South Africa IDAHO Report 2013

This year, the first large scale International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia public actions ever, took place in southern Africa. In Johannesburg, an “entire day of social, political and art activism, as well as entertainment from 10h00-21h00″ was held in the city on May 17, report organisers from the LGBTI group Iranti-org, in a Press Release published on the Day. In Cape Town, activists also came together for workshops and a parade in the townships.

Johannesburg

Various Events

You can see highlights of events in the city, including one of the year’s top dance flashmobs, in this short video, “(in)VISIBLE”:

The Day’s events were co-ordinated by participants of Iranti-org, in joint collaboration with activists from groups FEW, TIA, GDX, SHE, ARASA, CAL, EPOC, Uthingo, Sexual Rights Centre, and many many more.

Activists reported that the Day’s events were held in the centre of Johannesburg, “because the city has increasingly become unsafe and the visible increase in the amount of fundamentalist homophobic churches have made the city increasingly unsafe for LGBTI persons.” They also advised that a dance flashmob was held at the Carlton Shopping Centre because a lesbian couple had been previously assaulted there.
The Day’s programme also included a March from 10:00-11:00, a City Sight Seeing big red bus at 13:00, and a Queer Arts Mini Festival from 16:00-22:00.

Before the Day Activists also Created Two Powerful Videos

The first, published on April 11, makes part of an awareness campaign to encourage a “cascade of action in southern Africa” for May 17 2013. Created as part of an all day workshop in preparation for the Day, it features participants in different coloured face paints who together “rise, to end homophobia and transphobia”: