Increasing repression against transgender people worldwide / SOS Children's Villages on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May

Munich (ots) - With the global increase in authoritarian regimes, the legal situation for transgender people is becoming more stringent in many countries. SOS Children's Villages is highlighting this on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on May 17. In regions with more progressive legislation, the large gap between the legal situation and the realities of life for transgender people remains. Boris Breyer, spokesperson for SOS Children's Villages worldwide, says: "It is shameful that people are ostracized, criminalized, and killed because of their gender identity and sexuality. Every child and every adult has the right to free personal development in all areas of life." Young people flee discrimination and societal pressure. People who do not identify with the gender assigned at birth are exposed to extreme dangers: They are disproportionately affected by discrimination in all areas of life, from sexualized violence and persecution – even hate crimes. Many are disowned by their families, live socially isolated, and in poverty. They are denied access to education and transgender healthcare. Hopeless future prospects due to political and social repression are causing many, including many young people, to flee their homeland. The increasingly authoritarian geopolitical climate is leading to renewed restrictions on the rights of transgender people in many countries: a constitutional amendment in Hungary recognizes only a binary definition of gender. Massive cuts in transgender healthcare are planned in Turkey. The USA has ordered the exclusion of around 1,000 transgender people from military service.

- While some Latin American countries are trending toward more progressive legislation, transgender people remain the most vulnerable group within the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the Trans Murder Monitoring 2024, more than a third of all registered murders in Brazil were committed against transgender people.

- Younger transgender people, who make up the majority of the transgender community, are particularly vulnerable. According to the Trans Murder Monitoring, 79 murder victims were between 15 and 25 years old. - Due to patriarchal gender roles, transgender women face some of the most discrimination. Very few have access to the job market. In Latin America, nine out of ten transgender women earn their living through sex work. Migration is also very dangerous for them: According to a UNHCR survey, almost all respondents experienced sexual violence while fleeing Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to the USA. How SOS Children's Villages helps: The aid organization advocates for the rights of LGBTQIA+ children and young people worldwide. SOS Children's Villages facilities are LGBTQIA+ friendly places where LGBTQIA+ children are supported in finding their identity. With educational workshops on topics such as gender identity and sexuality, the aid organization counteracts the discrimination and marginalization of queer people. Press contact: For further information, please contact: Boris Breyer, Press Officer, SOS Children's Villages Worldwide, Tel.: +49 160 984 723 45, Email: [email protected], www.sos-kinderdoerfer.de. Original content from: SOS Children's Villages Worldwide, Hermann Gmeiner Fund Germany, transmitted by news aktuell. Original report: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/1658/6034213