Although our blogs are centred around the Sustainable Development Goals, it is important to consider that the SDGs did not explicitly call for LGBTQ+ equality, despite 193 governments pledging to them in 2015 on the basis that they will “leave no one behind”. The leave no one behind (LNOB) principle is particularly relevant for LGBTQ+ people, who have continuously left behind by national and international laws and agreements. The LNOB seeks to ensure “that no one will be left behind… we wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society.” This statement suggests the inclusion of minority and oppressed groups, however LGBTQ+ rights are not explicitly mentioned, which has often been seen as disappointing and unacceptable. The impacts of discriminatory laws and lack of advocacy for LGBTQ+ people are important for the achievement of the SDGs. Approximately 6% of adults across Europe identify as LGBTQ+, we cannot afford to leave 6% of the population behind. For each SDG, there are several keyways that they could have gone further to promote further inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in relation to the SDGs. Examples of this are illustrated below, in relation to several SDGs.
Goal 1: End Poverty in all its forms everywhere
Exclusion and discrimination can make it particularly harder for to LGBTQ+ to find employment. This discrimination can appear in a variety of shapes, with examples being: A LGBTQ+ person working in an unsafe/ unaccepting environment at work, a LGBTQ+ person not being able to have the same opportunities to receive financial support, whether this be through bank loans but also rejected from family support, which so many of us rely on. Discrimination can lead to poverty, but additionally poverty can lead to discrimination, two go hand in hand in making poverty inescapable for so many, and particularly difficult to get out of without the necessary means of support, which are harder to get because of discrimination.
For example, in the Philippines, LGBTQ+ people are often prohibited from entering higher education, immediately limiting them to generally lower-paid jobs.
Goal 3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-being for All at All Ages
The targets for goal 3 include globally inclusive language, such as target 3.7 which aims to “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services”, however there is a lack of inclusion for LGBTQ+ for these health-care services. Many clinics refuse to provide the necessary services for LGBTQ+, whether it be because they don’t identify with their assigned sex at birth, or the lack of inclusion about LGBTQ+ in schools, there are many ways that LGBTQ+ are excluded from these healthcare services and sectors. This often leads to LGBTQ+ people more vulnerable to STIs. Not only are LGBTQ+ discriminated in target 3.7, but additionally in other sectors of healthcare, due to discrimination, lack of awareness by healthcare workers and the use of inappropriate services. In order to help achieve goal 3, the following actions could be taken, as outlined by Stonewell:
Make sure all healthcare services, whether general, mental or sexual and reproductive, include LGBT people by:
• Putting LGBT-inclusive anti-discrimination policies in place.
• Training healthcare providers to understand the needs of LGBT people and respond effectively.
• Create outreach health services for LGBT people who are unable to leave their homes, due to discrimination or exclusion.
Develop services that meet the specific needs of LGBT people, including:
• HIV and other STI prevention, treatment, care and support services for all LGBT people.
• Safe-spaces and services that address the wider health needs of LGBT people.
• Services for trans people to transition safely.
Goal 4: Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Promote Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All
In many schools and universities across the world, young people are bullied or excluded by teachers and peers, because they are, or are assumed to be LGBTQ+ or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. In some cases, people find it difficult to pursue their studies because of the impact that it has on them and their mental (or even physical) well-being. Others feel that they must continue their studies silently, for they will not be supported if they speak out. This may in turn affect their school results, ultimately impacting their prospects. For some, the impact of all this on their mental health and well-being will last well beyond their student years. However, when schools and universities promote human rights for all and profile positive LGBT role models, harmful social attitudes can be challenged before they become fixed. A study in Brazil found that young LGBTQ+ people in Brazil who were “out” at school suffered the most physical violence and social discrimination by peers.
Goal 16: Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development, Provide Access to Justice for All and Build Effective, Accountable and Inclusive Institutions at All Levels
Of course, any form of violence against any person is unacceptable and should not be tolerated, but the specific targets of this goal remain relatively broad, “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death threats”, and “ensure equal access to justice for all”. This makes it difficult to pinpoint and demonstrate how certain minorities/ groups are specifically going to be aided, including LGBTQ+ people. The target here remains very open, making it difficult for governments to plan how this violence can be reduced, as different action needs to be taken for different groups, such as reducing domestic violence vs reducing gender-based violence. LGBTQ+ people all over the world risk being faced with violence every day, whether it be at home or on the street, worsened by cases of police, security services, and the justice system underestimating and not taking reports as seriously as they should be. In certain places where LGBTQ+ people cannot rely on the state’s protection, violence and abuse is not reported, creating a false impression that it does not exist to the extent that it does. Transgender people are most at risk of violence, one in three trans people in the EU have experienced a form of violence or threat of violence in the last five years, according to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. Around 40% of those who had experienced a form of violence had been violently attacked three or more times in the last year. This is extremely unacceptable, and the lack of direct focus in target 16.1 makes it difficult for clear action to be taken.
In each SDG there are ways that LGBTQ+ people have been excluded, or not explicitly included or considered in the making of the goals, which makes it difficult for direct and clear progress to made for their rights.
A very well written piece Lois. Some pertinent points made and if the SDG's are to be rebooted in 2030, then one might expect to see explicit mention of LGBTQ+, particularly in countries where people still experience extreme suffering and are under the threat of violence because of who they are.