Asia's youngest nation offers glimmer of hope for LGBT rights

KUALA LUMPUR - Marching through the streets of East Timor's capital Dili with a rainbow flag in his hand, Natalino Guterres was overwhelmed with emotion, reminding him of how he felt 15 years ago when he saw the Timorese flag raised for the first time.

"It was an emotional moment," he said of the pride parade.

"The sense of euphoria ... I saw happiness written on people's faces and some teared up. It reminds me of Independence Day in 2002."

Guterres was among some 500 people taking part in East Timor's first-ever pride parade. The atmosphere was carnival-like, with participants waving colourful rainbow flags, cheering and beating drums in the capital.

Campaigners say the parade last month was a milestone for the tiny, half-island nation - Asia's youngest democracy - and a beacon of hope for a region where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights are under increasing attack.

LGBT rights in the nation of 1.2 million people have not been a major focus. International headlines about the country have been dominated by its 24-year resistance to occupation by neighboring Indonesia, which eventually led to East Timor's independence in 2002.

However activists say social stigma and discrimination are common for LGBT people.

Same-sex behavior is not criminalized under East Timor's laws but they also do not offer protection against discrimination.

KICKED OUT OF HOME, BULLIED AT SCHOOL

Guterres, a development consultant who runs a youth group that organized the parade, said many like him grew up feeling "lonely" and do not know where to turn when they suffer discrimination.

"If you talk to the (LGBT) community, people have been kicked out of home or feel uncomfortable about going to school because they are bullied. They live from house to house because they are not accepted at home.

"That is why visibility of the LGBT community is important. We want to empower people who are still struggling," the 27-year-old told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Dili.

Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo gave a boost to LGBT rights supporters when he recorded a video message ahead of the march urging Timorese to create an inclusive nation, and accept people with different sexual orientations and gender identities.

The call was a "welcome glint of leadership amidst officials elsewhere in the region who openly stoke anti-LGBT bigotry", said Kyle Knight, a LGBT rights researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Although Taiwan's top court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in May, paving the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to legalize gay unions, progress of LGBT rights elsewhere in the region has been slow.

In neighboring Indonesia, the LGBT community has faced a series of attacks since last year with senior officials saying there is "no room" for gay rights movement, while authorities detained 141 men in a gay club raid in May.

In the same month too, two young Indonesian men were publicly flogged for gay sex in the ultra-conservative Aceh province which has Islamic laws.

In Malaysia, health authorities prompted a public uproar last month over a video contest on how to "prevent" homosexuality, and were forced to amend the competition.

But Knight said East Timor could still offer more to the LGBT community by enacting laws to outlaw discrimination based on sexual identity.

"Timor Leste's current legal environment presents a mix of silence, protection and gaps for LGBT people," Knight said, using another name for the Southeast Asian country.

LONG WAY TO EQUALITY

The parade - which was supported by international groups including UN agencies and diplomats - has nevertheless raised hopes among the LGBT community in East Timor, and provided an impetus for the public to debate the topic.

"LGBT issues have been swept under the carpet all this while, now it is time to talk about them," said Felix Maia, the spokesman of UN Women in East Timor, who was at the parade.

"It creates polarizing opinion but we can only start raising awareness when people start talking about it," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Guterres said there is a long way to go to achieve equality but he was optimistic, as he has seen how his family attitude has changed over the years.

His brother, who stopped talking to him for two years after Guterres came out to him as gay, showed up at the pride parade clad in a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "You are not alone" and appeared on stage with him.

"He hugged me on stage and told me he was very proud of me," he said. "We were both in tears."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Taiwan crowds march in Asia's biggest gay pride parade

TAIPEI - Tens of thousands marched in Taiwan's capital Saturday in Asia's biggest gay pride parade, with many hoping presidential elections next year bring to power a pro-gay government that will legalize same-sex marriage.

About 78,000 people took part in the 13th Taiwan LGBT Pride event, with supporters waving rainbow flags and handmade placards calling for marriage equality as they circled downtown Taipei.

Some donned costumes including a group of men dressed up as characters from Japanese manga Sailor Moon while a choir group called G-Major sang as they walked with the crowds.

While Taiwan is one of the most progressive Asian societies when it comes to homosexuality, a bill to make same-sex marriage legal has been stalled in parliament since it was first proposed in 2013.

"There's been huge changes in the society in recent years with a lot of grassroot efforts pushing for equality," said Jennifer Lu, an openly gay candidate for the Social Democratic Party in next year's elections.

"But the government hasn't kept pace. That's why I want to run," she told AFP.

Widely expected to become Taiwan's next president -- and the island's first female leader -- Tsai Ing-wen of main opposition Democratic Progressive Party expressed support for same-sex marriage.

"Everyone is equal before love," she said in a video posted on her Facebook page Saturday.

But Tsai has yet to commit to pushing the bill through, saying in a separate statement that it's "an issue the whole society must face together as there are many who support marriage equality but there are also many who are reluctant."

This year's march coincides with several events held in Taipei, including a queer film festival and a regional LGBT conference.

"Taiwan certainly is one of the more progressive in Asia," said Ashley Wu, co-chair of this year's conference which attracted about 400 activists from countries including China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Nepal.

"But there is still strong opposing voices such as Christian groups. Their numbers aren't big but their political influence is significant," Wu said.

While marriage is not yet an option, some are encouraged by recent developments in gay rights.

Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan earlier this year became the first city to allow same-sex partners to be listed in household registration records.

"Progress is inevitable," said 25-year-old JJ Chang, taking part in the parade for the fourth time.

This year Chang chose to celebrate his aboriginal identity by wearing a colourful headdress from his tribe in eastern Hualien county.

"Someone said there is no 'tongzhi' in the aboriginal community, so we couldn't stay silent," he said, using the Chinese term for gay and lesbian people.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jubilant NY crowds celebrate gay marriage ruling at pride march

NEW YORK, United States - Under a sea of rainbow flags, hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of New York on Sunday for the annual Gay Pride March, celebrating the US Supreme Court's landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

Despite the persistent chilly rain, organizers said as many as two million people could attend -- including 22,000 people marching in the parade itself down Fifth Avenue.

Derek Jacobi and Ian McKellen, two of Britain's most famous openly gay actors, served as the grand marshals of the parade.

Also leading the march was Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, founder of the LGBT rights organization Freedom & Roam Uganda. Homosexuality remains illegal in that African nation and can carry a life prison sentence.

"We march today with the New Yorkers and America in support of their rights, but I also hold the march in support of my struggle," she told AFP.

The march began at around mid-day after a minute's silence for those who could not attend, including people who had died of AIDS or been killed in hate crimes.

Any somber feelings were soon displaced and the festive atmosphere returned after the actor Tituss Burgess sang the American national anthem.

Many other well-known figures attended, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who wore a tie with rainbow stripes and carried a rainbow flag, the symbol of the gay rights movement. He attended with his wife and two children.

In the crowd, families mixed with scantily clad transvestites. Teens wore short rainbow tutus, and many carried signs that simply said "Love."

Ruling important for young people

In scenes that would have been tough to imagine 45 years ago, when New York cops would raid gay bars and homosexuality was illegal, many revelers reflected on what the Supreme Court ruling means for America.

One man in his 40s, who only gave his name as Dune, came to the march with his partner Jason. The two say they have plans to wed.

"I am a teacher," Dune told AFP. "This decision of the Supreme Court means a great deal for young people, especially teenagers."

He said it remains difficult for teenagers to come out, and doing so can still be dangerous. The Supreme Court ruling will help change that, he said.

"I live in New York, I am an adult. But for kids, they are the ones that are going to benefit down the road."

The court on Friday made same-sex marriage legal throughout the nation, capping a lengthy effort for marriage equality that had seen 37 states allow gay marriage but 13 hold out against it.

March organizers said on Twitter they would be performing free weddings during the day Sunday.

Discrimination persists

Richard Ahlgren, 55, came from the neighboring state of Connecticut.

He welcomed the Supreme Court ruling but said the gay community nevertheless still faces discrimination.

"There are other problems," Ahlgren said. "As far as housing, employment, there is still discrimination out there -- problems that we need to fix, until we are 100 percent free."

New York's first gay rights march was held in 1970, a year after a now notorious incident in which police raided a famed Greenwich Village gay bar called the Stonewall Inn, prompting riots in the gay community.

Not everyone was happy about the Supreme Court decision. A group of Orthodox Jews carried a large banner stating: "In God we trust. The Almighty in his Torah forbids same-sex marriage."

San Francisco was also hosting gay pride events this weekend. One spectator was injured there Saturday night in a shooting that stemmed from an argument unrelated to the event.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com