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Uutinen

14.10.2022

LGBTQIA+ homelessness cannot be solved if we don’t recognise it 

On Monday 17.10 is the international day for the eradication of poverty – on this occasion, the 20th night of the homeless is taking place in Finland. Seta’s international affairs committee interviewed two experts by experience about the meaning of “home” and ways to prevent homelessness among the LGBTQIA+ community. 

TW: the text contains mentions of sexual assault and violence.

What does “home” mean to you?

Arvi: Home means everything, and it makes everything possible.

Home is a place of safety and escape – the importance of which was even more pronounced when Arvi was in mental health rehabilitation, and he was in need of a place of safety to retreat to, since he was not always able to be in the company of other people.

In his own words, Arvi states that he was experiencing “hidden homelessness”. He worked while experiencing homelessness; now he thinks that he wouldn’t accept school or a job in a similar situation anymore.

“The first point that makes everything possible is having a home”

According to Arvi, the absence of a place to call home also has a great impact on a person’s mental health, as homelessness creates constant stress and insecurity. Arvi spent nights with his friends when he was homeless.

Juha: Home is my own space, to which I have the key and control. It is a space to think and calm down. Home is a place where a LGBTQIA+ persons can start a safe family.

Juha became homeless five years ago due to a system error.

When Juha applied for financial support for housing, the application was not registered, and consequently, a decision could not be made. As a result, Juha lost his rental apartment and was left with nothing. Since then, Juha has struggled in the twists and turns of the Finnish bureaucracy and service system.

Did you have difficulties in finding a home? What happened?

“It has been a lot of trouble to find my own home”

Arvi is silent for a moment and thinks aloud how to express it briefly, but starts by telling that he is transgender, has transitioned, and is a former drug addict.

2016 is a turning point in Arvi’s life: that’s when started drug replacement therapy. Before durg replacement therapy, Arvi had been homeless and he was still homeless when starting therapy.  After entering treatment, however, things gradually started to change – but his credit information had gone bad and he had been flagged in the national credit register, which made it difficult to find a home.

Arvi says that there are cities in which it is practically impossible to find a home with his background. Fortunately, he got into Oulu University, and through his studies was fast-tracked to get a home. Arvi considers student status to be an important matter and a way to get a home. It was the longest term Arvi has had and he was able to keep it during his studies.

When he had to move out after graduating, he again faced a difficult process of finding an apartment.

Arvi says that getting an apartment in the capital region feels impossible considering his background. That’s why he doesn’t dream of working or studying in Helsinki, since it would mean a long commute.

“It’s interesting how things that happened a long time ago, that don’t say anything about me today, are still having a heavy impact. ”

Arvi hopes that the law reform concerning the credit register comes into force; this would remove the flags in the credit register related to credit/payment failures that happened a long time ago.

However, Arvi says that he is lucky that he is “passing”, meaning that Arvi passes for a man and people cannot tell he is trans.

However, Arvi continues by saying that when looking for work, people with a trans background are sorted out first, and when there is no work, it becomes even more difficult to get an apartment.

Finding an apartment wasn’t a problem for Juha, but as a gay man experiencing homelessness, he has encountered many shortcomings in the service system.

“When I was homeless, I ended up having to shout at the social services, ‘I’m gay’.”

“Due to an error in the system, I ended up in a systemic failure condition. So, an error occurring in Kela’s system messed up my socio-economic situation. System errors occur, when the authorities do not meet the client, when the authorities do not cooperate with each other, and when legislation transfers the client from one place to another; rendering the client outside or on the fringes of the system.”

Juha says that when dealing with housing services, he faced stigmatization, and neither his individual support needs nor his identity were not taken into account. A big part of those experiencing homelessness are cis men dealing with a substance abuse problem.

Juha has faced violence and sexual violence in housing units because of his sexuality. He emphasizes that it is safer for him to be in the drug-free housing unit of the Diakonia Institute.

Juha has also experienced injustice in health care: He has not been able to access the HIV medication he needs because he is homeless, which has been interpreted as a risk because he may not have a safe place to store his medication. HIV medication should be taken at the same time every day, because taking medication irregularly can cause drug resistance.

“I live without HIV medication because of my situation, because I do not have a substance abuse problem, but I am gay, I have had to come out of the closet on the front page of Iltalehti, trying to get help. I have experienced five  physical assaults and 11 situations of sexual violence in homelessness. I have been dissed when I tried to report sexual violence. It is impossible to describe the amount of mental violence one experiences as a homeless LGBTQIA person.

The worst was when I was placed in the countryside after a very brutal act of revenge: I was sent to the countryside, I didn’t meet any LGBTQIA+ people for over a year, I wasn’t allowed to talk about my sexuality. I experienced repeated sexual violence.”

What do you think should be improved? What should politicians do?

More education about different minority groups would be needed. It’s not about any special needs, but different needs.

As a trans person, it is also difficult to get services and help.

In his own words, Arvi lived in limbo and didn’t know what to do. Arvi didn’t want to seek treatment or help due to minority stress. More representatives of minorities would be needed for expert positions, so that help can be given by someone with authentic  understanding of the group in question.

“I didn’t want to make myself feel worse”

Arvi remembers that in Oulu, the drug replacement care facility had a rainbow flag. This stuck in Arvi’s mind. “You didn’t have to explain yourself in the same way, people had received training and that reduced my stress considerably.”

It would also be important to study and map out long-term homeless.

Arvi points out that the trans perspective has been an invisible and silenced topic in the discussion of homelessness.

Arvi also points out that different groups of people experience homelessness in different ways, there is no one absolute way. It’s different to be a homeless cis-straight woman with substance abuse issues from being a cis-straight man, or a trans person.

Arvi would like you to stop and ask “what could be done about your specific situation”

Juha himself is actively involved in finding and building solutions. He is e.g. a candidate in next year’s parliamentary elections, and he has recently founded Saatenkaari-ikkuna ry with other people, which works to prevent LGBTQIA homelessness.

“I myself have stepped into politics and organization activities. I have a continuous discussion on the topic with other decision-makers. Homelessness is not a disease but a consequence.”

Juha also mentions an upcoming initiative, which focuses on homelessness caused by reasons other than substance abuse and mental health problems. He states that there should be a housing unit where people experiencing homelessness are treated equitably and met as human beings, and everyone feels safe. No one should feel like they are being forced to come out.

Juha also points out that there are shortcomings in the service system and that different institutions do not communicate with each other. He emphasises the shortcoming of assuming that all those experiencing homelessness have a substance abuse problem. He hopes that the service system takes people’s identity and individual needs into account.

“In Helsinki, homelessness is divided between adult social work and substance abuse work and psychiatric work. Adult social work buys outsourced services, and they are often dangerous for LGBTQIA+ people. I have had to obtain a medical certificate in 2020 about my homosexuality, stating I do not have a substance abuse or mental health problem. My situation continues because the authorities are afraid of admitting their mistake.”

Lastly, Juha stresses the vulnerable position of LGBTQIA+ people:

“LGBTQIA+ people experiencing homelessness significantly more often than others due to the lack of a support network (family). According to a Spanish study,, LGBTQIA+ people experiencing homelessness face 12 times as much sexual violence than other homeless people. In a situation of sexual assault, the LGBTQIA+  person experiencing homelessnes as a victim, is likely to be made the culprit. If I were raped, and the rapist would contract HIV, I would probably be convicted for spreading it, even if I were the victim.”

27.02.2014

Jouduitko viharikoksen uhriksi vuonna 2013? Kerro tapauksesta ETY-järjestölle – dl 30.3.

Jouduitko viime vuonna rikoksen kohteeksi seksuaalisen suuntautumisesi, sukupuoli-identiteettisi tai sukupuolen ilmaisusi vuoksi? Tai tiedätkö jonkun muun, joka joutui? Kerro tapauksesta Setalle 30.3.2014 mennessä, niin Seta kertoo sen edelleen ETY-järjestölle.

Were you a victim of a crime last year because of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression? Or do you know someone else who was? Please tell Seta about the case at latest on March 16th so we can report it to the OSCE. (in English below) 

ETYj (Euroopan turvallisuus- ja yhteistyöjärjestö) julkaisee vuosittain tietoja jäsenmaissa tapahtuneista viharikoksista. Uhrin seksuaaliseen suuntautumiseen, sukupuolen ilmaisuun tai sukupuoli-identiteettiin liittyneet tapaukset ovat yksi tapausryhmä, josta ETYj raportoi. Setan kansainvälinen kattojärjestö ILGA-Eurooppa koostaa ETYjiä varten raportin seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöjen eri maissa kokemista viharikoksista. Seta toimittaa ILGA-Euroopalle tietoja Suomen osalta.

Näin voit auttaa: jos tiedossasi on Suomessa kalenterivuoden 2013 aikana tapahtunut seksuaaliseen suuntautumiseen, sukupuoli-identiteettiin tai sukupuolen ilmaisuun kohdistunut viharikos, ilmoita siitä Setan pääsihteerille sähköpostitse os. paasihteeri[at]seta.fi viimeistään perjantaina 30.3. Laita mukaan vastaukset allaoleviin kysymyksiin niiltä osin kuin pystyt. Laita mukaan myös omat yhteystietosi. Itse tapausselostukseen ei kuitenkaan tarvitse laittaa henkilöiden nimiä. Setan työtä helpottaa, jos voit lähettää viestisi englanninkielisenä (koska tekstit on joka tapauksessa käännettävä ILGA-Eurooppaa ja ETYjiä varten), mutta voit kirjoittaa myös suomeksi tai ruotsiksi.

Setalle ilmoitetut tapaukset raportoidaan Setan harkinnan mukaan edelleen ILGA-Euroopalle ja ETY-järjestölle, ja ne saattavat päätyä ETYjin viralliseen viharikosraporttiin, joka julkaistaan syksyllä.

Kun kerrot meille tapauksesta, vastaa näihin kysymyksiin:

  • Mitä tapahtui (lyhyt kuvaus)
  • Päivämäärä, kellonaika ja paikka
  • Tiedon lähde (esim. uhri, poliisi, järjestö, media tms)
  • Uhri(t) (lukumäärä, ikä, sukupuoli, seksuaalinen suuntautuminen/sukupuoli- identiteetti/sukupuolen ilmaisu, jos relevanttia tapauksessa, muut relevantit tiedot)
  • Rikostyyppi (esim. kiihottaminen kansanryhmää vastaan, tuhotyö, pahoinpitely, laiton uhkaus)
  • Tekijä(t) (lukumäärä, ikä, sukupuoli, muut relevantit tiedot)
  • Mistä vihamotiivi ilmenee
  • Tapauksen oikeusstatus (onko ilmoitettu poliisille, onko käynnistetty tutkinta, onko nostettu syytettä, onko käsitelty oikeudessa, onko annettu tuomio, onko valitettu)
  • Paikallisten viranomaisten reaktio
  • Vaikutukset uhriin/uhreihin ja seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöihin kuuluviin ihmisiin
  • Onko tapauksesta julkisia dokumentteja (kuten oikeuskäsittelyn dokumentteja tai media-artikkeleita)

Suuri kiitos avustasi!

 

IN ENGLISH:

OSCE gathers documentation about hate crimes in 2013 – DL March 30th

Were you a victim of a crime last year because of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression? Or do you know someone else who was? Tell Seta about the case at latest on March 30th!

OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) publishes annually a report on hate crimes and hate-based incidents within OSCE participating states. Cases linked with the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of the victim are one category of incidents that OSCE reports on. Seta’s European umbrella organisation ILGA-Europe gathers a report for OSCE on hate crimes experienced by LGBT people in different countries. Seta reports information to ILGA-Europe concerning Finland.

You can help us like this: if you know a hate crime that took place in 2013 (the calendar year) and was related to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, please email the secretary general of Seta about it to paasihteeri[at]seta.fi at latest by March 30th by answering the questions below. Please include your contact information. The incident report does not need to include names of persons, though. It makes our work easier if you can write in English (as the texts will have to be translated for ILGA-Europe and OSCE in any case), but you can write also in Finnish or in Swedish.

Cases reported to Seta will be reported to ILGA-Europe and OSCE based on Seta’s evaluation of the information, and they may end up to OSCE’s official report on hate crimes which will be published in the Autumn. Send your message to paasihteeri[at]seta.fi.

When reporting a case to us, please answer the following questions:

  • What happened (brief description)
  • Date, time and location of the incident
  • Source of information (for example the victim, police, organisation, media, please specify)
  • Victim(s) involved (number, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, other relevant information)
  • Type of the crime(s) (for example assault, damage, illegal threat)
  • Perpetrator(s) (number, age, sex, other relevant information)
  • Brief description of incident with bias indicators (= what makes it a hate crime)
  • Status of the case (is it reported to the police, has an investigation been conducted, has someone been charged, etc.)
  • Response of local authorities
  • Impact on the victim(s) and the LGBT community
  • Are there any public documentation (like legal documents or media reports) about the case

Big thanks for your help!

19.12.2012

Seta: The federal “gay propaganda” law in Russia has to be turned down

Seta julkaisi kannanoton Venäjän kansallisen duuman käsittelyssä olevaa “homopropagandan” kieltävää lakiesitystä vastaan. Kannanotto on suunnattu duuman puhemiehelle Sergei Naryshkinille. 19.12. on kansainvälinen kampanjapäivä kyseistä lakia vastaan.

Seta published a statement against the article 6.13.1, the federal anti-lgbt draft law in Russia. The statement is addressed to the speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Sergey Naryshkin.

Kirje venäjäksi täällä (pdf)
 

SETA: THE FEDERAL “PROPAGANDA” LAW IN RUSSIA HAS TO BE TURNED DOWN

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland joins human rights organizations around the world in expressing deep concern regarding the proposed article 6.13.1 in the Parliament of Russian Federation, also known as the “homosexual propaganda” draft law.

Seta urges You and all Russian legislators in federal, regional and local levels to protect the human rights of everyone, including LGBTI people, in line with the international commitments of Russia. We stand in solidarity with the Russian LGBTI community and all human rights defenders.

Banning activities that inform the public about diversity of sexual orientation and gender will send the whole Russian and international community an unacceptable signal of intolerance and exclusion. Passing the law would put human rights defenders increasingly at risk. Such a law would not only violate the human rights what comes to freedom of speech, assembly and association of LGBTI people and their allies in Russia but would also violate the right of everyone, including minors, to access correct information about the diversity of gender and sexual orientation.

By making decisions based on wrong information and prejudices, decision makers carry responsibility for severe consequences such as increasing intolerance towards LGBTI people, hate crimes, violence and arbitrary arrests.

On December 19th, numerous protests against the law are organized throughout Russia and Europe. According to Seta’s knowledge, the first reading of the law will be in January 2013.

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland

Seta is a national human rights organization, established in 1974. Seta’s goal is a society where everyone can live equally, free of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Seta is the umbrella organization for 21 LGBTI associations all over Finland.

11.03.2012

Jouduitko viharikoksen uhriksi vuonna 2011? Kerro tapauksesta ETY-järjestölle – dl 16.3.

Jouduitko viime vuonna rikoksen kohteeksi seksuaalisen suuntautumisesi, sukupuoli-identiteettisi tai sukupuolen ilmaisusi vuoksi? Tai tiedätkö jonkun muun, joka joutui? Kerro tapauksesta Setalle 16.3.2012 mennessä, niin Seta kertoo sen edelleen ETY-järjestölle.

Were you a victim of a crime last year because of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression? Or do you know someone else who was? Please tell Seta about the case at latest on March 16th so we can report it to the OSCE. (in English below)

ETYj (Euroopan turvallisuus- ja yhteistyöjärjestö) julkaisee vuosittain tietoja jäsenmaissa tapahtuneista viharikoksista. Uhrin seksuaaliseen suuntautumiseen, sukupuolen ilmaisuun tai sukupuoli-identiteettiin liittyneet tapaukset ovat yksi tapausryhmä, josta ETYj raportoi. Setan kansainvälinen kattojärjestö ILGA-Eurooppa koostaa ETYjiä varten raportin seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöjen eri maissa kokemista viharikoksista. Seta toimittaa ILGA-Euroopalle tietoja Suomen osalta.

Näin voit auttaa: jos tiedossasi on Suomessa kalenterivuoden 2011 aikana tapahtunut seksuaaliseen suuntautumiseen, sukupuoli-identiteettiin tai sukupuolen ilmaisuun kohdistunut viharikos, ilmoita siitä Setan pääsihteerille sähköpostitse os. paasihteeri[at]seta.fi viimeistään perjantaina 16.3. Laita mukaan vastaukset allaoleviin kysymyksiin niiltä osin kuin pystyt. Laita mukaan myös omat yhteystietosi. Itse tapausselostukseen ei kuitenkaan tarvitse laittaa henkilöiden nimiä. Setan työtä helpottaa, jos voit lähettää viestisi englanninkielisenä (koska tekstit on joka tapauksessa käännettävä ILGA-Eurooppaa ja ETYjiä varten), mutta voit kirjoittaa myös suomeksi tai ruotsiksi.

Setalle ilmoitetut tapaukset raportoidaan Setan harkinnan mukaan edelleen ILGA-Euroopalle ja ETY-järjestölle, ja ne saattavat päätyä ETYjin viralliseen viharikosraporttiin, joka julkaistaan syksyllä.

Kun kerrot meille tapauksesta, vastaa näihin kysymyksiin:

– Mitä tapahtui (lyhyt kuvaus)

– Päivämäärä, kellonaika ja paikka

– Tiedon lähde (esim. uhri, poliisi, järjestö, media tms)

– Uhri(t) (lukumäärä, ikä, sukupuoli, seksuaalinen suuntautuminen/sukupuoli- identiteetti/sukupuolen ilmaisu, jos relevanttia tapauksessa, muut relevantit tiedot)

– Rikostyyppi (esim. kiihottaminen kansanryhmää vastaan, tuhotyö, pahoinpitely, laiton uhkaus)

– Tekijä(t) (lukumäärä, ikä, sukupuoli, muut relevantit tiedot)

– Mistä vihamotiivi ilmenee

– Tapauksen oikeusstatus (onko ilmoitettu poliisille, onko käynnistetty tutkinta, onko nostettu syytettä, onko käsitelty oikeudessa, onko annettu tuomio, onko valitettu)

– Paikallisten viranomaisten reaktio

– Vaikutukset uhriin/uhreihin ja seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöihin kuuluviin ihmisiin

– Onko tapauksesta julkisia dokumentteja (kuten oikeuskäsittelyn dokumentteja tai media-artikkeleita)

Suuri kiitos avustasi!

IN ENGLISH:

OSCE gathers documentation about hate crimes in 2011 – DL March 16th

Were you a victim of a crime last year because of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression? Or do you know someone else who was? Tell Seta about the case at latest on Friday March 16th!

OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) publishes annually a report on hate crimes and hate-based incidents within OSCE participating states. Cases linked with the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of the victim are one category of incidents that OSCE reports on. Seta’s European umbrella organisation ILGA-Europe gathers a report for OSCE on hate crimes experienced by LGBT people in different countries. Seta reports information to ILGA-Europe concerning Finland.

You can help us like this: if you know a hate crime that took place in 2011 (the calendar year) and was related to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, please email the secretary general of Seta about it to paasihteeri[at]seta.fi at latest by March 16th by answering the questions below. Please include your contact information. The incident report does not need to include names of persons, though. It makes our work easier if you can write in English (as the texts will have to be translated for ILGA-Europe and OSCE in any case), but you can write also in Finnish or in Swedish.

Cases reported to Seta will be reported to ILGA-Europe and OSCE based on Seta’s evaluation of the information, and they may end up to OSCE’s official report on hate crimes which will be published in the Autumn.

When reporting a case to us, please answer the following questions:

– What happened (brief description)

– Date, time and location of the incident

– Source of information (for example the victim, police, organisation, media, please specify)

– Victim(s) involved (number, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, other relevant information)

– Type of the crime(s) (for example assault, damage, illegal threat)

– Perpetrator(s) (number, age, sex, other relevant information)

– Brief description of incident with bias indicators (= what makes it a hate crime)

– Status of the case (is it reported to the police, has an investigation been conducted, has someone been charged, etc.)

– Response of local authorities

– Impact on the victim(s) and the LGBT community

– Are there any public documentation (like legal documents or media reports) about the case

Big thanks for your help!

17.05.2010

Euroopan neuvoston pääsihteeri tuomitsee syrjinnän seksuaalisen suuntautumisen tai sukupuoli-identiteetin perusteella

Euroopan neuvoston pääsihteeri Thorbjørn Jaglandin mukaan syrjintä seksuaalisen suuntautumisen tai sukupuoli-identiteetin perusteella kuuluu historiaan.

Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity should be consigned to the pages of history!

Thorbjørn Jagland

17 May marks the International Day against Homophobia. Europe has seen important progress in addressing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. But there is more to be done.

In March, the representatives of the 47 member countries of the oldest European organisation, the Council of Europe recommended that all individuals must be able to enjoy their rights and freedoms without discrimination – including on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. They also recognised that non-discriminatory treatment by state actors, and, where appropriate, positive state measures for protection against discriminatory treatment, including by non-state actors, are fundamental components of the international system protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Last week in Vilnius, European values of respect for agreed human rights standards won out over bigotry and hatred. For the first time ever, the city successfully hosted a gay pride parade. 500 people participated in the parade, and roughly twice as many people demonstrated against the event. Regrettably, reports suggest that one policeman and a journalist were injured in clashes with protesters against the parade, but the authorities are to be congratulated for their success in protecting the participants. The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Lithuanian Constitution, and the rights of LGBT people cannot be denied. Banning Pride festivals is alien to the values of a modern European country and contrary to Council of Europe standards.

The World Health Organisation ruled almost 20 years ago that homosexuality is not an illness, and mainstream scientific and medical opinion holds that it is a natural variant of human behaviour. I believe that prejudiced attitudes on the part of the majority towards the homosexual minority cannot be used to justify discrimination. I also believe that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is as unacceptable as discrimination on grounds of sex, race, or religion.

Of course, the theory may be good, but what is really happening on the ground? Homosexuality has been decriminalised in all member states of the Council of Europe, and yet LGBT persons still face deeply rooted prejudices, hostility and widespread discrimination all over Europe. Now it´s time to do something about it.

In April this year, whilst debating a major report on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, parliamentarians from all over Europe coming together at the Council of Europe voiced serious concerns about violations of the freedom of association and of expression of LGBT persons. They also referred to worrying occurrences of “hate speech by certain politicians, religious leaders and other civil society representatives”.

European identity is as much about values as it is about geography. It is not just where we live, it is how we live together that defines us as Europeans. The eradication of homophobia and transphobia requires political will in member States. It is only a constructive debate within societies, initiated and led by visionary politicians, that will finally consign discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity to the pages of history.

Seta (or Transtukipiste)
Pasilanraitio 5, 2 krs.
00240 HELSINKI
FINLAND

 

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