LGBT violence worse than other hate crimes -UN

The United Nations (UN) on Friday (Philippine time) released a report on the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people around the world, saying that governments have “too often overlooked” assaults on people rooted on sexual orientation and gender identity.   Released by the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the report noted that LGBT crimes tended to be more vicious, with “a high degree of cruelty and brutality.”   The report said that violence driven by homophobia or transphobia has been happening worldwide, from cases of murder, kidnappings, assaults, rapes, psychological threats and deprivations of liberty.   According to the report, cases of LGBT discrimination usually go unreported because of mistrust with the police, fear of retaliation, or their unwillingness to identify themselves as LGBT.                                     Last week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon denounced “homophobic bullying” targeted towards children because of their “presumed sexual orientation or gender identity.”   Repeal laws against LGBT   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on countries to repeal laws that criminalize homosexuality, according to the report. Currently, 76 countries penalize same-sex relations—of those, five (Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen) still invoke the death penalty, according to the UN.                 “If the State treats people as second class or second rate or, worse, as criminals, then it’s inviting people to do the same thing,” said OHCHR chief Charles Radcliffe on UN Radio.   Radcliffe said that all UN Member States have a duty under international human rights law to decriminalize homosexuality, adding that while religious freedom exists, “no religious belief or prevailing cultural values can justify stripping people of their basic rights.”   Pillay had also made a statement over social media last week, calling for an end to bullying and other forms of discrimination against LGBT persons.   Anti-discrimination bill   In 2010, Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño filled two bills that would further the rights of LGBT persons—one to recognize May 17 as the “National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia,” and House Bill 4635 or the “Anti-Discrimination Act of 2010.”   Recently, the bill made headlines when the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted CBCP lawyer Ronal Reyes as saying that the anti-discrimination bill would “[open] the door for same-sex marriages, which our country doesn’t allow.”   CBCP lawyer Jo Imbong, said LGBT persons should grouped together with other marginalized sectors.   “[The elderly, the handicapped, and the poor] are disadvantaged not by their own choice. But the third sex, they choose this. How can you give protection to a choice like that?” Imbong was quoted as saying.   Earlier this year, several LGBT rights groups staged a protest to bring attention to the cases of LGBT hate crimes in the country—including over 56 deaths that remain unsolved. — BC/ELR, GMA News