CONCERNS about the discrimination faced by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community during voting were raised during a seminar on the role of elections in a democracy.
Responding to questions raised during the two-hour long seminar implemented by the Citizens Constitutional Forum in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific (USP) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), youth worker Jofiliti Veikoso, said regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, everyone had the right to freedom of speech and the right to vote.
“I think that’s something we noticed with the LGBTIQ community is that there are discussions about democracy, stigma and discrimination they face from polling stations and sometimes, the workers themselves,” he said.
Mr Veikoso said often times, there was also discrimination within village settings.
