Around the world, homophobic and transphobic attitudes persist, resulting in stigma, violence and barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Dozens of countries still criminalize consensual same-sex sexual intercourse. Healthcare services continue to include abusive practices such as “conversion therapy” and forced medical exams.
Discrimination worsens health outcomes for members of the LGBTQI+ community. For instance, transgender people are disproportionately affected by HIV, and many report being denied healthcare due to their gender identity, creating significant barriers to HIV prevention and treatment.
Such discrimination in health services leaves people more vulnerable to poverty, climate disasters and other crises.
Empowered LGBTQI+ communities can challenge stigma and improve services, leading to better health, well-being and protections of human rights. With this in mind, community-led services should build on partnerships with LGBTQI+ organizations and be grounded in their leadership and lived expertise.
In addition, greater investment and better data and legal protections are needed to address the dignity, health and rights of LGBTQI+ people. The safe and ethical gathering of inclusive, disaggregated data on LGBTQI+ communities helps to root policies and programmes in the realities of LGBTQI+ people.
UNFPA supports countries in advancing rights-based legislative and policy reform, and in pursuing education, training and other initiatives to empower LGBTQI+ communities.
“Everyone – in all our beautiful diversities – has the right to sexual and reproductive healthcare and protection from violence,” UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem says. “Yet today a tide of stigma, discrimination and funding cuts is putting countless lives at risk. UNFPA is proud to stand with LGBTQI+ communities and defend their right to live free from discrimination and in safety and dignity.”
