Lois Chingandu, the executive director of the Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) Thursday urged the global community to fight stigma and discrimination perpetrated against LGBTI people. In a statement issued to mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, the director said “this day reminds us as a people that we must reach out to another without for the betterment of our African communities and countries”.

To often, she said, LGBT people face intolerance and stigma within their families and communities.

“They are ignorantly persecuted and violent attacks are rationalized by individuals claiming to have “peace” at heart,” she said.

She said that as communities are striving to come together to address development challenges towards a better life for all- a life which guarantees human rights to all – there is need to respect the diversity of society.

“It is this diversity - including the social, racial, religious, cultural and political dimensions which is the essence of being human. As human rights, we are born with rights, as well as responsibilities toward one another,” she said.

The HIV and AIDS epidemic has devastated the southern African region. Early on, stigma and discrimination toward people living with HIV created a barrier to the region fully addressing HIV, thereby exacerbating the epidemic. As communities and individuals have opened and resisted stigma, we are witnessing positive changes and overall decline in the impact of the epidemic on our lives. However, the battle is not won, and ongoing stigma and discrimination of populations, like LGBTI continue to present barriers to fully addressing the epidemic.

“As we are working towards the goal of zero new HIV infections, SAfAIDS believes we must break down all barriers of stigma and discrimination and ensure that people of all sexual orientation have access to quality legal, and health services that meet their needs. As an organisation, we are creating platforms to discuss challenges related to HIV and identify solutions within our cultural context and reaffirm our commitment to human rights for all. We are therefore today calling for the respect, cooperation, passion and solidarity with LGBTI communities,” she said.