First events announced for May17, 2021

With the IDAHOBiT 2021 still weeks away, information slowly comes in about early plans.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planning events this year proves particularly difficult, with online fatigue being a serious handicap, and offline events still shrouded in uncertainty in many places.

Confirmation of events will this year most likely come in at the very last minute, when organisers are able to opt between plans A and B.

So far, we have nonetheless already heard of several interesting initiatives, and we will expand this list as news come in

The European chapter of the international LGBTQI+ federation ILGA will release its annual Rainbow maps and reports, an annual benchmarking tool, which ranks 49 countries in Europe on their LGBTI equality laws and policies. A much awaited event by both the media and policy makers.

TGEU, the member-based organisation that represents trans communities in Europe and Central Asia, will also release its annual Trans Rights Europe and Central Asia Map.

The UN Free and Equal campaign is gearing up to release its annual, also much awaited IDAHOBiT video. We can’t wait to see what their creative team comes up with this year!

A 72-hour Virtual Arts Festival in solidarity with the continued struggle for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide, ILRF aims to collectively elevate the voice of the oppressed in a celebration of diversity through music, art, and positivity. Featuring over 200 artists from all 5 continents, presenting works of music, drag, and video art – with the goal of raising important funds to benefit queer outreach and support organisations in countries that target LGBTQ+ people for persecution.  This, free-to-participate, Virtual Festival takes place May 14-16, 2021 as part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

In Melbourne, Australia, where IDAHOBIT is traditionally huge, this year will be even more active, as the Pride season festivities including Pride march, which traditionally happen in January, have been moved to coincide with May 17 due to COVID-19.

We heard from German students that they are planning to show “Red Cards” against Homo- and Transphobia in their schools, while in Berlin, Amnesty will hold a protest against arbitrary detentions in Chechnya. In Munich, the mobilisation will also focus on the situation in Eastern Europe.

in Gouda, Netherlands, photographs of transgender persons will be presented on huge billboards by the RainbowAlliance in the central market square. Surely impressive images to look out for.

In Switzerland, students at the Untervaz school will be distributed rainbow-colored face-masks.

Every year on IDAHOT, the Estonian LGBT Association announces the recipients of the Rainbow Hero Awards. Rainbow Heroes are people, groups, and organizations who have stood up for and promoted the well-being of LGBT+ people in Estonia. The winners are chosen from among the candidates submitted by the community and they receive a Hero pin. For more information in Estonian, visit www.lgbt.ee/vikerkaarekangelane.

Iranian LGBTQI+ organisation 6rang (6colors) organises a campaign against violence and discrimination in university campuses, high school and university educational environments and sports environments.

In Victoria, Canada, a permanent “Inclusive Pride Flag Crosswalk” we be painted by high school students in front of their school. This initiative is supported by school, district and facilities staff.

A joint policy paper on LGBTQI inclusion and education by the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth & Student Organisation (IGYLO) will be discussed as part of a high level panel during the Global Conference on  LGBTI+youth hosted by Mouvement d’Affirmation des Jeunes Gais, Lesbiennes, Bi & Trans (MAG), Out Right Action International, the Mairie de Paris and the Austrian Government. The paper provides much needed data on areas such as laws, policies, teacher training, inclusive curricula to highlight both good practices and areas for development in each country and ensure that LGBTQI learners feel safe, supported and included. The conference will take place in Paris, France.