24 March 2023, New York – In a global survey of trans, gender diverse and wider LGBTI communities undertaken by GATE – Global Action for Trans Equality in 2022, it was found that anti-gender movements are present in governments across all regions of the world. The passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill by the Ugandan Parliament demonstrates the far-reaching and devastating impact of anti-gender opposition on the safety, human rights and equality of trans, gender diverse and wider LGBTI communities.
GATE and ILGA world have released a joint statement calling on President Yoweri Museveni NOT to sign this Bill into law and urging States, NGOs, the Private Sector and UN mechanisms to join us in our appeal to his Excellency President Museveni.
GATE’s research found that there is coordinated communication between MPs and Ministers in the Ugandan government who are prominent anti-gender actors, with the Ugandan government rarely investigating crimes committed against trans, gender diverse and wider LGBTI community members. Over the past year, the human rights situation for trans and gender diverse groups in Uganda has predominantly worsened. With the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, the most pressing need right now is for States to put pressure on the Ugandan President NOT to sign this bill into law.
The anti-gender movement refers to individuals and organizations that oppose gender diversity and bodily integrity in favor of promoting traditional gender roles and identities. “Family values”, sex education, abortion, children’s protection, and “Western ideas” represent the main topics that anti-gender actors use in their public communication to spread and gain support for their agenda. Although trans and gender diverse people are particularly targeted by the anti-gender movement, they also target sexual diversity, migration, people from diverse ethnic and/or racial backgrounds, people from diverse religious backgrounds, and women’s rights more generally.
GATE’s research also found that anti-gender movements are predominantly using digital media, and primarily social media, to spread misinformation and hate against trans, gender diverse and wider LGBTI communities. With this failure of social media organizations to regulate their platforms in upholding principles of equality, safety and human rights, and with many governments across the world supporting hate-driven agendas, it’s time for greater regulation globally, both digitally and within international governance bodies, to limit the spread of hate speech and misinformation, and to ensure the human rights of every citizen is upheld.
To highlight the findings from this report, GATE has launched an online campaign to call attention to the desperate human rights situations faced by trans, gender diverse, and wider LGBTI communities globally.
Join our #StopHate campaign for Trans Day of Visibility on Instagram and Facebook to demand a safer environment, both physically and online, for trans and gender diverse communities across the globe, and raise your voices to call on President Yoweri Museveni NOT to sign the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.
For media interview, please contact:
GATE’s Communications Manager, Naomhán O’Connor: press@gate.ngo, +447460333851 (WhatsApp)