UN leaders, sport stars and activists join forces for equality

Star gay and lesbian athletes and activists for LGBT and intersex rights came together to join forces for equality at an event called “Sport Comes Out Against Homophobia“ on 10 December 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York. They share moving stories of their experiences and how they hold out hope that the world can change. Speakers include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović, tennis star Martina Navratilova, NBA player Jason Collins, South African activist Thandeka Mkhuma, U.S. intersex activist Hida Viloria, and Russian activist Anastasia Smirnova. The event was organized by the UN human rights office in collaboration with other members of the LGBT Core Group at the United Nations (Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, El Salvador, the European Union, France, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the United States, Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission), with the support of UN Women, Global Action In