LGBTQ+ Rights and SDGs
The United Nations General Assembly in 2015 finalized the 2030 Agenda, which outlined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030 so as to aid and sustain global development within the next decade. When we talk about SDGs we are referring to the Sustainable Development Goals that build on the previous set of global goals, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which identify 169 specific goals focused on creating an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable world.
These goals include eradicating extreme poverty, ending preventable deaths of infants and children under the age of 5, and strengthening resilience to natural disasters, but a key pillar of the SDGs is the promise of "Leaving No One Behind," recognizing that to eradicate poverty and create a truly sustainable world, the 169 goals must be achieved by our entire global society, including marginalized groups and vulnerable populations. As such, this principle is particularly relevant to homosexual bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people who are systematically excluded from society on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sexual characteristics.
DDL ZAN
Over the past few months in Italy we have all witnessed and been involved in the discussions and controversies regarding the Bill now known as the DDL ZAN proposed by Alessandro Zan, which aims to combat any kind of discrimination. On the title page of the aforementioned bill it is possible to read these words that should offer deep food for thought for each of us: "Measures to prevent and combat discrimination and violence on grounds of sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability."
So, we are not only talking about discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, but other issues such as gender-based violence and discrimination against people with disabilities are addressed in the ZAN DDL, and for those who commit such discrimination and violence, the bill provides for heavy sentences.
DDL ZAN's communication campaign, conducted on social media and beyond, has attracted numerous endorsements, but also just as many clashes.
Looking back over the timeline of events in recent months, we cannot overlook the now well-known speech given by Fedez during the May Day concetron in which he lashed out at League advisors who made openly homophobic phrases towards the entire LGBQT community, words and insults that are inadmissible nowadays.
A few weeks later, precisely last May 17, we celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and in this scenario it is impossible not to report the words of President of the Republic Mattarella:
"The wound inflicted on the individual person offends the freedom of all. And unfortunately, there are not a few incidents of violence, moral and physical, that, by affecting victims, outrage the whole society. Solidarity, respect, inclusion, as the work against the pandemic has also shown, are powerful vectors of social cohesion and security."
Our president's words aim to achieve an awareness and social cohesion aimed not only at a specific segment of the population, but at all citizens of our republic, a republic that must defend the inalienable rights of each and every one of us.
June: PRIDE MONTH
Continuing the succession of recent events, we come to June, the month in which Pride and the entire LGBTQ community has been celebrated for years, which includes the community's staging of concerts, parties, debates, panel discussions, theatrical performances and exhibitions.
Unfortunately, last year's celebrations due to the Pandemic were cancelled, but today, thanks to the gradual return to normalcy, the various initiatives can resume, which, always keeping in mind the current regulations, will involve the entire Italian territory from north to south: Rome, Turin, Milan, Lecco, Genoa, Verona, L'aquila and Naples.
All events will have the common goal of raising awareness among the entire community and supporting the passage of the DDL ZAN bill.
However, we want to remind you that celebrations, events, and opportunities for dialogue and discussion are not relegated only to the month of June because PRIDE MONTH IS EVERY MONTH!
In light of all these events, now more than ever we call on governments and development organizations around the world to deliver on their promise and ensure that the challenges faced by LGBT communities are truly considered in response responses to the SDGs.
We citizens of this global village have the power, right and duty to make our voices heard regardless of our sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or gender, to create together a society in which every person is accepted without exception.
Anna Moschetta
Communication Trainee | Digital Innovation Days