Man does not always equal male;

woman does not equal female. As

diverse as it is interconnected,
society must recognize that 'sex'
and 'gender' are not two sides of
the same coin or cannot be used
interchangeably. Instead, sex
refers to the biological
categorization of male/female
where males have two X
chromosomes and females have an
X and Y chromosome, both
biological sexes containing
different reproductive systems. The
duties, attitudes, routines,
expectations, and cultural
assumptions that come with being
a man or woman in a given culture
are referred to as gender. Gender is
nothing but a psychological and
social construct. One's gender is
not always related to their
biological sex.

UNHRC
Instead of perpetuating the
ignorant oversimplification
of asserting that there are
only two genders and
thereby invalidating the
lived experiences of
countless LGBTQIA+
individuals who already
endure the shadow of
stigma and prejudice that
haunts them daily, The New
York Times vehemently and
unapologetically declares
that LGBTQIA+ rights are
unequivocally human
rights. Furthermore, any
nation that diminishes this
fundamental truth is not
merely neglecting, but
blatantly violating the very
essence of human rights,
and such disregard
demands both
condemnation and global
scrutiny.
When a nation dehumanizes
LGBTQIA+ individuals, it not
only tramples upon the
fundamental human rights of
the LGBTQIA+ community
but also shamelessly scoffs at
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the
global human rights principles,
degrading LGBTQIA+ people
as if they were nothing more
than "filth” (stated the delegate
of DPRK). For reference, the
delegates of the DPRK,
ignorantly implied that mental
health issues cause one to
identify as a part of the
LGBTQIA+ committee when
these issues are merely
correlated, stated LGBTQIA+
individuals “require severe
mental health treatment” and
then proceeded to disgustingly
dehumanize LGBTQIA+
individuals, justifying unjust
execution as “eliminating
filth.” Furthermore, the DPRK
shamelessly peddles a
grotesquely false narrative,
shamefully insinuating that
mental health issues cause
individuals to identify as a part
of the LGBTQIA+
community. Let it be
unequivocally clear, it is the
very backwardness of nations
like the DPRK that, in a
grotesque twist of reality,
thrusts these mental health
challenges upon LGBTQIA+
individuals only after they
have embraced their authentic
identities. Additionally, the
DPRK then goes on to
question the humanity of
LGBTQIA+ individuals,
reducing them to mere

particles of filth. However, not
only does the DPRK spotlight
its abhorrent views against
LGBTQIA+ individuals
through words, it also
showcases their
dehumanization through
action, executing anyone who
dares question the ridiculous
social constraints of the North
Korean regime as addressed
by the delegates themself
(“eliminating filth”).
Furthermore, one should
question why DPRK is even in
a human rights council, stating
that the would “eliminate”
innocent civilians or “filth”
because of their correlation to
the LGBTQIA+ community,
proving that they might as
well rip the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
in half, breaking several
articles such as Article 3
(“Everyone has the right to
life, liberty, and security of
person”), Article 2 (
“Everyone is entitled to all the
rights and freedoms set forth
in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as
race, color, sex, language,
religion, political or other
opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth or other
status”), and Article 5 (“No
one shall be subjected to
torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or
punishment.”) In addition,
showcasing the DPRK’s lack
of regard for human rights, the
delegates of DPRK indirectly
stated that they execute
anyone who is mentally ill by
stating “eliminating filth” and
implying that “filth”,
“mentally ill”, and
“LGBTQIA+” are
synonymous with each other.
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Hence, the DPRK’s twisted
rhetoric, heinous actions, and
mockery of international
human rights standards
regarding LGBTQIA+
individuals exemplify the
DPRK’s lack of regard for
basic human rights and
dehumanization of
LGBTQIA+ persons.
Furthermore, the audacity of
Iran is nothing short of
appalling, as they unabashedly
declare that "money is more
important than religious
beliefs," when discussing
gender-reassignment surgery
in Iran despite Islam’s strong
view against the LGBTQIA+
community. The irony is
showcased in this statement
when one considers that Iran
vehemently conveys its
disapproval of the LGBTQIA+
community, cloaking their
prejudice in the guise of
religious conviction, often
quoting their interpretation of
the Qur'an regarding
homosexuals. Yet, in a striking
display of double standards,
Iran currently contends that
material possessions take
precedence over the sanctity of
religious beliefs. This
assertion implies that financial
interests are deemed more
valuable than the welfare and
quality of life of minority
groups such as LGBTQIA+ battle for LGBTQIA+
individuals, who are rights is far from over, but
unequivocally human beings the urgency of these matters
deserving of equal rights and demands not just
respect. condemnation but concrete
action and reform on a
global scale to ensure that
In a nutshell, the New York LGBTQIA+ individuals can
Times strongly asserts that live their lives free from
LGBTQIA+ people are discrimination and
human and are deserving of prejudice.
human rights. Woefully,
these instances underscore
the critical need for global
society to confront and
address deeply ingrained
biases and discriminatory
practices against
LGBTQIA+ individuals,
from calling LGBTQIA+
individuals “filth” to
preaching Islam against
LGBTQIA+ minorities
when it’s convenient. The
discrepancies in
understanding the
distinction between sex and
gender, the dehumanization
perpetuated by certain
nations, and the hypocrisy
displayed in prioritizing
financial interests over
religious beliefs showcase
the crucial need for
addressing and emphasizing
the solidified human rights
of individuals who are a
part of the LGBTQIA+
community. Overall, the

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