Call for input: freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)

[ArabellaScott]

This is from the UN's 'indepent Expert' Victor Madrigal-Borloz - who seems to be extremely invested in pushing 'genderism' - I think his work has been noted before on here.

Seems highly relevant to Forstater and other cases where freedom of belief has come up against self identification:

'The Independent Expert invites all interested States, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, faith leaders, academics, international organisations, national human rights institutions, activists, corporations, and others, to provide written input to the following questions for his thematic report.

Respondents are requested to limit their comments to a maximum of 2,500 words. Additional supporting materials, such as reports, academic studies, and other types of background materials may be annexed to the submission.'

Link?

Oh, fgs. Thanks, patti!

www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2023/call-input-thematic-report-freedom-religion-or-belief-forb-and-sexual

Deadline 15 Jan 2023.

TBH it sounds like the 'expert' has already made up his mind exactly what he wants to say in his report and is looking for evidence to support his theories.

'...a potential first step towards legally strengthening the human rights of LGBT+ individuals at the intersection with religious freedom is to unpack the notion of an inherent contradiction between FoRB, and freedom from violence and discrimination based on SOGI. The IE SOGI’s thematic report aims to introduce voices from LGBT-inclusive belief systems, indigenous communities, and LGBT+ communities of faith as key stakeholders'

My guess is he's framing disagreement as 'discrimination'.

Might be good to send him some more diverse viewpoints.

His question has been wrongly framed. He probably needs reminding about the necessary boundaries around health, freedom, fertility and sexuality which are crossed by unquestioning acceptance of people's beliefs about gender identity. He already knows (I assume!) that freedom of religious practice clearly hits a boundary when a religion promotes FGM. In the same way he also needs to consider at what point does freedom for gender identity and expression promote physical damage to women and girls (and indeed men and boys)

These are issues around gender medicine and practice. For girls it is not clear why (for example) chest ironing should be unacceptable and not something that a young woman can consent to, if breast binding which is functionally identical and has very closely related motives (rejection of adult female development and appearence) is considered acceptable. There is no magic about gender identity that makes breast binding physically harmless.

Similarly the hormone and surgical treatments which allow young people to deny their own sex at the expense of preventing them from experiencing orgasm in adulthood and damaging their physical health and fertility for life, are hardly something to be encouraged in the name of respect for gender identity. Women and girls (or men and boys) don't invent their gender identity out of nowhere and choose these medical and practices in a vacuum; there is plenty of evidence that even when girls and boys have demanded them and insist on them, medical practices around gender are socially mediated and they can be taught and promoted and pressed onto young people by adults based on adult beliefs and desires.

So he needs a rethink.

Bumping this! Deadline January.

www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2023/call-input-thematic-report-freedom-religion-or-belief-forb-and-sexual

Surely if you believe is sexual orientation you must believe is sex (Binary). This must conflict with gender identity.