On 3 August 2022, the Ugandan National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations unfairly halted the activities of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) – a prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQI+) rights organization – for failing to meet the bureau's registration requirements. SMUG has provided sexuality education and advocated for LGBTQI+ healthcare since 2004 and is well-known for providing services and guidance to the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda. The organization also contributes to Uganda's health goals, including the country's HIV/AIDS strategy, which includes the provision of healthcare to vulnerable and marginalized populations. Although SMUG applied to the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) in 2012, the URSB declined the organization's request on the grounds that SMUG was "operating illegally", a position the organization petitioned with no positive response. In a clear case of harassment and restrictions against Ugandan rights groups working on LGBTQI+ rights, the URSB further asserted that registering SMUG's name would be difficult, calling it "undesirable and un-registrable". In response to the ban the Africa Regional Director for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) urged the Ugandan government to review its decision to suspend SMUG and to work towards accommodating the organization's mandate of advancing the rights of the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda. Marie-Evelynne-Petrus-Barry said: "As a global human rights organization and the world's largest sexual and reproductive healthcare provider, the International Planned Parenthood Federation upholds the rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. "The Ugandan government's ban of SMUG has created huge anxiety among health service providers, human rights defenders, and members of the LGBTQI+ community, who risk their lives daily so that LGBTQI+ people can access healthcare and information just as any other person would. "We ask the Ugandan government to urgently reconsider its decision to suspend SMUG and to put an end to laws and policies that criminalize, target and endanger members of the LGBTQI+ community and the organizations that advocate for their rights." Petrus-Barry added: "IPPF works to ensure that people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) – including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people have access to the full set of human rights enshrined in international human rights laws. IPPF is willing to work with the Ugandan government and other stakeholders to ensure that all Ugandan people can access these rights without restraint." For media enquiries, please contact Mahmoud Garga, Lead Specialist – Strategic Communication, Media Relations and Digital Campaigning, IPPF Africa Regional Office (IPPFARO) on [email protected] or +254 704 626 920 ABOUT IPPF AFRICA REGION (IPPFAR) The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery organizations in Africa and a leading sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the overarching goal of IPPFAR is to increase access to SRHR services to the most vulnerable youth, men and women, in sub-Saharan Africa. Supported by thousands of volunteers, IPPFAR tackles the continent's growing SRHR challenges through a network of Member Associations (MAs) in 40 countries. We do this by developing our MAs into efficient entities with the capacity to deliver and sustain high-quality, youth-focused and gender-sensitive services. We work with Governments, the African Union, Regional Economic Commissions, the Pan-African Parliament, and United Nations bodies, among others, to expand political and financial commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa. Learn more about the IPPF Africa Region on their website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

IPPF celebrates the decision of the UN Human Rights Council to renew the Mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity on July 7th, at its 50th session. IPPF was actively involved in advocating for the renewal of this important mandate, working closely with a large coalition of civil society organizations, activists and Member States to encourage support for the renewal. It is fitting that this renewal comes on the heels of Pride Month in June. First established in 2016, this is the second time the mandate has been renewed, solidifying the commitment of the international community against discrimination and violence based on SOGI and unequivocal support to LGBTQI+ people. In addition to renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert to continue country visits and thematic reports, for the first time, this resolution expresses strong concern at existing laws, policies and practices criminalizing consensual same-sex conducts and relations and calls upon Member States to amend or repeal laws and policies that discriminate against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. IPPF works actively to advocate for all people’s human right to live free from violence and discrimination on any grounds, including real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. We look forward to continuing to support the work of the Independent Expert over the next three years. Main image by Cecilie Johnsen on Unsplash

In the year since the last Pride Month, there have been substantial developments for LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. From the decriminalization of same-sex relationships in Botswana to the banning of abusive “conversion therapy” practices in Greece, and much more, see what’s changed since the last Pride in June 2021:    Switzerland There was some great news out of Switzerland in September 2021, when the country took to the ballots to vote decisively on a referendum to make same-sex marriage legal, and to give same-sex couples the right to adopt children. Switzerland had previously allowed same-sex couples to register partnerships since 2007, but some rights were still restricted. Nearly two-thirds of voters backed the new measures, making Switzerland the 30th country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage.   South Africa South Africa’s local elections in November 2021 saw what is likely to be Africa’s first openly gay mayor elected to office. Chris Pappas, who is just 30-years-old, was elected mayor of uMngeni municipality in KwaZulu Natal, a traditionally conservative province – making the victory even more stunning. He made no secret of his sexual orientation, appearing alongside his fiancé JP Prinsloo during his winning campaign. Canada In December, Canadian lawmakers passed a motion banning the harmful practice of so-called “conversion therapy”. Repeated attempts to pass legislation banning the practice had been made in recent years, though none had succeeded until this point. Following the vote, Canadian MP Randy Boissonnault, who is gay, said: “I dream of the day when LGBTQ2 issues are no longer political footballs. And we are one day closer to that future.” Botswana December 2021 saw a huge victory for LGBTQ+ equality in Botswana as the country’s appeals court upheld a ruling that decriminalized same-sex relationships. Una Ngwenya, Executive Director of BOFWA (an IPPF Member Association), expressed her joy at the decision, stating that: “the ruling will go a long way in addressing issues of stigma and discrimination against members of the same-sex community in Botswana. We believe that this decision will inspire members of this community to freely seek sexual and reproductive health services and go on with their lives like everyone else.” Chile Also in December 2021, Chile's congress approved a long-awaited bill to legalize same-sex marriage, joining just a handful of countries in Latin America with similar laws. The only other countries in the region which permit same-sex couples to marry are Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and 14 of Mexico's 32 states. Chile legalized same-sex civil unions in 2015, and has been eagerly awaiting the legalization of gay marriage since a bill was sent to Congress in 2017.  France 2022 started on a positive note when France's parliament voted in January to ban so-called "conversion therapy" – a discredited practice which has no place in any society, anywhere. The measure was passed unanimously by the National Assembly, with 142 votes to 0. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the move, stating that "being oneself is not a crime". Anyone convicted under the new law could face fines of up to €30,000 and two years in jail.  New Zealand In the same month, New Zealand also banned conversion practices, in a nearly unanimous vote among lawmakers. The legislation makes it an offence to perform conversion practices on anyone under 18, or with impaired decision-making capacity. Anyone doing so faces up to three years in prison. It is also an offence to perform conversion practices that cause “serious harm”, irrespective of age, carrying a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment. Kuwait There was a major win for trans rights in February 2022 when Kuwait's Constitutional Court overturned a law criminalizing the so-called "imitation of the opposite sex." In its decision, the court acknowledged the law’s ambiguity, noting it does not specify what exactly constitutes an “imitation of the opposite sex,” and the law’s lack of objectivity in application. This cruel law must now be repealed entirely and anyone arrested or held under it released immediately. Guatemala In March 2022, Guatemala's Congress passed a law which prohibited same-sex marriage and banned the teaching of comprehensive sexuality education and sexual diversity in schools. Shockingly, it also tripled prison sentences for women seeking abortion care. Following widespread global condemnation, Guatemala dropped the legislation days later but activists remain on alert to ensure these damaging policies do not re-emerge at another time.    Greece In May 2022, Greece banned "LGBTQ conversion therapy” for minors. Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament: “There were some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his parents could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'. Obviously these treatments not only are not a therapy but they are not supported scientifically.”   Japan And finally, also just last month Japan’s capital city Tokyo announced it will recognize same-sex partnerships as of this November. However, couples will still not be granted the same rights as married couples, and so IPPF urges Japan to implement fair laws for all. In the Asia region, Taiwan is currently the only place with marriage equality, having taken the unprecedented step of legalizing same-sex unions in 2019. To keep up with more global changes, follow ILGA World – the international lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex association. Main image by Lindsey LaMont on Unsplash You might be interested in this... Sex og Politikk (our Norwegian Member Association which hosts the IPPF Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity) is organizing a series of public talks under the title “How far are we going to allow the state in the bedroom?” With both state and civil society actors from Norway and abroad, these events are in observation of 50 years since the decriminalization of homosexuality in the country. The first event takes place on 20 June and is titled “There are no gays in our village: A conversation on public health opening doors to decriminalization, non-discrimination and full LGBTQI+ equality”. The second takes place on 22 June and is titled “What kind of gender markers do we need in documents?” Both events are expected to be livestreamed – check the links to get involved.

Fahe Kerubo is a 29-year-old Youth Health Advocate & LGBTQIA+ activist, who is currently serving as the Youth Committee Chairperson for Reproductive Health Network Kenya. We interviewed them for Pride Month 2022: How do you celebrate Pride Month and what does it mean to you? Pride Month is a time for me to reflect deeper on what it means to be queer, what it means to be masculine presenting, and what it means to live an authentic life, especially in this era. It is a time for celebration, to re-evaluate, and to remember the lives we have lost and the battles we have to go through for being authentically “us”. What was it like for you growing up in Kenya as part of the LGBTQIA+ community? Growing up in Kenya as a queer, non-binary, masculine-presenting person was a constant battle with the world, for them to see me beyond my sexual orientation and my gender identity. I am misgendered every day and it is expected of me to suck it up, deal with my feelings, and be okay with that.  Here, privilege dictates your sense of dignity, autonomy, and power to decide for yourself. For a queer person from the slums of Kenya – me being one of them – privilege is not something afforded to them. I grew up constantly listening and heeding to voices telling me what to do, how to dress, how and when to speak. So many voices saying “do this and that” – so many voices but my own.  Thanks to education and the humanitarian spaces, I am getting to learn that I can decide for myself whether to be in a relationship or not and with whom. Learning that nobody can decide for me but myself is the greatest gift life has given me, and that alone has given me power to rise above stigma, and most importantly, use my voice in advocating for the prioritization of queer SRHR.   Why is it important to include LGBTQIA+ issues in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)? The prioritization of queer SRHR issues is very important because the LGBTQIA+ community is not openly spoken about, especially in mainstream discourses, while on the ground these are lives that are constantly at risk and very vulnerable.  The criminalization of our community itself has put us at a risk of acquiring STIs and HIV. Rates of unsafe abortions are also high in the community, and victims of violence are underreported. This is a community with needs that must be addressed. Within the workplace, what steps can be taken to promote a positive and healthy environment for colleagues who identify as LGBTQIA+? 1. Take LGBTQIA+ discrimination seriously – establish a strong anti-discrimination policy to be followed by all staff 2. Foster a gender-neutral environment – such as establishing unisex toilets and using gender-neutral language 3. Provide training, mentoring, and support programs to LGBTQIA+ staff 4. Support LGBTQIA+ events or be part of them 5. Create networks – LGBTQIA+ employee networks can be very powerful ways for colleagues to come together and share experiences  And finally, who or what is your LGBTQIA+ hero and why? Nena Na Binti Hotline offered the LGBTQIA+ community sexual and reproductive health services (including safe abortion care) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to do so. They even offered services to members of the community who didn't have money to pay. I know what it means to want to terminate an unwanted pregnancy and not have money to pay for a safe service. A constant battle we deal with is the high cost of health services, which is one of the reasons we avoid seeking care.  All the queer people I referred to Nena Na Binti Hotline have been served and we live to tell a happy tale. How can they not be my hero this Pride Month? 

Every year, 6 April marks International Asexuality Day – so join us as we explore what asexuality is and what it isn’t, and how we can be an ally to people who identify as asexual.   What is asexuality? Asexuality is a sexual orientation and a spectrum. Definitions of asexuality vary, but it generally refers to a person who desires zero or little sexual contact with other people.  Asexuality is an umbrella terms which reflects a broad diversity in people’s experiences of sexual attraction and arousal, and desires for relationships.  People who identify with asexuality sometimes refer to themselves as being “ace” or part of the “ace community”. It is also the “A” in LGBTQIA+. Other terms under the asexuality umbrella include: grey-asexual/graysexual – this refers to a person who may experience sexual attraction very rarely or only under specific circumstances.  demisexual – a person who only experiences sexual attraction after developing a strong emotional bond with someone. So asexual people never have sex? Not necessarily – an asexual person might choose to engage in sexual activity, including sex with people or masturbation. They may also experience arousal and orgasm. Do asexual people have romantic relationships? Yes, many do – they may experience falling in love, and they might choose to get married and have children too. Asexuality does not mean a person doesn’t desire emotionally intimate or romantic relationships. However, for those who don’t, they might identify with the terms “aromantic” (someone who does not experience romantic attraction), “greyromantic” (someone who very rarely experiences romantic attraction) or “demiromantic” (someone who is only romantically attracted to those they’ve emotionally bonded with first).  Being asexual and aromantic/grayromantic/demiromantic are not mutually exclusive – it’s all down to the individual! What’s the difference between asexuality and celibacy? Celibacy refers to a person who voluntarily chooses not to engage in sexual activity, despite the fact they may feel sexual desires. They will typically commit to celibacy for an extended period of time, sometimes their whole life. It is also not the same as abstinence, which again, is a choice to not engage with sexual activity but usually for a more limited period of time, and similarly has nothing to do with sexual desire/attraction.  Conversely, asexuality is not a choice, in the same way that being heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. is not a choice.   Is asexuality the same as a loss of libido? No, a loss of libido may happen for a wide range of reasons, including medical,  psychological, and age. If you previously experienced sexual desire but no longer do to the same extent or not at all, and it’s something that you are worried about, then consider speaking to a health professional or counsellor.  How can I support asexual people? Asexuality is frequently misunderstood, and sometimes even dismissed – here’s how you can by an ally to asexual people: Believe people when they say they are asexual.  Educate yourself on asexuality, as well as other identities. Do not tell asexual people that they are “going through a phase”, or that they “just haven’t met the right person yet” – this is a lazy and offensive stereotype and it’s just false. Not everyone needs sex or relationships to be happy. Some societies assume that all people are sexual, but this is simply not true – so challenge this assertion when you can. Do not quiz a person on their asexuality (or any other identity) – people will offer information if and when they choose to. It’s no one else’s business but their own!   

On International Women's Day 2022, Guatemala's Congress passed a law which triples the prison sentences for women seeking abortion care, prohibits same-sex marriage and further bans the teaching of comprehensive sexuality education and sexual diversity in schools, saying that teaching "anything other than heterosexuality is normal" is against the law.  The "Life and Family Protection Law" was passed by an overwhelming majority of 160 - 8 in the conservative-led Congress, but still needs to be signed by Guatemala's president, Alejandro Giammattei, in order to come into force. Under the new law, women who "have induced their own abortion or given their consent to another person to carry it out" will face a minimum of five years in jail, but the sentences could reach a maximum of 25 years. Abortion is illegal in Guatemala except in cases where the woman's life is at risk. This law is the latest of a series of laws to attack human rights across the country, including gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The initiative goes against human rights agreements, especially for women and LGBTI+ people and condemns and denies the diversity of families including mono-parental homes.  Eugenia Lopez Uribe, IPPF's Regional Director for Americas and the Caribbean Region, said: "It is disturbing that on International Women's Day 2022, the Guatemalan Congress passed a law that completely violates the human, sexual and reproductive rights of women, girls and marginalized people. "While countries across Latin America were celebrating the lives and rights of women, Guatemala has chosen to criminalize those making the best decision for themselves and their families, while also risking imprisoning vulnerable women and girls who have experienced sexual violence or suffered pregnancy loss. By severely limiting access to safe and post-abortion care, the law will undoubtedly lead to an increase in unsafe abortions and a decrease in prenatal care, resulting in life-long disabilities for some women and a rise in maternal deaths. "At the same time, by prohibiting same-sex marriage, limiting comprehensive sexuality education and enabling the discrimination of sexual diversity, the Guatemalan government is creating a society that fosters miseducation, stigma, intolerance and homophobia and fuelling the persecution of LGBTI and non-binary people. "IPPF strongly condemns the passing of this archaic law and demands that the Guatemalan government fulfils international human rights agreements. We stand in solidarity with affected people across Guatemala and the organizations working tirelessly to ensure that all people have the freedom to make their own choices." For media enquiries, please contact Karmen Ivey on [email protected] or [email protected]