As in previous years, Germany was the international centre for “rainbowflash” balloon releases for May 17 2013. Events took place in at least 10 towns and cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden and Mainz. Coloured balloon releases were joined by...

Greek activists contributed to the production of the May 17 Memorandum produced by the Regional Network Against Homophobia, which can be read in full here. Greek activists highlighted: The targeted attacks in Athens and other Greek cities by organized teams...

LGBT activists, young people and civil society groups gathered together on May 18, 2013 to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia by painting a section of the Georgetown seawall. The action was organised by the Guyana Equality Forum and...

A workshop, focused on the ‘general lack of visibility’ of trans people including/especially within the ‘LGBT’ movement marked the Day in Hungary. A demonstration was also held outside the Houses of Parliament in Budapest. Events by Transvanilla Transgender Association Building...

Surely amongst the year’s most beautiful photographs is a set shared online by Samtökin’78, an Icelandic LGBTQI organisation, on May 17. Participants of the group encouraged people to fly the flag throughout different municipalities in the country, receiving diverse contributions,...

Actions for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia took place in nine different cities in Ireland. Various events gave a specific platform to progressive religious voices. Five IDAHO events were held in Cathedrals – in Dublin, Belfast, Limerick, Kilkenny...

Progressive religious voices featured strongly in this year’s actions, with vigils to remember the victims of hate crimes held in more than 12 different towns and cities. The Rainbow Tour – a Rainbow Coloured Caravan! – toured through the streets...

A rainbow soap bubble event in Iwate, was hosted by LGBT activists as their contribution to the Global Rainbow Flashmob. Participants were joined ‘by passersby including children, students who happened to be in our town on their school trip and...

A peaceful May 17 manifestation in Nairobi city centre was banned at the last minute by police. Local activists advised they had acquired a permit ahead of the event but this was unexpectedly cancelled, just ahead of the start of...

A Week Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2013 – dedicated to the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia – was organized in the capital of Kyrgyzstan (May 12 – May 20). Several LGBT organizations from Kyrgyzstan joined together to organise and...

Flashmob by LGBT and their friends association MOZAIKA Organisers advised before the event: ‘On May 17, LGBT and their friends association MOZAIKA is organizing flashmob on the International Day Against Homophobia. There will be a hugging and kissing flashmob on...

LGBT activists in Lesotho made history on the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013, by organising the country’s first ever pride march. This was a hugely significant act given the official criminalization of same sex relationships between men, the...

LGBT rights activists in Malaysia joined the commemorations for May 17, in various ways in 2013, including through different online actions. Highlights included the launching of a web-based video campaign to challenge transphobia. The campaign asks questions, in particular, of...

Campaña “Reacciona México” para conmemorar Día Iinternacional contra la Homofobia y Transfobia Durante el mes de mayo, Reacciona México RMX,  lanza su campaña “Reacciona México Sin Homofobia”, la cual consiste en invitar a Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil, Dependencias Gubernamentales, Iniciativa...

The capital Chisnau was a key focus for events in Moldova, which dovetailed this year with activities for the 12th Moldovan LGBT Pride Festival, ‘Rainbow over the Dniester’. 5 days of diverse events went ahead which included exhibitions, same sex...

The Day’s main event in France was undoubdtedly the announcement from the Constitutional Court that the Same-Sex marriage law was not contravening any constitutional principle. This step was the last one in a long and heated legislative process and May 17...

For the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the Moroccan Aswat LGBT magazine, dedicated to the gay and lesbian community, launched a cyber campaign called ‘Love for All’ and the fight against homophobia. Through this campaign, organizers hoped to “act...

The International IDAHO Forum in the Hague was, of course, a clear highlight of events in the Netherlands, with a special mention for Queen Máxima of the Netherlands who became the first monarch ever to participate in the May 17...

Palestinian women’s/LBTQI group ASWAT published a critical statement of solidarity for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013, on a platform of ‘No to bargaining on rights. No to hierarchy on rights. And no to the fragmentation of rights.’...

Besatón frente al Congreso paraguayo La organización Somosgay realizó un “besatón”, una maratón de besos, frente al Congreso de Paraguay para denunciar la discriminación que sufren las personas homosexuales, bisexuales y transexuales en este país. Con música y banderas del...

LGBT people and straight allies joined business owners on May 17 in the capital Manila, in a toast to celebrate their commitment to create safe spaces. The event was called ‘Tagay for IDAHO’ and marked the launch of the Safe...

A widely acclaimed anti-homophobia video campaign was launched by LGBT activists – Spoko, Ja Też (Okay, I do) – which delivers a strong message about homophobic bullying in schools. In Lodz, LGBTQI rights group, Factory of Equality, dedicated readio coverage...

Events by different groups marked the Day in Romania.  In Bucharest, ACT-Q Romania held a special event for IDAHO 2013, involving music, film, theatre and debate. The group Rainbow Prahova also organised an event for the International Day Against Homophobia...

Rainbow flashmob events were organised on the afternoon and evening of May 17 in nine different cities in Russia (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Murmansk, Khabarovsk, Samara, Vladivostok, Ryazan, Nakhodka and Tolyatti/Togliatti). Rainbow coloured balloon releases featured prominently, but in various instances...