United States

In the United States, President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice-President Joe Biden released statements and tweets of support for the worldwide May 17 mobilisations this year. A nationwide initiative to demand full and equal non-discrimination protections as a human rights imperative co-ordinated a ‘Day of Organising’, with some activity taken around May 17 in 30 states. Particularly strong mobilisations were registered this year in Atlanta in the state of Georgia, Omaha in Nebraska, and New Orleans in Louisiana, with street marches, exhibitions and many other events stretching out around the Day.

In fact, many major LGBTI rights NGOs and campaigns working nationwide in the country marked the Day with statements of support, online campaigns, news articles or other initiatives. A major US-based international anti-bullying campaign launched a major series of campaigns and messages of support on May 17 and mobilised and supported its local affiliates in various countries to take action for the IDAHOT.
This article will be updated in the coming days, as we aim to capture the full scale and diversity of events in the United Stated this year.