People around the world face violence, inequality, torture and even execution because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are in many places and circumstances denied their full set of human rights and are at risk of human rights violations.
But sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of ourselves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse.
Cambodia is not so different from other countries in the world in having stigma and discrimination against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). This comes from many aspects of society including local authorities and health service providers. Sometimes, when LGBT walk in public places at night they are charged with various offences by local police and only released if they pay cash.
Some health service providers do not care if LGBT go for medical checkups, and react towards LGBT with stigma and discrimination. A lesbian who preferred to remain anonymous said: “I am from poor family in Siem Reap province. I make love with my partner who is woman same as me.” One day her partner told her she had symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease.
The woman adds: “I worried about my health so much. I had no money to pay for services at the clinic because there are no free of charge STI services for lesbians. I feel shy around people if I go to visit the government health sector if they knew my lesbian status.”
Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) all people have the right to equality, freedom from discrimination, life, liberty and personal securitym, freedom from torture and degrading treatment, recognition as a person before the law, and the right to marry and have a family.
The Royal Government of Cambodia commits, under Article 31 of its constitution, to respect the United Nations, the UDHR and all international covenants on Human Rights.
Ban Sophearith (nickname Ya or Eh Ya) is a man who has sex with men (MSM) living in Siem Reap province. He said: “I would like to see all LGBT attend and participate in public events just like other people in the world. Especially in Cambodia and in Siem Reap province we should work to change the social environment and ask other people to acknowledge our value.”
Tola Piseth (nickname Srey Toh) is a friend of Eh Ya. He adds: “Even though I am MSM I have the right to talk in public and in my community and society, to make sure that even though we are third sex we are treated equally as women and men.
“We must struggle to get success. There is no them, there is no us. We must be brave and achieve success no matter what. Without struggle for ourselves, we will get nothing.”
Looking at pictures of people around the world participating in LGBT Pride activities, Srey Toh adds: “They feel so happy walking in public and showing that they support LGBT. As the well known poem says ‘We can break a single chopstick but we cannot break many chopsticks who stick together’.”