LGBT Community Gathers in Support

On the International Day to End Homophobia and Transphobia yesterday, a group of 1,000 civil society members, local authorities and LGBT citizens gathered to demand the government better ensure equal rights for members of the LGBT community. Heng Cheyleaphy, communication officer for the Rainbow Community of Kampuchea (RoCK), told Khmer Times yesterday that members of the LGBT community still face challenges and discrimination from their families and society.

She added that such discrimination can lead to anxiety and alcoholism. “We, please, request the government show that they and this country accept LGBT rights and assists them legally, so that members of the community can receive identification cards, family books, marriage certificates and other documents,” Ms. Cheyleaphy said.

She added that according to a recent study by RoCK, while 10 percent of the Cambodian population is homosexual, the majority of the community does not make their sexual orientation known for fear of discrimination. “The LGBT community still needs legal adoption rights, legal marriage rights, access to legal documents, laws against hate crimes and equal opportunity for jobs in institutions. I want to encourage the relevant institutions to continue to work in order to help the LGBT community access equal rights,” Ms. Cheyleaphy said.

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