Channel 4 (UK), Thursday 1st May 2003, 22:00 to 23:10. An insight into the latest in extensive and painful procedures endured by transsexuals in their bid to become fully functional females.
Al-Fatiha Foundation, a US-based organization dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning (LGBTIQ) released the following statement today on the UN resolution on human rights and sexual orientation:
Al-Fatiha applauds the government of Brazil for introducing a resolution on human rights and sexual orientation at the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). This historic resolution expresses "deep concern at the occurrence of violations of human rights all over the world against person on grounds of their sexual orientation" and urges other relevant UN bodies to "give due attention" to these abuses.
The resolution builds upon the work of dozens of international, national and local non-government organizations who have worked for a number of years to urge the United Nations and its relevant bodies to adopt language that condemns human rights violations against sexual and gender minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people. The fact that 20 countries co-sponsored this resolution, including the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, is a testament to the remarkable activism of LGBT and allied people. It is also amazing to see the alliances that have been built across many movements (including gender, sexual orientation and health) that have made it possible to bring this resolution to the forefront.
Al-Fatiha joins international human rights organizations, LGBT and allied NGOs, and other people of conscience in expressing its dismay with the final outcome of this landmark resolution on human rights and sexual orientation. Governments of the world lost the opportunity to finally confront human rights abuses against sexual and gender minorities. And institutions that use the name of religion including the Vatican and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) seized this opportunity to once again express their homophobia and intolerance towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
While the Organization of Islamic Conference and its member states introduced many amendments to the resolution and joined the Vatican in lobbying governments to oppose the resolution, our overall efforts to hold nation's accountable for their human rights violations at the international level, was not defeated. Both the OIC and the Vatican worked tireless behind the scenes, using political maneuvering, and political threats that played into the current geo-political climate.
The OIC ultimately resorted to calling for a "no vote" and added amendments to the resolution, which stalled the process and the resolution was not voted upon. The good news for those working on this resolution is that it was not defeated. lt will be on the agenda next year and it will be debated and voted upon at the 60th Session of the UNCHR.
Al-Fatiha stands ready to partner with international human rights organizations, LGBT organizations, allied NGO's and other groups to ensure the passage of this landmark resolution. Human rights abuses against sexual and gender minorities can no longer go unquestioned or unchecked. And institutions like the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Vatican can no longer use the name of religion as an excuse to justify their homophobia and intolerance towards LGBT people.
Al-Fatiha is a part of a global grassroots movement of sexual and gender minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex Muslims. This international movement currently has member organizations in four countries (South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States), comprising of more than 1,500 people.
As our movement grows we will be joined by people and organizations in predominantly Muslim countries, where historic grassroots organizing is being conducted every day by LGBT activists and allies.
From North Africa to the Middle East; from Indonesia and Malaysia to the shores of South Asia and the coast of North America, Muslims who are sexual and gender minorities are uniting and standing together under the umbrella of Islam. Our faith teaches us peace, love and social justice. These three core beliefs will ultimately guide our movement for equality and ultimately liberation for all sexual and gender minorities.