The interdependent relationship between health and human rights is well recognized. Human rights are indivisible and inalienable rights due to all people. Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) address, respectively, the rights to equality; freedom from discrimination; life, liberty, and personal security; freedom from torture and degrading treatment; recognition as a person before the law; equality before the law; and the rights to marry and have a family. Some people, specifically lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, are in many places and circumstances denied their claim to the full set of human rights. This puts LGBT people in many countries at risk for discrimination, abuse, poor health, and death — the ultimate human rights violation.
Denial of the recognition of human rights for any group of individuals is a denial of their humanity, which has a profound impact on health. For LGBT people, it may result in discrimination in housing and jobs (affecting the ability to purchase food, shelter, and health care); lack of benefits (affecting the ability to pay for health care and financial security); harassment and stress (affecting mental health and/or prompting substance abuse, smoking, overeating, or suicide); isolation (leading to depression); sexual risk-taking (exposing oneself and loved ones to sexual health risks, including HIV); physical abuse and injuries; and/or torture and death.
On the sixth and seventh of october, there's going to be a referendum in my country where the people will vote for or against allowing marriages between people of the same sex. This has turned over the past month into a full on war between the church and the conservative people on one side and the young people, the LGBT community and the diaspora on the other.
In my oppinion, if the traditionalists win and the law gets applied allowing only marriages between the two sexes it would result into a crude violation of the human rights and of the values that the global society are promoting. I will vote for allowing marriages of the same sex because I feel that everyone must have the right to choose who they marry and who they want to spend their life with. It is unacceptable that such things can happen in 2018, for a country that it's proud to be a democratic government this would violate the most basic rights, the right to healthcare and freedom. I fear for my country, I fear for what might happen in the future if such laws will apply.
I eagerly await your oppinions on this subject and I hope we can have a mature discussion.
Stephen King