Australia IDAHO Report 2012

Rainbow flags were proudly hoisted in cities across Australia in celebration of IDAHO 2012. In Geelong, the flag was raised at the old Post Office as a symbol of tolerance and understanding in support of LGBT people. Councils in Melbourne’s west and the Blue Mountains City Council all raised the flag and hosted a series of free events in a show of support for IDAHO.
On May 17, the Australian Capital Territory’s Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister, Andrew Barr, announced the creation of a new program to tackle homophobia in the territory’s sporting clubs. The two-year program will develop resources to assist sports clubs to foster a culture of inclusiveness and to respond to discrimination when it occurs.
Marriage equality was once again high on the activism agenda, with rallies held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
Other events were held throughout the nation and included art exhibitions, university campus activities, LGBT film screenings, a short film competition, a play launch, the broadcasting of a special radio program radio program focusing on teenage same-sex couples, family days, barbecues, and a cabaret.
Youth in Ballarat set up a stall in the local shopping mall that provided material and information on homophobia, transphobia and LGBT resources. At an appointed time, the group froze wherever they were for 45 seconds. When they unfroze, they removed their coats or sweaters to reveal a T-shirt designed by each individual.
Pink triangle beacons burned at night throughout the month of May in Parramatta to raise awareness and acknowledge that shared public spaces in our communities can also be places where predjudice, hate, intolerance and violence are experienced by LGBTIQQ people.
An awards celebration was held on IDAHO, during which the Top 10 employers for LGBT employees was announced.
A queer choir sang also out against discrimination for IDAHO 2012 with a specially written choral song. People from all over the world were able video themselves singing the song and submit it to the choir’s website. Each video submitted was mixed into a virtual choir performance which will become an ever-expanding mosaic of voices and faces.