Rejected, targeted and vilified – LGBTIQ communities suffering in the COVID 19 pandemic

According to Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, this COVID 19 pandemic has unleashed a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering, and he has appealed for an end to hate speech globally. In the joint press release issued by UNAIDS and MPact on 27th April reports were made public of LGBTI people being both blamed for and abused because of COVID 19. In their report clear instances of targeting the LGBTI community were listed. These included the raiding of an LGBT shelter in Uganda where the 20 people sheltering there during the Ugandan COVID 19 lockdown were arrested and charged with not keeping social distancing; a 25 year old man who was arrested, humiliated, beaten and subsequently died in Belize for breaking the curfew; and cases in the Philippines where police have subsequently apologised for arresting and humiliating gay men for being out while trying to access their HIV treatment.

Homophobia and transphobia are not new. In the early days of the HIV pandemic the syndrome later known as AIDS was first called GRID – Gay Related Immune Deficiency. As it became clear that this syndrome affected more than just gay men the name was changed to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and the virus which causes it identified as HIV. Current levels of homophobia, particularly among certain faith communities, has meant that homosexuality has been blamed as God’s punishment for COVID 19, droughts, floods, hurricanes, cyclones earthquakes and just about anything seen as threatening or out of the ordinary. Ironically, the careful studies of sacred texts; Behold, I make all things new and I am divine, so are you, sponsored by Act Church of Sweden, show that there is strong evidence that it is homophobia, not homosexuality which should be seen as a core breach of the ethics of loving neighbour and do no harm.

Crises like COVID 19 also reveals and highlights other vulnerabilities, stigma and discrimination that LGBTIQ persons are subjected to, for instance the disparity in terms of access to social protection and other support systems. Our partners in India have reported that the Transgender and Queer community have been particularly hard hit. The National Council of Churches in India reports that members of the LGBTQ community already live a hand to mouth existence with daily earnings being all they survive on. In places where the Indian Government has provided help to those with ID cards many LGBTQ people do not have these, and as a result don’t have access to this state support. While Churches have tried to reach out to the most marginalised in many regions members of the LGBTQ community have been reticent to come forward for fear of perceived and real stigma and discrimination from churches.

This vulnerability has strong parallels in South Africa. Undocumented asylum seekers and refugees from the LGBTQ community rely heavily on daily earnings from their various income generation activities. The lockdown in South Africa has completely stopped this. While the South African Government has been very proactive in extending grants to those who are economically most vulnerable, those who are undocumented fall between the cracks.

There has rightly been strong emphasis on the increase of SGBV (sexual and gender-based violence) during the crisis. Increased tensions and inability to escape the proximity to your abuser radically increases the risk of and vulnerability to SGBV. Research shows that the vast majority of all rape happens within the family home. In the first week of lockdown in South Africa 87000 cases of domestic violence were reported. We would however be wrong to think SGBV only affects women. The home environment can be deadly for gay, lesbian and transgender people who are forced into isolation with family members who are abusive against them because of their sexual orientation and or gender identity. LGBTQ-youth’s already vulnerable position has been worsened during lockdown in countries like Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq. NGO’s in Iraq report of youth being stuck in their homes with families who they might not be able to share their identities/sexualities with, or who in some cases are their abusers and oppressors due to their LGBTQ-identity. Much of the support which has previously been available to this group, such as hotlines, text-support or safe spaces are now impossible or dangerous. For example, it is impossible to call a hotline confidentially when you are locked inside a house with your family.

The situation is further exacerbated when HIV is brought into the picture. Taking Antiretrovirals (ARVs) can be seen as proof of being LGB or T, or being sexually promiscuous. For this reason and social stigma, many people living with HIV remain secretive about their medication. This makes access to treatment during a lockdown extremely difficult. The vulnerability is heightened further when law enforcement agencies target members of the LGBTI community for being out and about while trying to access treatment or escape the abuse and violence in their homes. WHO has postulated that 2020 may see a doubling of AIDS related deaths in Africa.

To mitigate increased vulnerabilities and defy hate speech, Act Church of Sweden strongly urge faith communities and their leadership to:
– Challenge the use of inflammatory scapegoating language and ensure that all service is provided without any discrimination;
– Speak openly about SGBV and create safe spaces for people, including LGBTIQ persons, to be able to report abuse and shelter to protect those being abused, and provide all services without discrimination;
– Openly celebrate diversity and support people on the margins who have been excluded because of societal and faith specific stigma;
– Challenge governments to ensure law enforcement agencies are not intensifying the vulnerabilities of those already on the margins of society.

We furthermore strongly urge governments to:
– Stand up for LGBTIQ persons rights;
– Take into consideration the impact on HIV and other health concerns while focusing on the current COVID 19 pandemic;
– Create safe and easily accessed spaces for people that are living in fear of, or are being, subjected to gender-based violence to report abuse, as well as provide shelters for victims of violence.

The Rev’d Fr JP MOKGETHI-HEATH
Senior Advisor, HIV Sexuality and Theology