Corbin Gordon – Jamaica
Urooj Arshad – Advocates for Youth (Advocates)USA
The following slides were presented by the above mentioned persons at the International AIDS Conference 2010 held in Vienna on July 14th.
The Global Situation:
About 80 countries continue to outlaw homosexuality, with penalties ranging from a year in jail to life imprisonment
LGBT people are often denied access and equal treatment to health, legal, social and welfare services
LGBT youth resort to inappropriate methods of protection that enhance and perpetuate high risk behaviours
The dearth of targeted messages and conversations makes LGBT people vulnerable (and victims) to HIV, stigma and discrimination
In some countries, LGBT individuals are victims of “sexual cleansing”
Gay men in developing countries are 19 times more likely to be tested positive with HIV than developed countries
Many times LGBT people (and youth) are left out of the conversations and activities regarding SRHR
Barriers to access:
LGBT needs are excluded (not even mentioned) in the National AIDS Policy of several countries
LGBT youth lack targeted HIV/STI prevention programming
Messages encouraging LGBT youth – especially gay young men-to get tested or seek treatment and care, are lacking
Programs that promote condom use and other safer sex practices among LGBT youth are also lacking
Implications for LGBT Youth:
A narrow-minded approach to HIV prevention and treatment is grave and will only serve to:-
Make persons reluctant to get tested or treated for HIV
Exacerbate the spread of HIV among LGBT and heterosexual youth
Undermine efforts to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support
Peace and tolerance
H
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