The Honourable Peter Garrett, AM, MP
Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

RE: LGBTQ Youth and the Commonwealth Youth Forum

Dear Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth:

I write to today from Egale Canada, Canada's national advocacy and education organization for communities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ) identified people. The purpose of this letter is to inquire on behalf of Canadian LGBTQ communities as to how LGBTQ themes of significance are to be included within the agenda at this 2011 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) in Fremantle, Australia. We hope that you, as the Minister responsible for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, and as an organizer of CYF 2011, can speak to the inclusion of these themes within the Forum.

If it is the case that these issues have not been considered or included, Egale Canada strongly urges that your office and CYF partners reconsider and act swiftly to ensure LGBTQ human rights issues receive designated and significant discussion throughout 2011 conference activities.

With the recent adoption of a ground-breaking UN resolution acknowledging the dire state of LGBTQ human rights in the world it's clear that discussions of LGBTQ human rights have emerged as part of a significant global discourse around ensuring basic human rights for LGBTQ individuals worldwide. Given recent youth upheavals across the globe it's equally clear that young people are champing at the bit for recognition as significant stakeholders within the mechanisms of global decision making. With this in mind Egale Canada is encouraged by the work of past Commonwealth Youth Forums towards youth engagement and hope that the CYF can continue to evolve by addressing the significant challenge of today's global LGBTQ rights inequalities.

As a prominent LGBTQ organization within a Commonwealth country, Egale Canada is intimately aware of the significant potential for Commonwealth countries to contribute towards global LGBTQ rights issues. At the same time, it's a distressing truth that more than 40 out of the 54 Commonwealth member states still criminalize consensual sexual activity between citizens of the same sex, often punishing with harsh prison sentences, and even death. Perhaps more shockingly is the fact that, taken together, Commonwealth states make up more than 50 % of the total number of world countries that illegalize same sex relationships. This fact provides clear and compelling evidence of the responsibility of Commonwealth member states to address the major human rights inequalities within the Commonwealth itself, and yet currently the issue has for the most part been shelved.

You may ask "Why then should Commonwealth youth play a role in this?" Sadly, the reality is that many youth are already profoundly affected by these issues whether they realize it or not. Youth are often both the aggressors and victims of hate crimes involving sexual orientation and gender identity, and are, in many instances, the target of state_sanctioned violence, including imprisonment and execution, as punishment for their existence as LGBTQ individuals. Equally tragic are the many instances worldwide involving youth who take their own lives as part of their struggle with personal and cultural bullying, discrimination, and worse. With this in mind it is by no means radical to call for the Commonwealth Youth Forum delegates to directly address issues of LGBTQ safety and health around the world. Indeed, the world's youth address these issues on a daily basis.

As one voice representing many Canadian LGBTQ communities, Egale Canada wishes to offer its assistance and encouragement in ensuring that the CYF 2011 provides safe space and significant time towards a discussion of global LGBTQ human rights. Youth involvement in the movement towards LGBTQ human rights is essential to the lives of LGBTQ people today, and in the years to come. The vitality of 'Our Commonwealth [&] Our Future' is at stake.

I look forward to receiving your reply,

Helen Kennedy
Executive Director, Egale Canada

Egale Canada ©2011

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