this plagiarism. "
"We're not used to seeing a kiss all the men, while the sexuality of women appears every day on TV," says a young Italian. Listening to other opinions, it seems that actually female homosexuality, described as "glamorous" and "elegant", is more accepted than male, but considered a "rough and violent practice" that "undermines the manly man's role in society." Obviously, as we are told, " men is not enough to feel part of the human race. We need to create subsets within which to register .
at the idea of \u200b\u200ba homosexual child, no respondent appears to be quiet. Even those who accept sexual diversity is concerned grimaces and marginalization. Or worse. This is because almost everyone has witnessed firsthand episodes of verbal and physical violence against sessodiversi.
Apparently, there is still much work to do. Obstacles are those who try to cure homosexuality with electroshock and group therapy, in those who react with a laugh, with a fist or with the increasingly popular 'antitrans patrols' in those who fear for the sacrament of marriage,' institution of the family and the divine.
Fortunately many associations are mobilizing in an increasingly urgent to ensure that this segregation has a deadline. To ensure that the papers can not be read more articles like the one, dated April 6, 2009, that headline "Dad, I'm gay! The father throws him out, the priest wants to exorcise. "
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