Illuminated Building and much more for IDAHOT in Thailand

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Like the years before Thailand saw a number of activities on and around May 17. With its vast programme and variety of activities, Thailand has seen one of the major IDAHOT celebrations world wide.

A new IDAHOT Thailand website and social channels were launched by a team of IDAHOT partners. The new platforms shows the various IDAHOT events in all parts of Thailand. Organisations, activists and groups who planned to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Thailand were welcome to share their plans on various platforms.
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We are Rainbow: Bangkok Art & Culture Centre lights up with week of activities

Hundreds of people from all walks of life gather for impassioned show of solidarity amid an evening of entertainment and dialogue at BACC. 

BMA, UN, embassy representatives, civil society and artists stand united with LGBTI Thais on International Day against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) stood in solidarity with the United Nations in Thailand, embassy representatives, civil society, private enterprise, entertainers and the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community to commemorate the International Day against Transphobia, Homophobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) on 17 May.

Against the backdrop of the BACC’s 50m high “We Are Rainbow” light installation, these diverse groups united to “stand up, speak out and support LGBTI people in Thailand”, one of the key rallying cries of this year’s IDAHOT Thailand campaign.

In her opening remarks, Bangkok Deputy Governor Pusadee Tamthai said that the IDAHOT commemoration reflects the BMA’s vision of the capital as a city of diversity and that while several stakeholders, including those at the event, are working to advance this vision, it will not be achieved overnight.

“Sexual diversity remains a frequent cause of stigma and discrimination,” she said. “Better understanding and appreciation for diversity will not only make a difference in the lives of LGBT people, but will also improve the overall quality of life, rights and well-being of all people in Bangkok – young people and students, in particular, should be a key area of focus.”

Representing the joint United Nations in Thailand, UNESCO Bangkok Director Gwang-Jo Kim said that the UN recognized the important progress made in Thailand in promoting LGBTI rights, including in recent policy documents and broad engagement with community groups and organizations. However, he also noted how many in LGBTI Thais “face stigma, discrimination and even violence in schools, health services, communities and within families”.

“With the commitment and the combined efforts of governments and civil society and with the support from the many partners here tonight and those that are here in spirit, I am confident that we will see the  principles of equality and non-discrimination turn into reality for LGBTI people here in Thailand,” Dr Kim said. “The United Nations stands united with the people of Thailand to stand against violence and discrimination of any kind and to ensure the human rights and dignity of all people regardless of gender identity or expression or sexual orientation.”

Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya, UNESCO Bangkok HIV National Programme Officer and an advocate for transgender rights in Thailand, said that the IDAHOT commemoration and events leading up to it gave LGBTI communities a space to share their experiences with non-LGBTI communities to promote understanding.

“On behalf of the Thai LGBTI community, we appreciate the involvement of the UN family, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and friends from civil society organizations and also the private sector,” she said. “Today, we are here to celebrate IDAHOT. This is a great moment to come together in solidarity to ensure equality and eliminate discrimination.”

Four young LGBTI advocates also took to the stage to deliver a youth statement, in which they drew from their personal experiences to issue a call for equality and increased mutual understanding between their community and their heterosexual peers.

“Whatever you call us – gay, kathoei, tom, dee or third gender – and even if you consider us different, we too are members of society. Please respect our dignity and our right to live the life we choose, just as everyone should,” the statement read. “Whichever sex you are, we share a common humanity and accepting that, we can stop bullying violence and hatred toward LGBTI people.

“Hatred and fear based on differences creates nothing but contempt and division. It’s understanding that fills the world with love and compassion and can bring about a society in which everyone has an equal right to love.”

Also attending the event were representatives from the embassies of the USA, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States as well as from the sponsors of the lighting installation, the Philips Lighting Academy of Thailand, Bioarchitek, KMUTT’s School of Architecture and Design and the Thailand Illumination Engineering Association.

Thai TV star Meesuk Jangmeesuk was the emcee for the commemoration, which was opened by transgender pianist Remi Namtep’s stirring rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine, and featured a dazzling aerobatic display from the Rainbow All Boy Cheerleading Team as well as performances by Mimosa Pattaya and Balla and Juno from the popular TV singing competition The Voice.

The main IDAHOT event took place amid a week-long series of events at the BACC, which saw LGBTI issues explored through a diverse range of activities, including musical and theatrical performances, panel discussions and sharing sessions, film screenings and more.

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Programme:
Tuesday 12 May
10am-12pm: Book launch of “Dear Mom:  LGBTI’s Heartfelt Letters to Their Parents”
2-5pm: “Becoming Me(n)” – closed workshop for transmen to share experiences
6-9pm: “Understanding Bisexuality in Thai Context” – panel discussion
Wednesday 13 May
10am-5pm: “Know the Facts: Q&A game on LGBTI exclusion in Thailand”
10am-12pm: “Are You PrEPared Enough?” – panel session on the effective use of social media in linking YGMT to HIV and other health-related services including PrEP
2-5pm: “Who’s to Blame?” panel discussion on violence among LGBTI people
5-6pm: “Queer Eye For All” – theatrical performance by the Sun Dance Theatre
6-7pm: “Flawlessly Unique” drag performance by Pangina Heals followed by discussion with Bella Vongvisitsin and Sarina Thai
7-9pm: “Not So Straight Talk” – variety talk show
Thursday 14 May
10am-6pm: “Know the Facts: Q&A game on LGBTI exclusion in Thailand”
10am-12pm: “Hurt by the Tabloids” – panel discussion on media’s role in negative stereotyping
2-4:30pm: “Breaking the Continuum of Discrimination and Violence in Education and Employment”
6-8.30pm: Live concert by Attention Please featuring Tang Mo from The Voice and others
Friday 15 May
10am-5pm: “Know the Facts: Q&A game on LGBTI exclusion in Thailand”
5-6pm: “Working Beyond Difference: Student filmmakers for social justice” – film screening and Q&A
6-9pm: “Loud & Proud Thailand” – film screening and Q&A with Directors/Actors
Saturday 16 May
10am-5pm: “Tree of Hope and Dreams” – an interactive exhibition by Youth LEAD and UNESCO Bangkok

5pm-6pm: Outdoor jazz concert with Natt from The Voice

Sunday 17 May
1-5pm: Young Rainbow Workshop featuring T-shirt making, lighting activity and art therapy
5-5.30pm: Piano performance by Remi Namtep
5.30-6pm: Community performances by Bangkok Rainbow Organization, Sex Workers in Groups and Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand and a highlight show by Rainbow All Boy Cheerleading Team
6-9pm: Official IDAHOT commemoration opened by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, with cultural performances by Bangkok Cheerleaders, Balla & Juno from The Voice, Mimosa Pattaya and speeches by special guests. Master of Ceremony, Meesuk Jangmeesuk
Tuesday 19 May
10am-6pm: Respect for All: Promoting Safe and Gender-responsive Schools in Thailand (closed workshop until 3pm, then open to the public)
Media kitA media kit with a fact sheet as well as a list of interviewees available for interviews in English and Thai on a wide variety of LGBTI-related topics are available at the official site: idahotthailand.org
Suggested tweets

  • See the programme of events to mark #IDAHOT2015 in Thailand http://ow.ly/M7ct5 #WeAreRainbow #IDAHOTthai #LGBTI Pls RT
  • Is Thailand the LGBTI paradise it is often touted to be? The reality faced by #LGBTI Thais http://ow.ly/M7cFN #WeAreRainbow #IDAHOTthai
  • Did u know? Nearly 6/10 #LGBTI youth in Thailand are bullied because of their sexual orientation/gender identity. #WeAreRainbow #IDAHOTthai #LGBTI
  • Show your support for #LGBTI rights by posting a photo of #WeAreRainbow written on any part of your body http://ow.ly/M7cx0#IDAHOTthai
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Media enquiries

For English-language media inquiries, please contact UNESCO Bangkok Media and Communications Officer Noel Boivin: n.boivin@unesco.org
For Thai-language queries, please contact: UNESCO Bangkok HIV National Programme Officer Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya: p.pramoj@unesco.org 
We Are Rainbow

The theme of this year’s IDAHOT Thailand campaign speaks to its aim of taking the discussion out of advocacy circles and into the community to show how LGBTI rights are human rights and that their violation harms everyone. The BACC events as well as the social media campaign launched under #WeAreRainbow focus on educating and engaging members of the public on LGBTI issues and inspiring them to champion these rights, not just on IDAHOT, but every day.
Members of the public got involved in #WeAreRainbow by sharing photos of this slogan written on their bodies in social media or by sharing the messages we have prepared, available here.

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More info

For more visit: idahotthailand.org
Twitter: @idahotthai
Facebook: IdahotThailand
Instagram: IdahotThailand

 Media reaction: Bangkok Post

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