LGBTQ community calls for protection, equal rights

By REBECCA KUKU
FOLLOWING the call by sex workers for protection, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Port Moresby have also called for the same protection, saying all people should be given equal rights regardless of their occupation and their sexual preferences.
A homosexual man residing in Port Moresby told The National that he understood the call made by prostitutes because the LGBTQ community also faced the same issues where violence against them also went unreported.
“I know this from experience,” he said.
“I was beaten up by a group of drunken men at the street where I used to live after they found out I was gay.”
“I went to the police station and reported the incident but, instead, was ridiculed and further harassed by the officers at the counter.
“We are human, but no one sees us as human.
“The funny thing is that, people will turn a blind eye to almost every ungodly thing but prostitutes and members of the LGBTQ are shunned.
“We are not killing or raping anyone, why are we being condemned simply for choosing to love.”
Another gay man, who is also a sex worker, said he did what he did because the demand was high even though sometimes he would be beaten by clients.
“People can condemn us but there are many Papua New Guinean men who pay for our services,” he said.
“Most of our clients are married men, with wives and children so I don’t see why Papua New Guineans still deny our existence and try to beat us out of existence.
“I’m not calling for prostitution and LGBTQ to be legalised, I know the country is still a long way from that, but at least give us some rights to be treated like humans too.”
The National tried speaking to a lesbian couple, however, the women said it was difficult to speak out about their issue.
“If people can’t accept prostitution and gay men who do this, then how can they ever accept a woman living with another woman,” one partner said.
“So I’m not going to waste my time commenting.”