Protecting Young LGBT and Intersex Rights Worldwide

Young LGBT and Intersex Rights and Protection

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia

Discriminated and made vulnerable: Young LGBT and intersex people need recognition and protection of their rights — International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia — Sunday 17 May 2015

GENEVA (13 May 2015) – Speaking ahead of the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, a group of United Nations and international human rights experts* call for an end to discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people and children.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, a group of UN human rights experts*, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe urge governments worldwide to protect these young people and children from violence and discrimination, and to integrate their views on policies and laws that affect their rights.

“Around the world, children and young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or intersex, or seen as such, still face stigma, discrimination and violence because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity, or because their bodies differ from typical definitions of female or male.”

Violence and discrimination against LGBT and intersex children and young people occur in multiple settings and have serious consequences:

• They take place at home, in schools and in institutions.
• LGBT young people too often face rejection by their families and communities who disapprove of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• This can result in high rates of homelessness, social exclusion, and poverty.
• LGBT children are often bullied by classmates and teachers, resulting in some students dropping out.
• They may even be refused school admission or expelled on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

The stigma and discrimination LGBT children and young adults face have a detrimental impact on their self-esteem, and are associated with higher rates of depression and suicide than their peers. Discriminatory attitudes by health professionals and restrictions on access to information also create barriers for LGBT and intersex children and young people to access appropriate and safe health services.