Too often, when we look to the news, we see a bleak world picture. War, torture and general hatred seem to dominate our screens.

When we focus our gaze on the lives of our LGBT brothers and sisters around the world, it only gets worse.

And it can be overwhelming. We can end up turning away, thinking that it is all too hard, that there is nothing that we can do to stem the flow of unhappiness that runs throughout the world.

But can we afford to turn our gaze from this suffering?

Recently, there has been some attention given to the executions of men in Iraq. The reason for their death sentence? Being homosexual. Gays Without Borders reported on March 27 that there were 128 prisoners on death row in Iraq, many charged with the ‘crime’ of homosexuality. It’s something I’ve spoken in parliament about in the past.

Iraq may be rid of Saddam, but it still has Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country’s leading Shia cleric. al-Sistani was responsible for the fatwa issued a few years ago that called for the killing of those in the LGBT community in the ‘worse, most severe way’ possible.

Stories are coming out of the war-torn nation of men, women and even children being tortured and even summarily executed because their life choices don’t conform to a doctrine of Islam that suggests that murdering children is more moral than living gay.

An underground railway has been set up, providing safe houses in Iraqi cities to help gay people escape persecution.

The seemingly carefree holiday island of Jamaica is another nation where homophobia is hurting its people. The ‘act of homosexuality’ is still illegal on the Caribbean island, and despite violent attacks, police are unwilling to investigate even the most heinous crimes.

Homosexual acts are still illegal in many nations across the world, with the penalty varying wildly. In some places, a fine is imposed: in others, life in prison or the death sentence are applied.

So what can we do? While the obvious answer might seem to be ‘nothing,’ I do not believe that this is or can be an option – for any of us.

Instead, we must look for real, viable ways to change this reality. Here are some of the things I do – that you could, too: Join Amnesty International – by being a member, you are supporting their work for human rights around the world. Write to governments in countries where discrimination is supported expressing your disgust. Boycott products that come from countries with repressive regimes. Choose alternative holiday destinations. Sign up to websites like http://gayswithoutborders.wordpress.com/ to see what is happening around the world and be informed.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding was recently quoted as saying, ‘We are not going to yield to the pressure, whether that pressure comes from individual organizations, individuals, whether that pressure comes from foreign governments or groups of countries, to liberalize the law as it relates to buggery.’

I don’t believe that is true. I believe that by exerting enough pressure, we can all make a difference. After all – that’s how we changed the laws here in SA – and recently in Canberra. By joining together and campaigning for the rights of our gay sisters and brothers … we can help them, too.

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