International Human Rights Day inspires advocacy

International Human Rights Day 2012 was on Dec. 10 this year. In celebration, the United Nations hosted several events over three weeks in which senior U.N. officials and leading experts gathered to discuss the rights of various groups.

One such group of particular importance to me is the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. Since middle school, I have been an ardent advocate for gay rights and have actively participated in local or school chapters of the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance). This year at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, I am the club president. Although the club is small, we have devoted members who are passionate about fighting discrimination against anyone marginalized for their sexual orientation.

I was thus delighted when we discovered the fantastic opportunity we had to take part in a panel discussion at the U.N. on Dec. 11, on “Leadership in the Fight Against Homophobia.” Three members of the club including myself arrived at the U.N. already deeply enthused. We had spent the entire train ride there discussing current LGBT issues, both in the news and in our school. Upon entering the conference room, we immediately saw U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon seated on-stage, with none other than Ricky Martin to his left. To his right was Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a South African activist and singer, and further down the table were several other less-famous by but equally important activists.

The Secretary-General opened the panel with a stirring and inspirational speech on the equality of all people, regardless of race, gender, faith or, of course, sexual orientation. Martin followed with an anecdote describing how he uses the power of his celebrity to increase public awareness. Chaka then delivered her own impassioned speech, drawing parallels between the apartheid in her native South Africa to the criminalization of homosexuality present today. Three other gay rights activists from around the globe — Blas Radi from Argentina, Gift Trapence from Malawi and Olena Shevchenko from Ukraine — also made comments about combating violence and discrimination against LGBT persons.

An open discussion followed, with questions from the audience. I was awed to see the diversity of the people present, ranging from Scandinavian human rights defenders to gay lawyers commenting on specific legislation to, most inspiring, a 13-year-old boy in an oversized suit who boldly asked a question about what he could do at the middle school level to spread awareness of the LGBT cause.

In closing, a video message from South African freedom icon Desmond Tutu urged us to understand that there can only be true equality when we learn to love from our hearts. The event concluded with Chaka’s rousing live musical performance, and all 300 attendees clapped to the beat.

On the train ride home, we couldn’t stop talking about how inspiring —and surprisingly, entertaining — the day had been. From listening to the various speeches translated into a multitude of languages on our headsets to taking photographs with the global celebrities, we realized that participating in political advocacy is not only fulfilling, but fun as well.

Most importantly, we realized the broader message behind International Human Rights Day beyond just LGBT issues. The universal ideas of all the day’s speeches had not been based on militant action but instead on something much purer and simpler: love.

As Tutu stated, equality and peace comes from the acceptance and love of others. Thinking back to the little boy at the conference who bravely stood up for what he believes in, I have confidence that love is a choice that everyone can make for themselves, for the betterment of all mankind.