Statement for the International Day Against Homophobia –May 17
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May 17 was chosen to commemorate the date in which the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, "putting and end to over a century of homophobia in the medical field" (http://www.homophobiaday.org/)
On this day 1.Latin American Researchers of Ontario (LARO) publicly recognizes that Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Two Spirit, Intersex, and Queers of Colour- LGBTQ2SIQoC- Latin Americans continue to be affected by exclusion, hate and repression within and outside Latin American communities, despite the legal recognition of their basic human rights. 2.LARO recognizes the dignified struggle and hard work of LGBTQ2SIQoC Latin Americans for visibility and equality AND our responsibility to celebrate their individual and collective contributions as parents, children, immigrants, students, workers, artists, activists, educators, writers, organizers, social thinkers, policy makers, etc. 3.LARO acknowledges the need to integrate the contributions of LGBTQ2SIQoC Latin Americans into research, policy and community work that deals with "Latin Americans" in Ontario and beyond. 4.LARO affirms its commitment to promote the work of LGBTQ2SIQoC Latin Americans that questions any form of discrimination, that promotes the inclusion of LGBTQ2SIQoC persons in society, and that encourages others to understand sexual diversity. 5.LARO affirms it commitment to The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. LARO's Organizing Committee 2012-2013 *LARO's Organizing Committee gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Ana Cisneros and Karleen Pendleton Jiménez in drafting this statement. |
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