IDAHO WorldwideBeneath is a list of IDAHO-initiatives all over the world - see more on www.idahomophobia.org. In Turkey, LGBT and Human Rights organizations have put together an impressive week-long program, including Pride marches in different cities and an international congress on May 15/16, that will witness the presence of several European MPs, members of the LGBT intergroup, several Ambassadors and representatives of the international Human Rights community. The renowned queer feminist writer and philosopher Judith Butler will be holding a conference as part of the program. Find all the details on www.antihomofobi.org.
More than 150 events mark IDAHO across France, including a national conference on Religions, Homophobia and Transphobia, with high level representatives of the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths, and the launch of a National Campaign against Homophobia in all secondary schools across the country. Check out the Campaign website for more info on this. In Romania, the LGBT festival GayFest starts right on 17th of May and will be placed under the sign of IDAHO In Kenya, this year GALCK will mark the day once more by reaching out to the public to try to change misconceptions and misrepresentations of LGBT people. As part of the program Galck member organizations will be presenting dances and acting a play based on the Ugandan Law. In Russia, 17 May 2010 will be the day GayRussia applies officially to the Mayor of Moscow for permission to organize the Jubilee 5th Moscow Pride on 29 May. GayRussia will also celebrate its 5th anniversary on 17 May. At the same time, GayRussia will support organizations in Belarus for the Slavic Pride that is planned to take place for IDAHO in Minsk Still in Russia, organizations that launched last year the Rainbow Flashmob initiative have this year expanded their initiative to the Czech Republic and various cities across Germany and invite more cities and countries to join in. Check participating cities on the RainbowFlash 2010 Google Map. In Germany still, the anti-homophobia project Maneo is once more gearing up for IDAHO with a special edition of its traditional Kiss-in, this year as part of the Great Global Kiss-in: In at least 20 different cities in 11 countries, groups will come together to peacefully celebrate the freedom to love under the “Great Global Kiss-in” initiative. Individuals all over the world can join into this project by sending a videokiss message on gays.com//idaho or to kissin(at)idaholophobia.org In the UK, an impressive programme of action is once again on the IDAHO menu. Check out all the details on http://idahomophobia.org/wp/?p=1948&lang=en This year ILGA Europe will mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia by organizing a public event right in the heart of the EU quarter in Brussels. The aim of the ‘Rainbow Buzz’ action is to raise awareness of the rights of LGBT people and promote objectives to advance the rights of LGBT people in Europe. ILGA Europe is also preparing an updated and amended edition of the Rainbow Europe maps, including a new ‘European Rainbow County Index’ In Ukraine, IDAHO will be marked by the Queer Week Festival. The goal is to create positive visibility for LGBTQ people and celebrate diversity. There will be a lot of different activities, such as photo exhibits and a film festival called “Different love. For more details about the Queer Week Festival, see the programme on www.insight-ukraine.org.ua. In Brazil, many activities will mark the Day right across the country. In particular, the Brazilian Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals – ABGLT (www.abglt.org.br), is calling upon its 237 affiliated organizations for the 1st National March Against Homophobia and Transphobia. People from all the 27 States of the Federation are expected to converge on the capital Brasilia on May 19 and shout out the 1st National Cry for LGBT Citizenship and Against Homophobia. The initiative is specifically denouncing the growing interference of religious lobby groups in public affairs and advocates for the adoption of the national policy plan against homophobia. The Forum of LGBT organizations in the State of Rio is even organizing free buses for Rio citizens to join in! Still in Brazil, various Brazilian Ministerial agencies, Members of Parliament, UN agencies and civil society organizations will come together on May 18th in Brasilia to discuss the perspectives of LGBT Human Rights during a National Conference. More information from the Brazilian LGBT national federation ("http://www.abglt.org.br/") The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (ACPOM) and the Center for Comparative and Public Law (CCPL) at the Faculty of Law (University of Hong Kong) will release the key findings and recommendations of the UNDP-APCOM study entitled: “Laws affecting HIV responses among men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: an agenda for action” during a High Level Dialogue to honor the International Day Against Homophobia on Monday, 17th May 2010. This High Level Dialogue ("http://msmasia.org/tl_files/2010 news/10-05_News/Poster_and_Bios_FINAL.pdf") will bring together key members of the Judiciary, Parliament, Community advocacy groups and the UN system. The discussion will explore how effective HIV prevention can only be achieved in a conducive legal environment that allows unimpeded dissemination of evidence based prevention messages, appropriate service provision, and creates confidence among the most marginalized and vulnerable to seek information and access health related services. Malta will be celebrating IDAHO by organizing ’Flowers of Friendship' ("http://drachmalgbt.blogspot.com/") in collaboration with Drachma, a local gay Christian group. Activists will gather in Valletta on Monday 17th May and distribute flowers to passers-by... attached to the flowers will be inspiring quotes about LGBT issues and religion/spirituality. In Panamá, the organization ‘Hombres y Mujeres Nuevos de Panamá’ will present for the second time their draft proposal for the country’s first anti-discrimination bill to members of the Human Rights Commission of the National Assembly on May 17th. Following the 2010 Olympic Games in Canada the Canadian LGBT Fondation Émergence’s campaign themes this year are Sport and Homophobia. As usual, numerous events will mark the campaign throughout Quebec, including presentation of the results of a large survey undertaken across the whole country on homophobia in the sport world. In addition, Fondation Emergence will award the 2010 Fight against Homophobia award to renowned Quebec novelist and playwright Michel Tremblay. The award will be presented by Kathleen Weil, Minister of Justice, General Prosecutor of Quebec and Minister in charge of the fight against homophobia, during a ceremony on May 17. More information on http://www.fondationemergence.org/ In Sri Lanka, the national LGBT organization Equal Ground will launch an awareness raising campaign on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Equal Ground has asked diplomatic missions to fly the rainbow flag on the Day and has got positive responses from several countries. For the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, one of the main LGBT associations in Burundi, HUMURE, is planning a series of events, including a ceremony for people living with HIV/AIDS. On May 17th, a debate will take place within the homosexual community to discuss and exchange opinions about the weight of homophobia in Burundi. The day will be dedicated to George Kanuma, Burundi’s recently deceased pioneer in the fight against homophobia, with a celebration to honor his memory. In Costa Rica, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia will be marked by the second Inter-University conference, associating three State Universities. A press conference will be given by the Directors of three institutions and the country’s Minister for Public Health. More information on LGBT lead organization CIPAC’s website. (”http://www.cipacdh.org/") There is a packed programme of events and initiatives in the UK as diverse as the LGBT community itself. Keynote events in London concerning the IDAHO theme of Religions, Homophobia and Transphobia, a kiss-in outside parliament to demonstrate to whoever is in government after the recent Elections that LGBT rights must be respected at home and abroad, a pink rally in Sheffield and a four week long diversity festival in Herefordshire. For the third year in a row, the Bangladeshi organization Boys of Bangladesh ("http://www.boysofbangladesh.org") will mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The organization plans to organize a day long event featuring cultural performances, a poster competition and an open forum. The organization is also planning to join the international IDAHO Kiss-in and the Rainbowflash initiatives. ILGA world ("http://www.ilga.org") will again publish the now traditional and much anticipated update on State-sponsored homophobia in the world. A precious resource to watch out for. Cuba’s dynamic National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX "http://www.cenesex.sld.cu/”) lead by Mariela Castro will commemorate for the third consecutive year the International Day Against Homophobia with activities between May 11-18. On this occasion the main ceremony will be held in El Mejunje, a cultural institution in the city of Santa Clara, some 260 kilometers east of the island’s capital. The LGBT organization from Luxemburg, 'Rosa Letzebuerg', will organize a conference about homophobia in partnership with national authorities for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. EU: For this year’s IDAHO, there will be a big range of events at the heart of the EU between the 3rd and 17th May including a special focus on LGBT rights by the European Parliament: an Information stand by LGBT Intergroup, and ILGA-Europe; a Roundtable with MEPs and the Council of Europe; a Public debate on the anti-discrimination Directive or a 'Rainbow Buzz' and a feature in the Parliament Magazine, Also due are video messages,from the President of the EU Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, and anothe other from Commissioner Viviane Reding! (http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/news-stories/european-institutions-get-ready-to-celebrate-idaho/) CAMEROON: The LGBT organisation ADEFHO is planning an impressive series of activities, including a football match, a TV debate with the organisation ‘lawyers without borders’ or a debate with religious leaders. Further more, the LGBT organisation, Alternatives Cameroon, is also planning a rich agenda, including a screening of the film Harvey Milk, a round table and debate about Love and Religion, and also a TV show. PARAGUAY: Asuncion joins the Great Global Kiss-in, making it the 52th city and 24th country to be part of this event, which might well become the first edition of IDAHO's big annual event! More on Gays.com website. CANADA: The parishes of the United Canadian Church in Quebec will join the universal prayer against homophobia and transphobia on May 16th in a commitment to join the world in this initiative of communion. ARGENTINA: Argentinean Transgender Association (ATTTA) and Argentinean LGBT Federation (FALGBT) are publishing their IDAHO agenda for Northwestern Argentina, including the Parliamentary Seminar “LGBT Rights, pending Equality Agenda”. CUBA: Mariela Castro, Fidel's niece and Director of the National Center for Sexual Education CENESEX inaugurated on May 11th an arts exhibition. The exhibition will run until May 18th, as part of the IDAHO program in Cuba, where the day is now being celebrated for the 4th time. GUATEMALA: LGBTI organisations will once again mark IDAHO with several public actions. Lambda y Proyectos Unidos ASI will display posters and banners all through the capital. In front of the Cathedral, LGBTI people of Guatemala will join in the Great Global Kiss-in, with a special message to the national clergy. URUGUAY: AMISEU, the organization of people living with HIV, will inaugurate its new premises in Montevideo to coincide with the IDAHO. The building includes a shelter for people living with HIV/AIDS who come from other cities to the capital for treatment and who previously often had to spend the nights on the streets. This shelter will be the first one of its type in Uruguay. AUSTRALIA: The State of Victoria is launching a ‘Code of Conduct for Community Sport’. There will also be an online video campaign launch on linking IDAHO activities in Victoria. In addition there will be a big range of activities around the 17th of May, including the latest of Equal Love’s demonstrations in support of same-sex marriage in Melbourne, a flashmob, but also special IDAHO shows, sporting events, surveys. More info from StopHomophobiaToday.com and antiviolence.info AUSTRIA: “Playing soccer against Homophobie" LGBT organisation, HOSI, is organising in Linz on IDAHO day May 17th, an event called "Kicken gegen Homophobie" in order to make people aware of the discrimination against homosexual people in soccer. More information : www.hosilinz.at BELGIUM: Arc-en-Ciel Wallonie, the GLBT federation of the French speaking groups will be distributing 20,000 badges to public representatives in local authorities, provinces and regional government organizations throughout Wallonia for IDAHO day, May 17th. BELARUS/RUSSIA: The Slavic Gay Pride planned for Saturday May 15th in Minsk (Belarus) has not been authorized. Despite this, the Second Slavic Gay Pride will still take place next Saturday in Minsk. Several events are planned including parties, exhibitions, press conference and seminars as well as the Premiere (in a post Soviet country) of the movie "Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride" by Bob Christie. GERMANY: On IDAHO, May 17th, opposite the Ugandan Embassy in Berlin there will be a mass kiss-in, to demonstrate publicly against homophobia in Uganda (and elsewhere in the world). There will be also an Ecumenical Service on Sunday, 16th of May, with Prayers for tolerance and against homophobia. More info from MANEO SPAIN: The LGBT collective COLEGAS launches a national campaign to declare homophobia and transphobia as a social illness! The collective proposes that the international community creates a list of "social illnesses" and sets up plans to tackle them as a ‘pandemic’. Activities around this campaign will happen May 17th in 15 cities across the country. See COLEGA's website. More information on all the above, detailed programs, flyers, etc… can be found on www.idahomophobia.org. |
