Lady Phyll warns UK government ‘must go faster’ to protect LGBTQ+ lives
Sign up for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, the former executive director of LGBTQ+ charity Kaleidoscope Trust, has called on the UK government to take stronger action in protecting LGBTQ+ rights around the world. Opoku-Gyimah issued the warning ahead of her appointment as the CEO of UK Black Pride, after announcing her decision to step down from Kaleidoscope Trust.
Opoku-Gyimah made her statement during the Trust’s Annual Parliamentary Reception on Wednesday, highlighting the progress made in countries such as Cook Islands and Mauritius, which repealed their anti-LGBTQ+ laws this year. However, she emphasized that there is still a long way to go in achieving full equality.
One country that Opoku-Gyimah specifically mentioned was Uganda, where the Anti-Homosexuality Act was passed this year. She revealed that partners of the Trust based in Uganda have already faced forced evictions and threats of violence under this discriminatory law. Some individuals have even had to make the difficult decision of whether to flee their homes. The Anti-Homosexuality Act criminalizes same-sex activity and anyone advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, with penalties including the death penalty.
Opoku-Gyimah also drew attention to the rise in homophobic movements in countries like Botswana and Namibia, which has resulted in an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ violence and hate speech. Despite these challenges, she expressed hope in the work done by organizations like Kaleidoscope Trust to change policies, legislation, and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights.
For real change to happen, Opoku-Gyimah stressed that governments must step up and provide consistent support to LGBTQ+ funders and activist groups. She specifically called on the UK government to do more in protecting LGBTQ+ rights globally, warning that the progress made so far is at risk.
In her speech, Opoku-Gyimah urged the UK government to “go further and go faster” in safeguarding LGBTQ+ lives. She emphasized that the time for waiting is over, as people’s lives are at stake. She called on all political parties to pledge their support to Kaleidoscope Trust’s policy manifesto, which aims to promote global LGBTI rights.
While Opoku-Gyimah will step down from her role at Kaleidoscope Trust at the end of this year, she has pledged her continued support as a patron. In the new year, she will become the first CEO of UK Black Pride, an organization she co-founded in 2005. UK Black Pride is the largest celebration of LGBTQ+ individuals of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern descent.
Opoku-Gyimah’s call for stronger action by the UK government in protecting LGBTQ+ lives around the world highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the community. It serves as a reminder that progress is not linear and that there is still much work to be done in achieving equality for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Follow us on: Facebook for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
“LGBTQ+ rights”
