World News: IGLHRC: LGBT Haitians ignored in quake recovery efforts

According to a report issued March 28 by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Haiti’s SEROvie, “violence and discrimination against (Haitian) LGBT people has increased since the January 2010 earthquake” and their needs during the recovery period have been “completely ignored.”

“U.N. agencies, private organizations, and governments must recognize the

horrible impact of the Haiti disaster on LGBT people,” said Cary Alan

Johnson, IGLHRC’s executive director. “While the needs of some

marginalized groups are at least acknowledged, LGBT people are completely

ignored.”

In addition, some religious leaders have blamed the quake on gays, saying God punished the nation for homosexuals’ sins.

The findings detailed in the IGLRHC/SEROvie briefing paper are based on more than 50 interviews the groups conducted with LGBT people and representatives of relief organizations, the United Nations and diplomatic missions. For the full document, see tinyurl.com/iglhrchaiti.

Assistance: Bill Kelley