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The TUC is urging people to use International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia tomorrow (Thursday) to remember lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who have been attacked or killed around the world.

date: 16 May 2012

embargo: 00.01hrs Thursday 17 May 2012

The TUC is urging people to use International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia tomorrow (Thursday) to remember lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who have been attacked or killed around the world.

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is held on 17 May each year. The TUC is urging union members and the general public to use the day to remember LGBT people who have been killed around the world simply because of their sexuality.

Homosexuality is still illegal in at least 80 countries around the world and in seven countries women, men and children are punished for their sexuality with death sentences.

The TUC is supporting LGBT communities around the world in its work in 2012, and helping unions internationally to develop their understanding and support for LGBT rights. A delegation of French union members is visiting the TUC headquarters at Congress House in London next week to learn from the good practice developed by UK unions.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Unions have campaigned for equal rights for LGBT people in the UK with a great deal of success, but around the world the situation is very different.

'In many countries LGBT people face harassment, intimidation, violence, ostracism, hate crimes - and even death - just because of their sexuality.

'International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is a chance for unions to highlight the suffering of LGBT people all around the world, and demand that the way they are treated is improved - both at work and in the wider community.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

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