News for IDAHOT 2016 coming in from around the world!

With just over a month to go until IDAHOT 2016 campaigns and groups across the world are coming into the final stage of their wonderful plans for May 17. We have collected a selection of some of the events and news stories as a small taste of the incredible actions to come!
 
In early March the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) affirmed that LGBT sexualities should not be viewed as a mental illness. The leading global organization officially stated that it viewed the criminalization (and mental illness classification) of sexual and gender diversities as wrong. The group also condemned the use of so-called ‘conversion therapies’ and called for psychiatrists across the world to fight against stigma and the persecution of sexual minorities.
 
The IDAHOT committee welcomed WPA’s stance as an important and timely action. This statement has already triggered many local dialogues around the issue of stigma and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities, and mental health professionals and individuals alike are helping to bring the links between mental health and sexuality into the public forum. We hope that even more people will continue to engage with these issues for IDAHOT 2016.
 
The WPA, however, isn’t the only group helping to promote equality. Several mental health and psychological organizations have pledged their support for IDAHOT 2016, and we also expect the participation of thousands of mental health professionals from across the world. In Beirut, the Lebanese Psychological Association will take a significant stance with a message of solidarity shared throughout its network. In the UK, the Queer Futures research group will mark the day with the publication of research focused on LGBTI youth health and well being, which will be shared by professionals across the country. Coventry University will also focus it’s Psychology of Sexualities Review on this very topic and explicitly mark IDAHOT.
 
In Copenhagen, the Danish government will host the 4^th annual European IDAHO Forum. The event, titled “Building Bridges and Alliances”, will see international lawmakers and campaigners join together for two days of dialogue aimed at improving the situation of LGBTI individuals across Europe. As well as focusing on social integration within mainstream society the forum will also hope to address LGBTI inclusion within the workforce.
 
As part of its ongoing UN Free & Equal campaign, the UN Human Rights Office plans to launch a new music video for IDAHOT 2016, produced in collaboration with the singer Rachel Platten. The video, called “Why We Fight”, is a tribute to global activism and features specially shot footage of individuals, families, advocates and allies in countries around the world. The video will be launched several days before IDAHOT and be made available via the UN Free & Equal campaign website (www.unfe.org) and via the campaign’s social media accounts. Last year’s UN Free & Equal video for IDAHOT, “Faces”, was watched by an estimated 10 million people
 
Also on an international scale, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will host high-level representatives from across the world for an inter-governmental conference on IDAHOT. The gathering will see policy makers affirm their political commitment to LGBTI young people and will also include an open dialogue on tactics to promote inclusion and tackle discrimination.
 
At national level, organizations are putting the final touch to their IDAHOT plans.
 
We have heard from all the way from the Pacific Island Nation of Vanuatu, where VPrideFoundation is putting together a panel discussion this year in Port Vila.
 
In Singapore GBQ men’s group SGRainbow will mark the day with a range of events leading up to May 17, including a nature bike ride and a number of events designed to promote equality and build communities for young LGBT individuals.
 
Many organizations from Brazil will be marking the day with different events around this year’s focus issue on “Mental Health and Well being”. One of the main events will take place over 4 days in Curitiba organized by Transgrupo, Grupo Dignidade and UNALGBT-Paraná. The different events will include meetings with Legislators, Educational institutions and will end with a huge “Marcha pela Diversidade” (march for diversity).
 
In Cuba, Mariela Castro’s organization CENESEX will hold the “Jornada contra la Homofobia y la Transfobia” for the 9th consecutive year, with a series of events that will take place in different cities in Cuba from May 10th to 21st, ending with the now traditional IDAHOT parade which promises once again to be a huge festive event.
 
In Canada, Kamloops Pride will host a special day of story telling to promote solidarity and pride among the local LGBTI community. The event will feature stories and performances from members of the LGBTI in a local safe-space venue and will be followed by a candlelight march to city hall. In Vancouver LGBTI group Qmunity will host its 12^th annual IDAHOT breakfast, which will feature a talk and presentation on the subject of homosexuality and coming out. In Quebec, Fondation Émergence will focus its 2016 campaign on the realities of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors.
 
In Athens, Greece, youth action group AEGEE-Athina will host young LGBTI and ally activists from across Europe for a weekend of youth-focused talks, workshops and activism. The event, Beyond The Rainbow, hopes to foster cross-European solidarity and help young people to better engage with LGBTI activism at a local and international level.
 
In Western Sydney, Australia, the Open Door Community of Christ will host a picnic day on May 17 to celebrate members of the local LGBTI community. As well as showing solidarity the church group hope to shine a light on the difficulties faced by LGBTI individuals and to encourage others to take a stand against discrimination. The event will be attended by over 200 people, including politicians and religious leaders, and will also run alongside local IDAHOT events run by campaigners and local authorities.
 
A number of other events will also be held in communities across Australia. In Brisbane local landmarks will be lit in rainbow colors, including once again the city’s largest bridge (thanks to the Brisbane LGBTIQ Action Group), while organizations including businesses, charities, and even police will also mark the day within their local communities.
 
Australia will also see its first “Move in May”, as the Melbourne based Stand Up group aims to gather a 5000-strong crowd to march against heteronormativity on May 17.
 
In Tunisia, feminist activist have announced the Second edition of CHOUFTOUHONNA, Tunis’ International Feminist Art Festival, which will feature performances and exhibitions focused on the experiences of LBT women.
 
In Nairobi, Kenya, the Suncity Africa Foundation and the Central Initiative for Transgender, Young Gay, Lesbian and Asylum Seekers (CITY GLASS) will host Refugee Pride, a two-day event aimed at celebrating diversity and progress within the LGBTI community. The event hopes to help campaigners and asylum seekers raise awareness of their needs, whilst also reflecting on the shared difficulties faced across the local community. The date will also see the launch of CITY GLASS’s annual report, which will address the situation of young LGBTI refugees living in Kenya and the broader region.
 
IDAHOT will once again be a big event in Cambodia, where activists will organize rainbow bike rides across the country and invite people to post rainbow selfies in front of iconic buildings.
 
Across many cities in Germany, like Mainz and Hamburg, the Rainbow-Flashmobs will once again draw big crowds to launch rainbow colored balloons in sign of hope and solidarity to neighboring countries, where similar events are also planned, but kept confidential at this stage.
 
In Jena, local activists for IDAHOT Jena will host a series of eclectic activities for IDAHOT 2016. From May 12 – 23 the festival of events will include film screenings, club nights, performances, talks and workshops all with the aim of promoting equality and solidarity while creating an important outlet for the LGBTI community.
 
In Hanover will host a demonstration with talks around the theme of equality for the IDAHOT Rainbow Flash. In Rheinland-Pfalz a number of small independent events will be held on the morning of IDAHOT, organized by local campaign groups and Rheinland-Pflaz authorities in towns across the region.
 
In Stockholm, the local Amnesty International group have called on people to come out for an IDAHOT ‘kiss-in’. The event, organized alongside local LGBT campaigners, will gather hundreds of demonstrators to ‘make out and make change’.
 
In Salzburg, Austria, members of the local LGBTI community will ‘escape queerphobia’ with a charity walk for IDAHOT 2016. Walk4Idahot will take place on May 21 in central Salzburg and will hope to also raise awareness of discrimination within Salzburg and Austria.
 
Several organizations in Chile will be taking once again a stand on IDAHOT. On May 17 Mums Chile will hold a public demonstration against anti-LGBT violence across the country, while Todo Mejora (It Get’s Better Chile) will award the “Todo Mejora Prizes”, celebrating individuals and organizations who have contributed to the visibility of the LGBT community through positive communication.
 
In Myanmar, the best photos of an special IDAHOT competition will be displayed as part of the “&Proud” photo exhibition from May 7 to 15 alongside some of the best photos of LGBT subjects in the ASEAN region.
 
In the UK, a number of small and large-scale events will take place in communities across the country. In Leamington Spa, LGBTI individuals and allies will gather for the Big Rainbow Picnic to mark IDAHOT 2016. In Bradford the Equality Partnership will host a day of performance and talks around the theme of health and wellbeing in the LGBTI community. In Shrewsbury, the Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival will host a special screening about LGBTI activism in Ukraine. In Brighton, the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum will join together with other local activists for a day of live performances and talks that will include ‘one minute of noise’ in commemoration of the victims of LGBTI violence.
 
In North West England the Proud Trust will present the ‘Pink Box’ creations made during LGBT History Month. The Pink Box campaign involved young LGBTI people exploring philosophy and philosophy in order to ‘create their own belief system’ in order to explore the link between religious beliefs and LGBTI equality.
 
Corporations are also seen to be increasing their visibility for IDAHOT. Ernst and Young is bringing together a global photo exhibition from the “Colors of the Rainbow” photo competition amongst their many LGBT employees groups. IKEA is holding an internal awareness week around May 17^th during which a specially shot video bringing together its diversity & inclusion ambassadors from all over the world will be put online on May 17^th in all IKEA countries.
 
We have also received information from at least 10 countries where activists requested us not to mention their action, for fear of generating opposition. This is a strong sign that the Day is unfortunately badly needed in most parts of the world. But even if we cannot mention their action, we wanted to salute their courage here!
 
News is now coming in daily. We will be updating you with fresh news regularly in the days leading up to May 17^th. If you wish to contact any even organizer, please write to us at contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org and we will put you in touch.