Chapter 1 - The Netherlands

It is commonly known that the Netherlands was the first country to recognize marriage among same-sex couples in 2001. Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway and Sweden followed, as did the American states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine. It is only in these countries and states that gays and lesbians have virtually the same rights as heterosexuals.

Chapter 2 - Concepts

This book speaks not only about gays and lesbians, but also about ‘LGBT persons’ - the acronym for ‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender’. (1) This has become the accepted international acronym used within social movements of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites,transsexuals and all other transgender individuals.

Chapter 3 - Africa

Part three discusses Africa. There, a visible gay and lesbian movement opens up, the youngest in the world and one that needs a lot of support, as illustrated by the articles about Cameroon and Kenya. At the same time, South Africa was the first country in the world toprohibit discrimination based on sexual sex, gender and sexual orientation in its constitution.

Chapter 4 - Asia

In part four of the book attention is paid to developments in Asia. You will also find a number of self-portraits of LGBT persons. They aremostly gay and lesbian activists whose organisations are supported by Hivos. Both the self-portraits and the articles show that the struggle is beginning to move, and that concrete progress in India has been made.

Chapter 5 - Latin America

In part five of the book attention is paid to developments in Latin America. You will also find a number of self-portraits of LGBT persons. They aremostly gay and lesbian activists whose organisations are supported by Hivos. Both the self-portraits and the articles show that the struggle is beginning to move, and that concrete progress in Latin America has been made. In Latin America the gay and lesbian struggle has moved from decriminalization to equal treatment; even the right to adopt ch...

Chapter 6 - Strategies

Part six discusses strategies for furthering gay and lesbian rights and equality. First, strategies in development cooperation, particularly those of Hivos, the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries, and in education. Subsequently, the strategies of the actual formulation of gay and lesbian rights in the Declaration of Montreal and in the Yogyakarta Principles are discussed.

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