PBI-Honduras marks the International Transgender Day of Visibility and encourages watching the PBI-UK film Somos

On April 2, the Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project posted, “This past Tuesday [March 31] was the International Day of Trans Visibility, a group that is in a situation of extreme vulnerability in Honduras, with numerous attacks and attacks and without progress in accessing justice.”

PBI-Honduras adds, “With this documentary produced together with Peace Brigades International (UK) we want to recognize the work that human rights defenders of sexual diversity do every day. Listen to them!”

PBI-UK has noted, “SOMOS tells the story of Arcoiris, a group of LGBT+ human rights defenders in Honduras. In recent years the organisation has faced mounting attacks and threats following relentless public abuse and stigmatisation.”

“Prejudice from the police and judiciary means that these attacks go largely unpunished, making it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be an LGBT+ human rights defender.”

“Our interviews reveal both the severity of the risks they face and their determination to further their struggle.”

“PBI has provided protective accompaniment to Arcoíris since 2015 and is committed to continuing our support for LGBTI+ communities in some of the most dangerous countries around the world.”

To watch the 18-minute film by Manu Valcarce that was released in January 2020 with English subtitles, please click here.

On March 19, the United Nations highlighted, “In many countries, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people face discrimination in accessing health care.”

“This discrimination can affect access to HIV testing and treatment as well as care for other chronic diseases that can make LGBT people particularly at risk of suffering serious illness or death as a result of COVID-19.”

“Governments should ensure that all healthcare services related to COVID-19 are provided without stigma and discrimination of any kind, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, and should make clear through public messaging campaigns that everyone has the right to access health care.”

Furthermore, Newsweek recently published an article titled The Unexpected Way the Coronavirus is Hurting Some Members of the Trans Community.

In the American context, that can include: disruptions to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), loss of inclusive health care benefits as a result of surging unemployment levels, an acute psychic burden for trans youth, and greater tension for youth living with their families who may be hostile to their identity.

#TDOV2020 #DíaDeLaVisibilidadTrans