This weekend Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post that ties together important and relevant issues going far beyond teen suicide. Although homophobia and bullying certainly has an effect on young people’s development when they are (or are perceived to be) gay, beyond the harm that people can do to themselves there is plenty of violence being done to LGBT people around the world by their fellow citizens and by the states they live in.

To that end, here’s some of what Pillay had to say:

Homophobia, like racism and xenophobia, exists to varying degrees in all societies. Every day, in every country, individuals are persecuted, vilified or violently assaulted, even killed, because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Covert or overt, homophobic violence causes enormous suffering that is often shrouded in silence and endured in isolation.

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The first priority is to press for decriminalization of homosexuality worldwide. In more than 70 countries, individuals still face criminal sanctions on the basis of their sexual orientation. Such laws expose those concerned to the constant risk of arrest, detention and, in some cases, torture or even execution. They also perpetuate stigma and contribute to a climate of intolerance and violence.

But as important as decriminalization is, it is only a first step. We know from experience in those countries that have removed criminal sanctions that greater concerted efforts are needed to counter discrimination and homophobia, including legislative and educational initiatives. Here again, we all have roles to play, particularly those in positions of authority and influence, such as politicians, community leaders, teachers and journalists.

So, yes, we should be concerned about young people, bullying, and suicide here in the United States. It’s also imperative that we look at the bigger picture to begin to understand the cultural and systemic effects of homophobia, which include ferocious laws that violate human rights.

We must also look beyond homophobia and investigate transphobia, and the ways that it is often subsumed to or conflated with homophobia. The perception of gayness is usually linked, especially in young people who may not yet be sexually active or expressive, to gender presentation. In our culture, effeminate boys and masculine girls are singled out as being gay and lesbian—but gender non-conformity on its own isn’t an expression of sexuality. A broader acceptance for and protection of gender non-conformity is sorely needed, coupled with explicit human rights protections for transgender men and women.

Making sure that American LGBT kids feel safe and supported growing up is not a separate project from ensuring that the human rights of LGBT people around the world are protected. Both are complex and rooted in inequalities and injustices that are perpetuated at all levels of  society. We need to consider the ways all of these things are connected as we imagine the way forward.

The New York State Senate’s deeply dispiriting Wednesday rejection of Bill S66003, which would have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, keeps New York among the 45 U.S. states that deny this key civil right to its gay & lesbian citizens, until at least 2011.

In response to the bill’s 38-24 defeat (“no” voters included eight senators from the boroughs of New York City, where IWHC’s offices are located) Marriage Equality New York held a rally last night in Manhattan’s Union Square. The solid crowd for this short-notice event included some holding candles, as MENY’s event calendar had suggested, but many more raising signs of protest demanding “EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES” or featuring angrily-captioned images of vocal marriage-equality opponents like Senator Rubén Díaz, clearly signaling a strong sense of betrayal by elected officials. Among those addressing the crowd were Governor David Paterson, State Senator Daniel Squadron (who voted in favor of the bill) and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Though a weak sound system meant that all but those closest to the dais had difficulty hearing the speakers, the spirit of their messages—and the enthusiasm of the crowd’s response—made clear the commitment of New Yorkers to stay focused on this critical issue as long as needed to ensure just marriage laws for all.

A small but dedicated crowd of activists, journalists, and clergy from New York and the surrounding area showed up at the Uganda House at 12:30 yesterday afternoon to protest the anti-homosexuality bill currently under consideration in the Ugandan parliament. Many of the protesters carried signs decrying the bill, and amid shouts of “gay rights are human rights” and “stop the bill, stigma kills,” representatives from the African Services Committee, Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission delivered to the embassy a letter demanding the dismissal of the legislation. Most of the protesters, when asked what brought them out in the rain to take a stand, told us that they were worried about the extremity of the bill and the possibility of further stigmatizing LGBTQI citizens in Uganda, making it harder for them to access vital health and legal services. Many protesters pointed out the conflict between this bill and the international human rights documents to which Uganda is committed, and called for the Ugandan government to take a positive stand on the human rights of all of its citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. In the words of Damon Bolden, pictured above, “I’m here to let the Ugandan government know that what they’re doing isn’t right and to let the citizens know that there are people in the world who care.”

The event featured distinguished panelists including Anand Grover, Project Director of the HIV/AIDS Unit of the Lawyers Collective in India and recently appointed UN Special Rapporteur to Health. Grover first filed the challenge to 377 on behalf of the Naz Foundation in Delhi High Court more than eight years ago.

My friend, Mario D’Penha, a queer feminist historian was also on the panel. Mario is a founding member of two organizations who are part of Voices Against 377, a coalition of progressive organizations that intervened in the case against Section 377. I felt so proud seeing him on the panel, and fondly reminisced about how I used to see him at Voices meetings, where he was one of the most active members, when I was living in India.

Panelists shared fascinating insider tidbits about the struggle to overturn 377. For example, Mr. Grover explained the original reasoning for filing the petition in Delhi. For one, explained Grover, they knew if they failed, they still would have the option of taking the case to the Supreme Court. They also chose Delhi because its Tihar jail had stopped distributing condoms due to 377, which provided a concrete example of how 377 impairs AIDS prevention.

While the panel topic was focused on litigation, all the panelists agreed that the single biggest factor that resulted in the repeal of 377 was the change in mentality of judges, parliamentarians and everyday Indians since the petition was filed in 2001. Activists in India have led painstaking efforts in India to increase awareness about how HIV/ AIDS cannot be addressed in a punitive environment and to increase support for the rights of LGBTQI people. I would have loved to hear more about how women’s groups, child rights, human rights groups, and LGBTQI all came together so effectively and emphatically on the issue.

My friend, Caroline Earle, who works at Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action, or CREA, did a brilliant job discussing a very inspiring question asked by Carole Vance, an anthropologist and activist who specializes in sexuality, human rights, health at the Mailman School of Public Health. Vance asked how movements can be brought together around shared issues that impact everyone such as discrimination, privacy, consent, dignity, and the freedom to make choices. Caroline pointed out that one of the greatest factors that led to the Delhi High Court’s decision was the fact that so many diverse groups and interests came together to oppose the law, which impacted them all.

Moving forward, I hope that this collaborative spirit amongst diverse groups will ensure further victories for civil and political rights in India, particularly for women and sex workers.