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Activists say being gay is neither a sin nor a crime

Dhaka gay community speaks out
Activists say being gay is neither a sin nor a crime
The LGBT population is largely invisible in Bangladesh (photo: Uttom Stephan Rozario)
Published: May 15, 2012 08:31 AM GMT
Updated: May 15, 2012 08:34 AM GMT

There are between 1.6 million and 4.8 million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Bangladesh -- all without social, religious and legal support, according to one rights organization in the country. "I’m a guilty person in the eyes of the law. No owner will allow me to rent an apartment if I want to live with my partner. Even at the workplace I’ve been looked down on and humiliated," said Tauhidul Ahmed (not his real name), a Muslim and one of the founding members of Boys of Bangladesh. Yet on Thursday, Boys of Bangladesh -- which estimates that between 1 and 3 percent of the country's 160 million people are LGBT --  will observe the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, commemorating the World Health Organisation’s decision to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. The group will hold a public gathering with a discussion and film showing at the Alliance Fran?ais in Dhaka. Activists say they hope that events like these will help combat what the UN has called a "culture of collective denial" of homosexuality in Bangladesh. The UN says the idea is often dismissed as western. "People need to know that it is not a disease or sin," Ahmed said. In a 2009 report, the UN found "gross violations of rights have often been reported in the forms of abduction, arbitrary arrests, detention, beatings and gang rape by the law enforcing agencies and local thugs" against LGBT people. The UN also cited anecdotal evidence that gay and lesbian patients received mistreatment from medical professionals and said there was an overall misunderstanding of LGBT issues. "We teach Muslims to keep away from such sinful acts that have grabbed European countries. I think those states will be ruined one day because Allah will destroy the homosexuals," said Mazharul Islam, a cleric. According to the 2001 census, Muslims made up almost 90 percent of Bangadesh's population. Christians in the country, particularly the Catholic Church, also oppose homosexuality and  will continue to do so, asserted Catholic priest and lawyer Albert Rozario. "Same-sex might be a natural behavior according to medical science but religion doesn’t support it," he said. Outside Bangladesh, many Christian traditions do accept homosexuality, but the religious views of men like Rozario and Islam are upheld by the state. Under Bangladeshi law, even speaking out in favor of homosexuality or LGBT rights can result in jail time. Same-sex intercourse can be punished by life imprisonment -- and although there is no record of the law being enforced, it is commonly used as a coercion method, according to the UN. State-run National Human Rights Commission secretary Sheikh Abdul Ahad told ucanews that homosexuality and bi-sexuality are Western concepts and here it is considered "dysfunctional sexual behavior." "As the state doesn’t recognize them, we have fewer opportunities to work for them. Moreover, I think the number is few in Bangladesh, as they have never spoken about their rights and recognition," said Ahad. The Bandhu Social Welfare Society is another group that works for  LGBT rights, particularly on disease control and human rights. "These people are made to suffer in society in many ways. Sometimes they feel so helpless that they attempt suicide," said Premangshu Shekhar Sarkar, a senior officer for the society. While suicide rates for LGBT people are unavailable, it is clear that societal pressures are causing upheaval in the lives of many. Shakil Faruq (not his real name) was forced from his village in northwestern Rangpur district because of his homosexuality. "My wife left me after six month of marriage," he said. "Later, I found a boyfriend, but when people came to know about the relationship they called for arbitration" "I escaped to save my life and found a place in Dhaka," Faruq said. Selim Hossain, a professor of psychology at Dhaka University, says he feels sympathetic towards LGBT people knowing their suffering and that there is almost no place for them in society. "As a psychology teacher, I must admit that same-sex or bi-sex is natural and biologically right. These people should be recognized as normal human beings and their rights must be protected," he said. However, he added that society, culture, religion and state have always taught people to be critical and conservative about the issue. "A gay or lesbian should be accepted as what they are but things are very different here. Unless people become aware and get proper education about LGBT people things are not going to change," Hossain said. Related stories Gay marriage not on agenda, say activists

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