Homophobia as a Public Health Hazard

14 Pages·2013·6.64 MB·English

Health Law and Policy Brief
Volume 6|Issue 2 Article 9
10-9-2013
Homophobia as a Public Health Hazard: Gender
Identities, Sexual Orientation, and the Human
Right to Health
Preston Mitchum
American University Washington College of Law
Lauren Nussbaum
American University Washington College of Law
Follow this and additional works at:http://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/hlp
Part of theHealth Law Commons
Recommended Citation
Mitchum, Preston, and Lauren Nussbaum. "Homophobia as a Public Health Hazard: Gender Identities, Sexual Orientation, and the
Human Right to Health." Health Law & Policy Brief 6, no. 2 (2012): 124-136.
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ American University Washington College of Law. It has been accepted
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needed global conversation by reporting human rightsTh UnvraDelato ofHmnRg
violations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
intersex (LGBTI) individuals.' This report reflectsfreadqulidgntadrghsAcoig
the rapid development of international human rights d
law regarding LGBTI people over the past decade. 2ClnoihercntsehettedGyRg
Conversations between advocates, lawmakers, and adHmnRlhs rgt r o ofre
policymnakers regarding sexual orientation, gendergoenntthyaehebrritofllppe.
identity, sexual and reproductive health, and LGBTIbeaswehvrittegornntsbud
advocacy are finally occurring, with opportunitiesprtc hm"
for timely interventions. Acrigt h NOfc o h i
Most human rights instruments still do not adequately C1 mniHsoHeu many rios , "iuga htsaeinhtso(HnHferh
address the relationships between sexual orientation,maygvrensotnioe scmnti
gender identity, gkecnoddeirg teoxppere ssion, and the right tobaeongdriettygnerxpsini NOfie o t1H
health; they rely upon limited notions of the meaning sCoxmaiso nrfor etto.6TeOCRruprm n iht OHHeal
of "gender" in international human rights law.3 This tma ayaong venh et ol o1neipneoaeekdlser iiai red
background paper will 1paroe1v gideed rcieonntieyx t for using ht-oiae ilne enoetrrdxtrneisoa
human rights to protect and promote the right to csieiauialin adrdesnrmainoto. Th GHH epnrjebahla
health of LGBTI people, and will also explore how crT henU nidercalt o Deeclaaast ion fotf erraHu mxrrpearnteRivgs
human rights law may evolve to better protect theseuloinaonrgndtrhdahnt"etay r.u7onTrdel eppeole re ille orend
sexual and reproductive rights of all people. ntdta voec gis GTprostn
haemtvtd voece1otrdtni
*PrestoneMitchumareceivedoasIDofromeNorthoCaro ina crmialzaio an1iciiaio njbha
inTh Lawht andGovernmetofromuAmeriangcaUen i1vne rsit eas 1fdtcetor ra rprev
receivedoandM.A.iinnLatinAmericanuStudiesafromfTu an seulontainoHedr dniy"h rep
U8n a~d~ misp rxapcve ceerds ityor eicne i0e a Infro
1oe pht"ilneaantLB esn e
.~h Thisur papernwaswritteneuderuthenspervisionofnandvi
tob 1seilyvcos oprdt te i
consueta tationtwithtDanienaaraiemyfromltheaAmerica
UniversitysashintoneCo-egenofoLw;aCathy Cue ar 1oiae crs"
PAHOnshenA dvisorgonGVesnqdueerznandHeasthxJaveTr herigot s "ductio, hmandigity li
PAHOviie RegionAaadHvisuomr: aannddCRriigsthintsrLw
LeritaasnPtiAonH HOumAaCnroRnisguht s. Ahe andro
an ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ eae~e rvr~so~p~ohlhasta aeriheoiiosexrssdi
widespread lack of support or protection
for sexual minorities against violence and
discrimination, impedes1 ftahed feenejtogynmdernot of oinaini nitra h aaaeigye droo1 oeeatiar
sexual and reproductive health by many beasitofcneesgoethdcep.c"t"yAorcaomri-nxgtoths dfiitonseua
people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, or feignto h cinuo hs elns
transgender identities or conduct.12ept oretton1enstianl lglanvenens l aaiy ott scniueair
beasrtfcsso h aaiyfrsm-e
The definitions of "sex" and "gender" under t mlytemr etitv eiiino sx n
international human rights law have expanded tousitfneelrhngsa1byow hgnndtre(fanrtfiringuo hs elns
include gender identity, gender expression, and oDelp teitorntwonlgmaadnnc.sTstesio tiu a edrtecnesto
sexual orientation; as a result, the rights associated cnuig u nesadn h uteiso
toeplyth1oe etrcie1einto o ex1n
with these concepts have broadened as well. addsicin ewe e n edri rca
According to the Committee on Economic, Social t eonzn GT esn'rgtt elh
and Cultural Rights, states must "integrate a genderTh CSRasntdht"[etrmsxhs
perspective in their health-related policies, planning, eovdcnieal ocvrntol hsooia
programs and research in order to promote betterchrteiisbualoheoilcntutonf
ThICSRhsnoe ht"teIem e a
health for both women and men."13 Traditionally,gedrsrotppejicanexcedol,
evle cnieabyt ovrntonypyiooia
this meant promoting the realization of the rightwhchaeratdosclsoteeqlfuilmn
chrceitcru lotesca osrcino
to health for women and domestic girls. The o cnmc oil n utrlrgt.1 h
international community has expanded the scope ofpesctoofLBIidvuaswnthyont
sex-and gender-based discrimination to protect notcofrtoheonmai dal-bthntrs
only heterosexual women and girls, but also LGBTI o edriett n euloinain-lmt
persons on the basis of sexual orientation and gender terrgtt elhwe hyse cest evcs
identity.14 For example, some (though not all) of
LGBTI persons' rights in regard to health stem from 11 ILTOSO''- UA
ofgnerdett n exa rettin-lmt
prohibitions of sex-and gender-based discrimination, RGT OP--SCLADMNA
which many advocates for LGBTI persons interpret HAT
to include discrimination against those who do not LBIavctshv dpe h taeyo
conform to prevailing gender norms. dfnn n pligitrainlhmnrgt
The Special Rapporteur on the right to health defines lwfrLBIprost ev samdlfrsae
gender identity as "each person's deeply felt internaltoaHptErrAerTmdesilgsainrasaol
and individual experience of gender, which may ortocalnedsrmaoylwsndpiis.0I
may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth,206huaritseptsdfedheYgkra
including the personal sense of the body ..a.n d other Plaircop e GTn tepAropsita ino erea oenlfersnaetoa
expressions oJf ogaeontdoe r."15As a result, all persons HmnRgte omar oetnclRgslattooo oSxa retstoato
have the right to define their own gender identity, atodcGhlnlneg ddsn iy(oykrrimaPntirc paes)a dplce.0 h
including, though not necessarily, through medica1l0t6w nyienihose-pnrsddagtdpterYcgpaaltseakhufaw ih
procedures.16 The International Commission ofaplPanrnitirltsooa1lhy rteedhmnigtoplcaino nentoa
Jurists has distinguished gender expression from gne dniyadsxa rettodsrb
Hua1ihsLwi1eaio oSxa retto
gender identity, noting "the notion of what properlysatn e'1oedbrIeitt1aYogynkratPoicppe)t cthtrgtadpoveh
constitutes male or female norms has been a sourcereomnaisfrtcwvel tynin nn-bndng priccpeete.1ahToe1 hacn
ppl nitrainlypoetdhmnrgtt
gedriettrn eua rettodsrb
1tts biain opoetta ih n rvd
~
profound affeemctoiotinoanl,a l, andcl attraction -%sexual
alc 1G1
>l1( .ea na alscrmnatu
tly vioh1 ?1e, in Zimbabwe, leC Ipc
hroueh vioh1 )f a cultural -prohil
ar
C)hc 1IC
le
irc h likel bje Ac
TU
elated and 1c H
elc
GI
All 1
pla Dli
G1 G
?r mi1 A1 1h
)1
I(
pre pre elves free1
d -M ahIc
li
A< tL ,GI
H rut art
c violer srmi 1
Ch LGBTI la spo: le
may let, like
apt
lp) 1l<
GI
G1
l1
li ple prc
11
:hreate
ape
lence inch
cks :tive" rape C- l1
ning people (inc
l1
Plh -G1
by :kc
Jt 1
m, mC
rld He
In1
1 elf
abb ers. 29I n GG<
c le
lically unnec< r
l1
,alled "amnbit
iies, a pr
mrm prrt
to health; this right includes the right to "access to be etnb oiewt aos u ut n
information, as well as to resources necessary to actstcbunwihigrteadfoedo ron
on that information."44 The Special Rapporteurs on oa e.,7I aycutis rngne e
the right to education and health have emphasizedanwoear"pisd"frcsig aitn'
that sex education should emphasize the "importance gne om n onais 8soeCnda
of the sexual diversity approach, which is linked to rpr xlie,"th ointa hr r w n
the gender perspective."45 As the Special Rapporteur ol w edr soeo h otbsciesi u
benbaeHb oiewthbtngujut n
himself notes, this right is often violated whenbiayWsenwyothkng rsedrpoh
content regarding LGBTI people is absent from sex caln1etcso rvur n wicigrtenanfeocsdaopdronn ftewrd n
orlsx"7IG1mnren, rngne e
education materials. 46F or example, Brazil recentlywemkthmpyhecsofuronsinb ei
suspended new sex education material known as aunf1rno.e5 re"uihd frcosngtaiin
"anti-homophobia kits" because they contained Fgrehnrdoee nomJnnm no naoinsre5g ylsisnoeCnda
images of gays and lesbians. 47an rngneidvdulhvebnualet
Homophobia, or sexual prejudice, occurs whenpecalasmbewtotnouergthaso-
individuals have a negative attitude, evaluation, or voec n iciiain 0Drn h Eult
judgment directed toward LGBTI individuals, thatMac"iPondprtiatsvehrdemk,
we ak thmpytecsGfou ofso yte
involves hostility or dislike because of their actual lk Ltsgtte as n W'ld oyuwa
or perceived orientation. 48 Because of homophobia,Hilrdsduwfft ering"5 eS,6
many LGBTI persons are victims of murder, rape,Soitlpeuceaintheoinof"mngu'
or other forms of discrimination such as denial of i nte oFrueornt e rmmoea, yil tocsuon tres, GTa ys leessnian
housing, denied employment, and dismissed from
current employment .49 For example, students whorihtohah.Aareutftesvolin, icd
do not conform to traditional gender roles are often i oepeaetaogLBIppltosta
denied theiAr mrnisgt hItt erattoon l,e dourceaxtimonp, l,e ithaers dboeccamusee teofamHntihlies rigitcduwepirhs.J6eOsh.r6 na
bullying and harassment by students that is toleratedhelhpoem tatdsrotinly mac
by adpmatiennisstorfaptoorisc, orm diucen uttoa aenxsp1u lsion. 50 niiul teLBIcmuiyicueicesdrtso
duetothiracualorpeceve seuloietto
Some states have institutionalized state-sponsored sbtneaue l fwihas oengtv
or ener detiy.' I prtiulrtrasgndrme
homoapnhdo bwiao marbney allilotwobinsgu jcteheto vdlenaeth penalty forcosqeesfrpyia alh6Frexme
conseinns uaacnl u snamries-s.e6x pnr acteicpeas, oro rgeenxdmer pidee,n"tmityt,i 5 usac bs mn a n rngne e (
while others simply ignore private violence againstasoitdwhhgeraesfuaesxalpcie(
amog hersrihconeprs6Otemna
LGBTI people. Violent attacks agkaeinlhstp oLleGsBtaT I adHVSIifcinrts is4rTepedrsriesnaeCal Gma
victims occur from Belgium to Jamaica, often
theLGBI cmmnit inlud icresedrats1
in public and with impunity.5 2 In some cases, srs kerfhidon axeny' aneubltoo yiaeadigsvrarean
authorities may even punish the victims instead of theemtoarphsclbuefminlrntai3
attackers, which further drives LGBTI populationssumsaceibbureial n o uitsf.6whc lopoengtv
underground.53
coeneuquntcos frw pdysscraal helth6il3ec teUoireexapl
substance m1nb s a n rngne e
People, entitled to human rights protections from NainHunRghsCmteeasfndh:
1soitdwthgertsousf eulpatc
their governments, are being killed by agents ofthpulceahinitvstrgedt GT
the State or sepn1tenced to death due to their sexualinvI/dT ulanruetdoe maeesd6 bchsse oitohdfra ror
orientaqtion, gender expressio~n or gender identity.54 ekiptramn_6Tbtetetin&qce
luctant to come out as discrimi
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aw.
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art lone or expre
e1ll 1 prc H1
irejy 1s
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Health Topic 1: ig, training, and
health spreading
GI ight to rights andj idc
1 al
ela
c1I G1
1c
11lei- v HIV
apact LGI at
ad pri sonne
0 Ph 1 ps
rt rke
:I11
andi ST~s prever 11
and regional hu
standards- rtu
pt porate ade
*Undertake targ pe id reor
lawyers, judges, mnal j
health care proN and Ia tor
1o
officials regard
ple legish
voune people., dren, LGI
1
11lei i HIV in or
al legislat
?10
* Include t >le
laws, -polii la
als ro(
pr( inn
hrr
-Ii.
IHe
ir 1
>plc 2:, angrn qd i 2gt
rtain group clu
lildren, adol d LGBTIgroups r pnc
*Ensure sr prc
nealth pr
investiga
HIV preN
of hurn
r
discrimrx 1eni pr
)1(
-I,
pre
ap
1( ch
MY 1l
1l Is, >pc 4:, Legl P nd progr
laws, ph1 Ali
rporating
the l1eg isla Ai
1r
prc >rotect spe
r.n
G]
1h >1 1h
specific legisl iroon
li pre
1k ,GI
pr
pr(
G1
1o
111
le, LGI
111
pr(
laws, poli 1l
pr(
G1
Topic 5: Mecha for ident ig, investigating,
prosecuting, pe ig, and nitoring human
rights violation id, luding capacity-
young people
F
GB TI commi
sry
1h
Dh
GI
1h
sms in Ombu
imlementat
sms invo1 Heal
inch
relal
)1(
mi
CotxulznrteirkraPrnils T~vs i~r
L.Rv20,10(08
~tNznw
P3 MFCNHAT ur oe9 tl
17, 01t 1h, tpaa:iAlalev ww~ohhrorbngish
bodis~rouni~ics/1sesion~hr.! 9 4!_enlis~pd
(refree1tci2ng A()r tc o th Irierntioa Coenat o
ECcountro mic,_F Rights).F' Social and