Brighton and Hove’s campaigning theme for 2014 is Freedom To Live and highlights the plight of those LGBTQ communities living across the globe in countries where homosexuality is criminalised.
There are 78 countries, many within the Commonwealth, who currently have a form of state sponsored homophobia on their statute books. LGBTQ people can be imprisoned, whipped, stoned or hanged in the name of these laws.
From Algeria to Egypt, Brunei to Pakistan, Barbados to Papua New Guinea, Russia to India, LGBT people can find themselves in court facing long prison sentences and worse due to accusations of homosexual acts, unnatural sex, sodomy, buggery or gross indecency. Just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
From May 16 2014 until Brighton Pride on Saturday, August 2, the 78 Days Countdown will feature the 78 countries where homosexuality is criminalised. Working in conjunction with The Kaleidoscope Trust, a UK based charity that works to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people internationally, the countdown will highlight the laws affecting the lives of LGBTQ communities around the world.
The laws quoted in the Brighton Pride 78 Days Countdown can be shocking at times, the language barbaric, fuelled by past empires or unforgiving religious doctrine, whilst the countries featured are within our reach, often just a few hours flying time away. But their very closeness is a reminder of our connections as a LGBT global community and how working together we can make a change.
The 78 Days Countdown is part of Brighton Pride’s 2014 Freedom To Live campaign that will include Pride Matters blogs from LGBTQ activists, the inclusion of 78 Countries Freedom To Live placards on the Pride Community Parade and speakers on the Preston Park main stage.
As we countdown to Pride 2014, Brighton Pride believes its time to make the global connections, keep campaigning and call for LGBTQ equality. Its time for Pride to have a purpose. Because everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender, deserves the Freedom To Live.
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