“Humanitarian work is not a crime.”

~ Members of "Azul Positivo", a Venezuelan humanitarian organization providing aid to HIV-positive people and other vulnerable groups, challenge Court ruling that imprisoned five members after a raid on their offices.

“Today we are going to give back to women the right to decide about their own bodies. No one else will decide for us.”

~ Deputy Silvia Lospennato of Argentina on the new law legalizing abortion

“If we walk separately, they will hang us together.”

~ Monika Tichy, Polish activist urging feminist’s and LGBTQ movements to work together

“We persevered and endured criticism. Yes we retaliated. But we retaliated with education. We made them understand our purpose, and what it means to be in the shoes of those oppressed.” ~ Councilwoman Lilibeth Nuño, Zamboanga, Philippines

“Monks generally avoid talking about LGBT and gender issues, but we should be talking about issues that affect society. Religious teachings have to reflect the present times - otherwise religion becomes a dinosaur.”

~ Shine Waradhammo, a Theravada sect Buddhist monk from Thailand

“When this is over for others, it won’t be over for us. As we try to invent strategies of advocacy relevant for our local context, the experience of being inside a totalitarian system for 26 years will be useful. Our rainbow flags have come out. We won't be putting them away.”

~ Belarusian activist Andrei Zavalei

“As much as there are people who hate gay people, there are many people in our country who go, "This is the constitution. And these are human rights." So I do know that there are people who will fight for me. And that makes me feel okay about existing as a gay man in this country.” ~ South African comedian Marc Lottering

“None of us are free until we are all equal. All kinds of discrimination are forbidden wherever they come from, whether it originates from science, religion, neighbors—inside the house, the street, school, state, institutions, or society.”

~ 763 Turkish lawyers stand in solidarity with LGBTQ rights

“There is no democracy when you cannot freely associate, assemble, and express yourself.”

~ Melusi Simelane, founder of eSwatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM).

"We cannot remain neutral, nor will awareness substitute for action...

We understand what it means to rise up and push back against a culture that tells us we are less than, that our lives don't matter. Today, we join together again to say #BlackLivesMatter and commit ourselves to the action those words require."

~ Human Rights Campaign joined by over 600 LGBTQ human rights groups

"The criteria [for being a citizen] shouldn't be who I sleep w/in the bedroom but how I serve this society & how I treat others" ~ Soran from Iraq

"We know that humanity will be able to put this epidemic behind us. But, any "epidemic opportunism" including LGBT hostility will not be forgotten. We will continue to defend science, enlightenment, and our right to live as equal citizens."

~ Turkey LGBTQ activists on hate speech from officials targeting the community during COVID-19

“In times of crisis, emergency powers and agility are crucial; however, they cannot come at the cost of the rights of the most vulnerable.”

 ~ Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS

“I, for one, believe that this moment demands the type of conviction and discipline that I know the LGBT movement(s) can deploy, because I have seen them deployed time and time again. I also believe that our strength and tenacity, and our capacity for kindness and compassion will be among our unique contributions to the manner in which this great adversity will be met.”

~ Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity

“We hope that other African countries will see that if we can do this, then it is possible for them to do it too.”

~ Dr Mzamo Mbelle at South Africa’s first Queer Wellness Center

“In mature democratic societies, differences should be recognized, but discrimination without a good reason should never be tolerated.”

South Korea, the District Court of Suwon on decriminalizing same-sex sexual activity among the military. In South Korea same-sex sexual activity is legal only for civilians.

“In a democratic country it’s our legal right to protest, assemble and march. And it's their legal duty to protect and enable us to do so. [Citizenship issues] are also queer issues. Hence, we cannot shy away from them.” ~ Saakshi Juneja, co-founder of Gaysi Family, India

“We teachers must talk about propaganda, manipulation, contempt, hate, hate speech, and all such threats.” 

~ Polish teacher Robert Kasiak urging educators to teach their students to see through propaganda and hate speech from politicians and the media.

“Can you tell someone not to be happy? After all, what are we doing on Earth, what are we looking for? To be happy and to be loved! This is a fight as noble as fighting for women and all the other fights. It concerns our common humanity.”

~ Alice Nkom, Lawyer fighting for decriminalization of same-sex sexual relations in Cameroon

“Being an ally came naturally to me. LGBT rights are human rights. It wasn’t in me to stand idly by while my friends and family were being mistreated.”

~ Cyndi Lauper , winner of the inaugural High Note Global Prize