In only 13 days thousands of advocates and LGBT allies form around the world will celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in an attempt to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT people internationally. As part of GLAAD's Global Voices program, which works to accelerate LGBT acceptance across the globe, GLAAD will participate and celebrate IDAHOT together with thousands of diverse groups and individuals. As IDAHOT 2015 approaches, we give you 17 reasons, one every day, why May 17 matters. We invite you to create and share your own, via the hashtag #May17Because and amplify the voice for LGBT equality.
Rule Number 5: 4.7 billion people live under regimes that restrict free expression of sexual and gender rights.
Today, 70% of the world population live under regimes that restrict LGBT rights. A significant portion of those build their arguments against the LGBT community on the myth that homosexuality is a Western import. The reality is that LGBT identities and relationships have roots as deep as that of human civilization. Let's have a look at some of those as mentioned in scriptures and old historical works.
Native American Great Plains Tribes viewed gender on a spectrum from male to female, including transgender and intersex persons who were considered to have special spiritual significance.
In Albania, women identified as burnesha, who take a chastity vow at young age, can live as man and assume traditional male roles in society and their family.
In Russia, the indigenous Chukchi people in Siberia identified seven genders in addition to male and female.
In Samoa, fa'afafine are a third-gendered people who are mostly born biologically male, but have gender expressions and identities that embody both masculine and feminine behavior.
In Korea, songs and poems from the ancient Silla dynasty spoke of affection among men, especially among a group of elite male warriors, the hwarang, who were known to form same sex relationships.
In Ancient Greece, male homosexuality was an accepted phenomenon, practiced by high-status individuals. The poet Sappho wrote about her affection and desire for other women. The philosopher Plato spoke of a third sex, which was both male and female, as part of original human nature.
All of these examples show how gender and sexuality have always existed on a greater scale than just the socially constructed binaries. While certain advancements have been made for the LGBT community all around the world, we must work as a community to make sure more and more changes continue be made for the 70% of the world's population that still face restrictions based on the gender or sexuality. This work can be seen today, as Ireland and the United States continue the fight for marriage equality. It is up to us as a community to work for everyone to have equal rights under the law, and to eliminate LGBT discrimination all over the world.