Issues
Deeply-embedded homophobic and transphobic attitudes, often combined with a lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, expose many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people of all ages and in all regions of the world to egregious violations of their human rights.
Don't be a Victim, We are here to help you. Call the National Helplines on the following numbers:
Fiji
Domestic Violence - 1560 (Toll-Free line)
Child helpline – 1325
Rainbow Pride Foundation – 679 3317103
PSGDN – 679 3301115
Vanuatu
V-Pride Organisation
Vanuatu’s Women’s Centre - 678 24000
Tonga
Women and Children Crisis Centre Tonga - 0800-444
Tonga Leitis Association - 28806
Kiribati
Boutokaan Inaomataia ao Mauriia Binabinaine Association (BIMBA)
Kiribati Women and Children Support Centre – 191
Samoa
Samoa Victim Support National Helpline – 800-7874
Solomon Islands
Family Support Centre Helpline – 2699/20619
Children, Youth and Family
Societal beliefs towards LGBTQ+ individuals affect their social relationships. The relationship between an LGBTQ+ child and their parents is no exception. Conflicts often arise when adult children do not meet expectations on different domains including education and lifestyle. However, an LGBTQ+ identity can lead to a unique intergenerational conflict between adult children and parents.
Discrimination
LGBT people across the Pacific continue to experience pervasive discrimination that negatively impacts all aspects of their lives. In response, LGBT people make subtle but profound changes to their everyday lives to minimize the risk of experiencing discrimination, often hiding their authentic selves.
Legal Gender Recognition
Many laws, regulations, policies and court decisions continue to follow colonial past of defining gender and sex in a fixed binary way, with only a male and a female category that cannot be amended. This legal vacuum in terms of recognising transgender people perpetuates marginalisation, exclusion and discrimination.
How Can We Help
There are various service providers who provide various support services to vulnerable groups such as the LGBTQI+ community.