Discrimination of LGBTs in Mongolia

Warm Saturday evening at my summer house was stirred into volcano of thoughts by Nandia's Talk Show, which merely imitates well known western shows like Oprah & Ellen shows. However, this is not about the show itself, but it's today's content that boggled my mind.
This time, lite was lit on issue of LGBTs of Mongolia.
No matter how deep it maybe hidden in the far dark corners of our society and minds of heterosexual people, this issue is and will be one of most complex & controversial issues faced by modern Mongolians in near future.
Show involved two guests, Ms. Anaraa, Consultative member of Mongolian LGBT NGO & Mr. Otgoo, manager of the NGO. These two prominent activists answered questions from participants & shed the light on real life of LGBTs. Also, some excerpts from documentary was shown, which potrayed situations in Mongolia involving LGBTs.
This episode trailed many thoughts in my hollow brain & stirred many emotions within my big boned body.
How can one live in constant fear of being beaten up or killed, just for being themselves, or whoever they'd like to be? How can one overcome pressure from every human being including their beloved family?
I usually try to imagine hardships people go through, especially unfortunate, underprivilaged & minorities, whenever I'm faced with related issues.
This time, being gay doesn't seem all flowers & birds, as often it is potrayed in Hollywood movies. Now, it is real life, where majority feels being LGBT is sick, wrong & "punishible crime."
People in current society, if they don't wish ill to LGBTs, they want them to be 'underground,' or at least they'd like to be segregated from them.
This is how strong Mongolian society feels about sexual minorities these days. Worse, some gatherings like Great Mongol Movement explicitly expressed their aggression against LGBTs by threatning to rape, beat, & kill them if they become publicly known.
Only, heterosexual minorities like us, who have either been living or educated abroad, been exposed to LGBT- friendly societies, or have open mind, or expats/local foreigners support LGBTs & fulfillment of at least their basic human rights in our democratic Mongolia. Everybody is afraid being involved with sexual minority. They think it'll damage their name & reputation. "It may imply that they themselves are LGBTs." I agree, that LGBTs are very sensitive issue given our vast land, low population, two big neighbors, and culture. However, like it or not these minorities do exist and will keep existing within us, our brothers & sisters. So, we just cannot shut the door on it & say it can't exist. There has to be right awareness, understanding & respect to constitutional rights of LGBTs given to them by Constitution, by Mongolian public who empowered the Constitution.
What can we do to better our society & enlighten our comrades on such issues?
At least, what I can do is to try to shed light on LGBT issue to my friends & families, tell people that they are normal people like us & deserve to be treated as such, and would like to call you, the reader, to do the same.



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