#wphrc14

The change you want to see in the world, in your community and in your school, begins with you!!! Ever since I knew about the Global Citizenship and Equity Learning Experience (GCELE) to Advocate for LGBT Human Rights, I decided to be part of this project, to be involved in the movement for LGBT rights and share with my school and community the issues that LGBT people face in different countries around the world.

As part of this GCELE, we traveled to New York City where we visited historical sites such as the Museum of Tolerance and the Stonewall Inn, and organizations such as Human Rights Watch, the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations that work towards the global initiative to recognize LGBT Rights as Human Rights. I had the privilege of enjoying this unique and meaningful learning experience that allowed me to reflect, analyze and synthesize information about the principles of social justice, equity, tolerance and acceptance.

A lot of feelings came up for me during this experience. I found it shocking to learn about the violence against the LGBT people and the violations of the existing international human rights law in many countries around the world. On the other hand, I feel confident that the organizations we visited are true examples of human rights defenders working to protect LGBT people and end with the discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Some people might think that LGBT rights and human rights are different things; but if we look them closely they are one and the same. Being LGBT does not make you less human, inferior or less intelligent, and that is why LGBT rights are human rights, and human rights are LGBT rights!

I realized that the most violent element in society is ignorance! How many times have we pointed out other people because they are different? Different in the way of think, way of walk, way of dress, talk or love. We feel with the right to judge others just because they have a different opinion than ours and we forget we live in a plural society, where everyone has a place and where everyone should be listened, and even more the minorities who have been marginalized and are suffering a silent discrimination.

A few months ago a saw a poster like this posted by one of my friends on Facebook, it made me realize that we should care about and protect the rights on every human being. It made me think that sometimes people only cares and fight for the problems that affect them, but why?  Why not fight for the issues that affect other people to make this world a better world?

  I'm talking about human rights in general, but here I want to focus especially for the LGBT human rights, that if we look them a little more closely, they are one and the same. For me human rights means that no matter where in the world you live you can be yourself! It’s about equality, tolerance and acceptance. LGBT human rights is part of a movement for a social justice and equity for all people around the world, in which everybody is equal and everybody has the same rights to be who they are.

  I had the opportunity to apply and be selected for a unique learning experience to explore human rights from the LGBT perspective and support the World Pride Human Rights Conference; and tomorrow, me and other students and faculty members of the college are going to New York, for an educational visit to understand the history of the LGBT rights movement and how we can help, support and raise the awareness about issues in particular parts of the world.

  This means a lot for me, especially because I came to Toronto and experienced the freedom, be accepted for being gay and treated equally. I came from a country where is hard to be who you are, people are kept in the shadows and face difficult situations. The homophobia is a problem of an ignorance society, this is the reason that I decided to join to the LGTB rights movement, to be a voice and help people with my experience and support the organizations working on these issues around the world.