FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10^th, 2010

Human Rights Day 2010

Toronto: On Human Rights Day 2010, the 25^th International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference comes to a close with a renewed commitment to step up efforts at the United Nations to advance LGBT equality rights. Hundreds of LGBT activists, including Egale Canada's Executive Director, Helen Kennedy, gathered in Sao Paulo to examine strategies to advance our rights. Many in attendance were from countries that still criminalize same-sex acts.

The theme for Human Rights Day 2010 is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination. With this in mind, we turn our thoughts not only to the pressing issues abroad, but also to the situation here in Canada. According to Egale Canada’s First National Climate Survey on Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia in Canadian Schools, over half (51%) of LGBTQ students have been verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and almost three-quarters (74%) of trans youth have been verbally harassed because of their expression of gender. Perhaps even more disturbing is that more than a third (37%) of trans students have been physically harassed or assaulted about their gender, while one in five (21%) sexual minority students have been physically harassed about their sexual orientation.

Human Rights Day 2010 is an occasion to commemorate those defenders who have gone before us, fighting tirelessly to overcome discrimination and achieve the rights we now rely on; it is a day to recognize courageous activists in our own lives and communities today; and it is an opportunity to encourage a new generation of human rights defenders to combat all forms of discrimination that persist both at home and around the globe.

Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.