GAY PEOPLE'S
Chronicle
Ohio's Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com
Volume 27, Issue 14 December 30, 2011
U.N. lists LGBT rights abuses for first time
by Anthony Glassman
New York City-Nine days after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave a strong address focusing on the human rights of LGBT people across the globe, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights turned in the agency's inaugural, overarching examination of violations of rights faced by LGBT people across the globe.
The December 15 report cited dozens of examples of failures and victories in the protection of LGBT human rights, pointing to murders and rap in Europe and North America as readily as those in Africa and Latin America, but also noting positives in less-developed countries as heartily as it did those in so-called "first world" nations.
"The Secretary-General expressed his concern in a speech on Human Rights Day 2010, when he stated: As men and women of conscience, we reject discrimination in general, and in particular discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," the report notes in its introduction. "Where there is a tension between cultural attitudes and universal human rights, rights must carry the day. Together, we seek the repeal of laws that criminalize homosexuality, that permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, that encourage violence.'
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"While not addressing all violations perpetrated in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity, the present report highlight critical human rights concerns that States have an obligation to address, and highlights emerging responses," it continues.
The report argues that existing human rights treaties already cover sexual orientation and gender identity.
"The specific grounds of discrimination referred to in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other human rights treaties are not exhaustive. The drafters intentionally left the grounds of discrimination open by using the phrase 'other status.' Sexual orientation and gender identity, like disability, age and
health status, are not explicitly mentioned among the grounds listed..."
However, the report points out that the Human Rights Committee ruled in 1994 that countries must protect on the basis of sexual orientation, and later committee decisions upheld that view.
In compiling the types of violence that LGBT people face, the report notes, “Violence against LGBT persons tends to be especially vicious compared to other bias-motivated crimes. . . Quantifying homophobic
and What happens if Dad dies?
transphobic violence is complicated by the fact that few States have systems in place for monitoring, recording and reporting these incidents. Even where systems exist, incidents may go unreported or are misreported because victims distrust the police, are afraid of reprisals or threats to privacy, are reluctant to identify themselves as LGBT or because those responsible for registering the incidents fail to recognize motives of perpetrators."
The report cites at least 31 murders of LGBT people in an 18month period in Honduras, and a Jamaican man who was stabbed and stoned by a mob at the urging of police officers. It also noted reports of anti-lesbian violence, ranging from rape and forced pregnancy to murder, in El Salvador, Kyrgyzstan and South Africa.
It notes the nations that have repealed their laws against consensual same-sex sexual activity since that 1994 committee ruling, including the United States, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Georgia, Fiji, India, the Marshall Islands, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, independent territories of the United Kingdom and New Zealand, as well as Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Sao Tome and Principe and Seychelles.
The report also criticized nations that do not offer asylum to LGBT refugees facing the threat of violence in their home nations, while praising a number of countries that have recently made it easier for transgender people to
continued on page 2
Patrick Wang's first film In the Family is a moving story of why we need marriage equality. Joey and Cody (Wang and Trevor St. John, above) are raising a son together, but when Cody is killed in an accident, his sister gets everything. The film plays in January at the Cleveland Cinematheque. See page 6.
Maple Heights councilor joins list of out Ohio elected officials
by Anthony Glassman
Maple Heights-Add a 12th openly gay elected official to Ohio lists, with Richard Trojanski about to enter his second term of office.
Trojanski was first elected to Maple Heights City Council in November 2009. Last month, he was re-elected with 58% of the vote to opponent Adam Cohen's 41%, and will be sworn in for his second term on January 4.
A native of the city he now serves, he studied at John Carroll University and St. Louis University before returning home. While at St. Louis, he was involved with various multicultural and political science organizations.
After returning home in 2004, he worked for US Bank and Starbucks while also taking classes at Case Western Reserve University and Cuyahoga Community College. A year after his father died in 2008, the council seat in his district came open. Before the
election, his only opponent for the seat resigned from the race.
"I'm very honored and humbled to work to represent the people of District 6 in Maple Heights. The purpose of government is to uplift people and help them reach their full potential. We need more leaders that are going to work in the interest of the people," he said.
District 6 comprises the blocks around Warrensville Center Road in the city's northeast corner.
Trojanski had hoped to introduce an LGBT-inclusive antidiscrimination ordinance in 2012, but of the slate of progressive candidates put forward by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, he was the only one in a contested district to be elected. The Democratic candidate for mayor--District 7 councilor Neomia Mitchell-also lost, leaving Mayor Jeffrey Lansky in office.
Lansky, who has faced accusations of racism in this very integrated community, would likely oppose LGBT rights measures, and Trojanski does not believe he has the support in council to overcome this.
However, even if he cannot fulfill that priority, there are others that are within his grasp.
"In Maple Heights, we have districts. I represent the 6th District, so I am focused on my people," he said, noting his work on youth enrichment and reentry programs and a citizens leadership academy "to teach residents how to be effective leaders in the community since I can no longer bank on some of the legislative or capital programs I was working
on."
"I'm a very grassroots-oriented person, so I've fostered a lot of relationships with businesses and continued on page 2
INDIANA
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INDIANA YOUTH GROUP
Inside This Issue
Indiana has nation's first LGBT plates
News Briefs
Page 3
Charlie's Calendar
A moving story of why we need marraige equality
Page 5
Resource Directory ........... Classifieds .......
www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com
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