Video Statements from “Right to Be Me”

Participation of LGBTI Persons

On September 19, 2022, the UN LGBTI Core Group organized a side event during the high-level segment of the 77^th session of the General Assembly to address the need to end violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, and to ensure the full, equal, effective and meaningful participation of LGBTI persons in decision making processes.

High-level representatives from member States, such as Heads of Governments, Ministers and Vice-Ministers, civil society, private sector and UN-representatives shared their experiences and perspectives.

Members of the Core Group also participated via pre-recorded videos with LGBTI persons from their own countries speaking on the importance of participation.

Below are the individual videos as shared by member states:

Argentina – Ornella Infante, National Director of Policies against Discrimination

Italy – Pietro Turano, Actor

Chile – Alexandra Benado, Minister for Sports

Australia – Tuisinia Ymania Brown, Equality Australia

Malta – Gabriella Calleja, Head of the SOGIESC Unit at the Ministry for Equality

Iceland – Þórhildur Elínardóttir Magnúsdóttir, National Queer Organisation

Albania – Glen Mebelli Bardhi, LGBTI activist

European Union – Marc Angel, Member of the European Parliament

Ireland – Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Equality

Canada – Tyler Boyce, Director Enchanté Network

Denmark – Susanne Branner Jespersen, LGBT+ Denmark

Spain – María Dolores García Rodrigo, Minister of Equality

Israel – Idan Roll, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Kingdom of the Netherlands: Arthur Frohn, Ambassador Zonderstempel