9 out 0f 10 MSM/transgender do not receive any prevention, treatment, care or support services

Human rights are fundamentally applicable to all communities irrespective of their sexual orientations and unmindful of their HIV status (or for that matter any other condition). It also means 'righting the wrongs' which have been perpetrated on LGBTs by insensitive societies and archaic laws, which actually increase the vulnerability of the marginalized communities, instead of protecting them.

HIV in heterosexuals is itself a major discriminatory crisis. But for men who have sex with men (MSMs) living with HIV, it is a double jeopardy. Throughout the world they are at double risk of contracting HIV and low coverage of HIV services. So, in order to prevent and control HIV we must protect and promote the human rights of the most vulnerable and typically marginalized people. It is feared that by 2020, 50% of all MSMs in the Asia Pacific region will be living with HIV.

And what are the wrongs the LGBT community is subjected to? Well, where does one begin?

Shivananda Khan, Chief Executive of Naz Foundation International (NFI), who was honored with Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the British Queen, for his services to HIV/AIDS prevention and among marginalized communities in South Asia, is very vocal about the wrongs which need to be set right in the current situation for MSMs and transgenders.

Read the complete article on citizen-news.org.