LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) people have long been the victims of violations of their human rights. They have been subjected to direct violations, whereby their physical or mental health is compromised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex persons have been attacked, arrested, tortured, killed, sentenced to death, committed to medical or psychiatric institutions and treated with ‘aversion therapy’ including electroshock therapy or forced rape.
Intersex individuals, especially those with visibly atypical anatomy, have been subjected to surgery against their will, for example, to ‘correct’ their ‘ambiguous genitalia’. LGBTI persons are also indirectly victimized through failures to recognize and consider this diverse group as healthcare recipients with specific needs resulting in denial of access to the full enjoyment of their right to the highest attainable standard of health.
LGBTI persons experience frequent human rights violations based solely upon their LGBTI status, which has major impacts upon the health of LGBTI persons. For example, LGBTI persons often suffer violations of the right to privacy, the right to education, the right to family life, even housing and employment rights, particularly when they are discriminated against on the grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
(Source: Health and Human Rights Resource Guide, François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health)