Being surrounded by regional conservative giants hasn't stopped this small country from supporting LGBTQ rights. 。
More than 500 people came together in Timor Leste's capital, Dili, for the country's first pride parade, after its prime minister announced his support for LGBTQ rights in the country. 。
SEE ALSO:Over 20,000 people lit up a park to celebrate pride。The 15-year-old nation -- a former Portuguese colony -- became independent in 2002 after a quarter-century struggle against its larger neighbour, Indonesia. The country has over one million people. 。
View this post on Instagram 。
The parade -- which was held on June 29 -- was supported by local organisations like Hatutan, a local youth group, along with international organisations like UN Women and the US Embassy, according to 。 Gay Star News 。Gay Star News。
. Groups in the country held a pride event last year. 。
Tweet may have been deleted 。
The pride parade occurred as Rui Maria De Araujo, Timor Leste's prime minister, publicly stated his support for LGBTQ rights, becoming one of the first few statesmen in Asia to do so. 。
"Everyone has the potential to contribute to the development of the nation, including members of the LGBT community," De Araujo said. "Discrimination, disrespect and abuse towards people because of their sexual orientation does not provide any benefit to our nation." 。
View this post on Instagram 。
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 。
Thanks for signing up! 。 Same-sex marriage remains unrecognised in the country.。Natalino Ornai Guterres told 。
Mashable。
that while no official data exists on discrimination in East Timor, his group has encountered LGBTQ youth who were abused and kicked out of homes. "Some say they [have] dropped out of school due to excessive bullying and some feel uncomfortable walking on the streets," he said. "Without the support and protection of their own family, these youngsters often find themselves in vulnerable situations." 。
Tweet may have been deleted。
Tweet may have been deleted 。
View this post on Instagram 。
Guterres said that he was invited with three other youth leaders to be with the prime minister as he read the statement, and that he had written a week earlier to seek his support. "[De Araujo's] message brings hope to those who still struggle to feel accepted in schools, at homes, and on the streets because of their sexual orientation," he added.。
Though the country's laws count discrimination as an "aggravating circumstance", cases are "often ignored" due to a lack of public knowledge of LGBTQ discrimination, Guterres said. "We hope the statement will educate more people about [discrimination] and encourage the authorities to act more proactively in solving those issues," he added. 。
"Our focus at the moment is to promote the message of respect and 'acceptance', to help change the mentalities of people."。
"Assurance and positive encouragement from high-level government officials is crucial in order to make LGBTIQ people feel accepted and welcomed in their own home countries," Ryan Silverio, a regional coordinator of the ASEAN Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression Caucus, a network of rights activists in Southeast Asia, said in a statement. 。 De Araujo's remarks come as the LGBTQ community in the region faces a rising tide of religious conservatism. 。
UPDATE: July 4, 2017, 11:04 p.m. SGT 。
(责任编辑：綜合)
This app is giving streaming TV news a second try
11 absolutely terrifying illnesses you can get at the Rio Olympics
Husband and wife passed away 20 minutes apart in real life 'The Notebook'
Leaked Apple patent shows designs for tankThe five guys who climbed Australia's highest mountain, in swimwearSound the alarms: Simone Biles finally met Zac Efron
Is there anything Simone Biles can't do?The unstoppable gymnast just won her fifth medal of the Rio
...[详细]Live fiery crossbow fail almost brought disaster to 'America's Got Talent'
This daredevil duo might require a little more practice before going on live TV.On last night's Amer
...[详细]The long journey of America's first Olympian to compete in a hijab
Ibtihaj Muhammad was a college fencer at Duke University in 2004, the year her sport -- women's sabe
...[详细]New Wikipedia project champions women scientists in the Antarctic
Ingrid Christensen was a Norwegian explorer, thought to be among the first women to view Antarctica
...[详细]Hiddleswift finally followed each other on Instagram after 3 excruciating days
On Aug. 13, 1961, Germany began construction of the Berlin Wall, perhaps the greatest symbol of the
...[详细]Chatbot offers free legal aid to the homeless
A Stanford undergrad's AI-based chatbot has already helped us with our parking tickets and various l
...[详细]Ah, yes, here are 50,000 rubber ducks cascading into the Chicago River
The Chicago River ran yellow on Thursday. Gross, we don't mean like that.Every year, Special Olympic
...[详细]How Gisele Bundchen stole the spotlight at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony
Supermodel Giselle Bundchen may not be an internationally renowned athlete -- but she was still the
...[详细]Visualizing July's astounding global temperature records
July set a rare temperature record during a year that is featuring off the charts warmth. The month
...[详细]How Gisele Bundchen stole the spotlight at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony
Supermodel Giselle Bundchen may not be an internationally renowned athlete -- but she was still the
...[详细]This chart shows just how high Simone Biles can jump
Hey Australia: It's alright if you want to stand up and be counted as a Jedi
