PBI-Honduras observes International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia march in Tegucigalpa

The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project has posted: “On May 17, in the context of the Day against LGBTBIphobia, PBI observed the peaceful mobilization of the LGTBIQ population, which continues to face numerous attacks.”

Reporting Without Fear and the Washington Blade further report (in Spanish): “LGBTIQ+ organizations in San Pedro Sula [a city 240 kilometres north of Tegucigalpa] and [in the capital city of] Tegucigalpa demonstrated during the commemoration of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.”

That article also notes: “From El Obelisk Park in Comayagaela [a city 80 kilometres northwest of Tegucigalpa] to the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa, protesters from Somos CDC, Arcoíris LGTB Association, Muñecas de Arcoiris, LITOS and others marched en masse to celebrate the elimination of homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses by the World Health Organization on May 17, 1990.”

And it quotes Donny Reyes of the Arcoíris LGTB Association of Honduras who stated: “The state has a strong debt to the LGTBI community. We have to demand and do justice for all the companions who have murdered, [whose crimes] continue in total impunity.”

From June 2015 to March 2016, six members of Arcoiris were killed.

In 2019-20, Arcoiris reported at least 15 security incidents, including cases of intimidation, threats, surveillance, physical assaults, muggings, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder.

Reyes has stated: “The biggest problem that we face is the violence of the state security forces towards the LGBT+ community: the armed forces, the police, the criminal investigation police, military police, municipal police.”

He adds: “The research studies that Arcoiris and other organizations have done reflect the same pattern — more than 60 per cent of hate crimes have been committed against us by those forces who should be guaranteeing our safety.”

PBI-Honduras notes: “In Honduras, 90% of hate crimes remain in impunity, this situation reflects discrimination and inequality towards the LGTBIQ population, which continues to face numerous attacks.”

PBI-Honduras accompanied the Arcoíris LGTB Association of Honduras since July 2015.

#IDAHOBIT #IDAHOT #IDAHOTB