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LGBTI and sanitation: what we know and what the gaps are

Hermie Dumlao
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LGBTI and sanitation: what we know and what the gaps are

This paper considers the existing literature on, and experiences of, LGBTI people regarding challenges to accessing sanitation. The paper first considers the challenges faced by developed countries, and solutions practitioners have trialled or implemented. Their literature review elicited that numerous papers have been published on who should have access to which toilets, and that gender-neutral and all gender toilets have been implemented in the US, the UK and in China to account for the needs of trans or third gender individuals. However, in certain settings such as schools, where these options were not made available, students could not always access the toilets that matched their gender identity. Second, this paper considers the challenges faced by developing countries, and solutions practitioners have trialled or implemented.

The authors’ literature review found that resources were lacking on the experiences of trans gender or third gender individuals regarding public toilets, but that problems identified included being harassed and abused in men’s toilets, ridiculed in women’s toilets and suspected of sex work. Transgender women in India reported covering their faces when entering a women’s toilet to conceal their identities, or to delay going to the toilet until they could find somewhere more private.The paper found that a larger pool of literature existed on the experiences of transgender people (predominantly trans women) and accessibility when using public toilets, however, far less could be found on LGBI groups.

Furthermore, no published studies on the interrelationships of LGBTI individuals and sanitation were found by the authors’ during their literature review. Development organisations and governments in developing and developed countries for the most part acknowledge the need for integrating, for example, menstrual hygiene management in WASH programmes, and see the importance of adequately addressing the risk women face of experiencing gendered violence when trying to access WASH services. This has included ample recognition that a connection exists between SDG 6 – calling for clean water and sanitation, and SDG 5 – aiming for gender equality. What is lacking is research and policies that protect and consider the needs of LGBTI diverse actors, specifically regarding their safe and rightful access to WASH services.

“These Political Games Ruin Our Lives”: Indonesia’s LGBT Community Under Threat

Kirsty McKellar
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“These Political Games Ruin Our Lives”: Indonesia’s LGBT Community Under Threat

The Indonesian LGBT communities have long been living under societal pressure and violence from multiple stakeholders. One case that gained international attention was the attack to the 2010 International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) Asian regional congress in Surabaya. Police dispersed the congress with pressure from militant Islamist groups. Anti-LGBT activists spray painted ‘gays and lesbians are terrorists’ on the wall of GAYa NUSANTARA, the LGBT organisation organising the congress.

The anti-LGBT sentiment has been inflamed by Indonesian officials. On January 24, 2016, the Minister of Higher Education Muhammad Nasir said he wanted to ban LGBT student organisations from university campuses on the premise that they were not in accordance with the values and morals of Indonesia. Even though he then retracted the statement on his social media and replacing it with one saying that LGBT people should receive the same treatments in the eyes of the law, the anti-LGBT sentiments were already growing. Other Indonesian officials also made similar remarks. Attacks towards the community have increased since then.

According to the report, these attacks have been largely organised by fundamentalist Islamist groups, and seem to be getting the police support. It is clear political statements have serious implications for LGBT people in Indonesia.

Gender and Age Inequality of Disaster Risk

Kirsty McKellar
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Gender and Age Inequality of Disaster Risk

This 84-page resource comprises three sections: (1) Gender and age inequality of disaster risk – global review, (2) case studies on differential impact, and (3) conclusions and recommendations. In the first section, the global review outlines the gaps and issues relating to a lack of disaggregated data by variables such as age, sex, gender, disability and income when looking at disaster risk.

The second section pertains to the differential impact of earthquakes in Nepal; floods, cyclones and drought in Malawi; and hurricanes in Dominica. The document uses literature review and targeted interviews to understand ‘the experiences of individuals who are rarely considered in policy or programming’, and who are overlooked in projects of preparedness or post-disaster needs assessments.

Lesbian and bisexual women in Cuba: family, rights, and policy

Kirsty McKellar
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Lesbian and bisexual women in Cuba: family, rights, and policy

This article considers the role of state in protecting and supporting lesbian and bi women in Cuba. The report draws on the experiences of 17 self-identified lesbian and bi women in Havana. The author considers the context of gender and sexuality in Cuba, identifying that from the 1970s onward, political and cultural acceptance of LGBT people has increased. The article identifies that LGBT parenting is not currently prevalent in the media or discussed in government, however, this absence ‘has not greatly hindered’ the lesbian and bi women who took part in this study.

The author reaches three conclusions: first, the rejection of legalising same-sex marriage in 2007 was viewed by participants as actively infringing on their rights; second, the absence of state policy for LGBT assisted reproduction resulted in conflicting information, unmet needs, discrimination and an overall gap which often worked to counteract reproductive rights in Cuba; and third, although policy was lacking to assist LGBT parenting, the non-normative family structures in Cuba meant that lesbian and bi women’s parenting options were ‘well within Cuban norms,’ leaving social and political space for lesbian and bi women parents. The author finishes with a recommendation for gender equality campaigns to also include a focus on fatherhood, especially for queer men and for those fathering children with lesbian or bi women, with the end goal of a ‘more inclusive society for all’.

Data Collection and Reporting on Violence Perpetrated Against LGBTQI Persons in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda

Kirsty McKellar
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Data Collection and Reporting on Violence Perpetrated Against LGBTQI Persons in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda

This 90-page report is organised around six indicators for documenting and responding to violence perpetrated against LGBTQI persons, over five case study countries: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda. Indicators prompt states and civil society to, for example, consider the extent to which government authorities collect, disaggregate and analyse data relating to LGBTQI-based violence, or document the number of incidents of anti-LGBTQI violence and report these to government bodies.

The findings are based on an extensive desk review and supplementary interviews. For each case study, the paper identifies a range of political, social and cultural factors that permit or deny the rights of LGBTQI persons, or perpetuate the experience of gender-based violence. For example, in the Botswana case study, the sections are as follows: (1) background information including the basic rights of LGBTQI people in their daily lives, (2) their formal legal status, (3) important cases passed in law relating to LGBTQI rights, (4) social contexts, encompassing public discourse in the political and religious spheres, and (5) LGBTQI people and HIV/AIDS.

The document holds six key recommendations early on in the paper. Recommendations include ensuring prevention of violence against LGBTQI persons is linked to broader systemic violence prevention work; engaging the state in consistent and specific programs of data collection; and ensuring that data collection is coordinated and adequately networked.

Unjust, Unequal, Unstoppable: Fiji Lesbians, Bisexual Women, Trans men and Gender Non-Conforming People Tipping the Scales Toward Justice

Elena Robertson
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Unjust, Unequal, Unstoppable: Fiji Lesbians, Bisexual Women, Trans men and Gender Non-Conforming People Tipping the Scales Toward Justice

This research report presents the findings of a four-year long feminist action research project conducted by DiVA for Equality with lesbian and bi women, trans men and gender non-conforming (GNC) people in Fiji. The report presents peoples’ experiences of mental, physical and sexual violence in intimate partnerships, families, in the context of the State and the wider community. The report turns a spotlight on the experiences of LBT women with the Fiji Police and Court, revealing that faith based communities ‘often perpetuate the strongest disciplining and violence against lesbian and bi women, trans men and GNC people, and for others they are a source of great support.’

The report provides a background of Fiji with a focus on relationships to power, faith and authority and the connections between these institutions and gender identity, expression and sexual orientation. A thorough explanation of research methodology and participant demographics follows. DiVA draws upon Amartya Sen’s capabilities and capabilities deficit model to propose more nuanced understandings of the lives of lesbian and bi women, trans men and GNC people in different social groups in Fiji. Agency is a central component of this research and the recommendations it contains.

The report draws connections between harmful patriarchal, racist, heteronormative and masculinised belief-systems; vertical power differentials; and the need for climate justice. The report finds that lesbian and bi women, trans men and GNC people experience high rates of physical, sexual and mental.

The report makes recommendations to State and non-state actors.

A Development Agenda for Sexual and Gender Minorities

Elena Robertson
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A Development Agenda for Sexual and Gender Minorities

This development agenda for sexual and gender minorities highlights that the challenges facing sexual and gender minorities in development has become one for concern. There are four complex and analytical components to this paper.

1. Frameworks

This highlights the current frameworks for sexual and gender minorities. These include human rights, and how human rights play a role in creating a development framework. Similarly the importance of economic frameworks as development activities are so deeply grounded in economic theory, and it is critical to discuss the relationships between sexual orientation, gender identity and economic growth.

2. Creating a Development Agenda

There are several processes to consider in creating a development agenda. Engaging in community-based processes allows for the formulation of an agenda that is located within the community that would be affected by its policies. Defining target populations, this allows for the understanding of who will benefit from specific goals and how these goals can be targeted for specific groups.

3. A development Agenda

This section outlines the specific capabilities that can be used to create a development agenda for sexual and gender minorities, such as health, education, identity and expression, affiliate and relate, resources, participation and safety and security

4. Understanding development outcomes

Researchers and policy makers often work without reliable knowledge on the critical aspects of the lives of sexual and gender minorities. Creating a development agenda cannot proceed effectively without understanding the lives and needs of gender and sexual minorities.

Pride in the Humanitarian System Consultation Report

Elena Robertson
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Pride in the Humanitarian System Consultation Report

The Pride in the Humanitarian System (PiTHS) Consultation Report presents the outcomes and a call to action generated during the June 2018 consultation in Bangkok. PiTHS brought together more than 120 activists from diverse SOGIESC organisations, international NGOs, UN agencies, donors and other humanitarian sector representatives. PiTHS aimed to answer three questions:

  1. Why do we need Pride (diverse SOGIESC inclusion) in the humanitarian system?
  2. What are the barriers and enablers to realising Pride in the humanitarian system?
  3. What tools, approaches and actions must be taken to ensure transformative diverse SOGIESC inclusion in the humanitarian system in Asia and the Pacific?

The consultation report provides an in-depth review of the topics discussed and humanitarian disasters and settings that have occurred in the Asia Pacific region. Activists specifically spoke about their experiences as people with diverse SOGIESC/representatives of diverse SOGIESC advocacy organisations, and the gaps they experienced in the humanitarian system. The report includes a thorough set of recommendations and a Call to Action.

Consultation-Report_Pride-in-the-Humanitarian-System_All-Annexes

Building Stronger Equality Movements: Managing backlash against women’s and LGBT+ rights movements in the Commonwealth

Elena Robertson
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Building Stronger Equality Movements: Managing backlash against women’s and LGBT+ rights movements in the Commonwealth

Developed by Edge Effect for the Equality Justice Alliance (EJA), this multi-country study considers the experiences of feminist/women’s rights activists and diverse SOGIE activists with backlash and resistance in the course of their norm-changing work. EJA works across Commonwealth countries; thus, the research paper consider the experiences of activists in Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Tonga. The paper seeks to answer the following questions:

  1. What is backlash?
  2. How is backlash used as a tactic against activists as well as social and political
    movements?
  3. How can women’s rights activists and SOGIE rights activists in Commonwealth countries respond?

The report found that backlash and resistance takes many and multiple forms across these four country contexts. The report introduces the context in which research took place as well as theoretical frameworks for understanding backlash and resistance as specific responses to social progress. Specific case studies, such as backlash against CEDAW in Tonga, are used to illustrate the definitions and ideas behind backlash and resistance as specific and consistent types of responses. The report then discusses specific experiences activists have with backlash and resistance and draws out common themes. Tactics to address backlash are then discussed before moving into recommendations for activists and organisations who face backlash; donors who fund diverse SOGIE or women’s rights organisations; and policy makers.

EdgeEffect_Backlash_Full-Report

Fiji Shelter Handbook: Inclusive and Accessible Shelter Planning for Fijian Communities

Elena Robertson
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Fiji Shelter Handbook: Inclusive and Accessible Shelter Planning for Fijian Communities

30,369 homes were damaged or destroyed as a result of TC Winston in 2016. The Fiji Shelter Handbook is a consolidation of inclusive, Fiji-appropriate, best practice shelter solutions as well as an identification of country-specific supply chains and response protocols. It focuses on areas prioritised by the Fijian Shelter Sector to improve shelter coordination including preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery measures. The handbook recognises the specific challenges and marginalisation experienced by the diverse SOGIESC community, especially in the decision-making process and re-building of shelter following disasters.

The preparedness approach (section 2, page 34) highlights the importance of including, from the outset, women and members of the diverse SOGIESC community in assessment and awareness sessions and consultations; in design, planning and management of warning systems and specifically using gender neutral messaging in warning systems; and ensure emergency evacuation centres are accessible and inclusive of people of all genders and sexualities. The handbook also recognises the lack of privacy the diverse SOGIESC community often experiences and recommends simple solutions to provide appropriate and flexible privacy for diverse SOGIESC people as well as women, girls PWDs and other vulnerable evacuees. The Handbook notes the importance of ensuring staff are adequately trained in ensuring the safety and security of the diverse SOGIESC community through safe identification and appropriate communication to facilitate appropriate support.

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