UN’s resident co-ordinator in Vietnam praises the Southeast Asian nation’s LGBT rights achievements in the last year
The UN has congratulated Vietnam on the progress of the LGBT rights movement in the Southeast Asian nation.
‘This is vital in order to be better understood, to reduce social prejudice and stigma based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and to contribute to development of relevant legislation to ensure the rights of the community are protected,’ said Pratibha Mehta, the UN’s resident co-ordinator in Vietnam, Vietnamnet reports.
Last year Vietnam’s government started consulting on same-sex marriage and the country held its first Pride march (a Pride cycle).
For this year’s IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) last Friday (17 May) Vietnamese LGBT rights activists iSEE and ICS organized ‘waking up to the rainbow’ events in four cities.
‘Vietnam is leading Asian countries in the development of homosexual people’s rights,’ said Huynh Minh Thao, communication manager at ICS.
This year’s Viet Pride will be on 2 to 4 August with a campaign to encourage LGBT people to further their education.
Legalizing same-sex marriage is supported by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice in Vietnam. A vote in the National Assembly is expected in 2014.
by Anna Leach
Source – Gay Star News
