UN Human Rights Office marks IDAHOT 2014 with Powerful New Video

On the evening of the International Day against Homophobia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released an emotive, new video that focuses on the impact that each of us can have by sharing our own stories and by showing our support for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex friends, colleagues and family members.

The video, called “The Power of Sharing”, has been produced as part of the OHCHR-led Free & Equal campaign, which is aimed at raising awareness of homophobic and transphobic discrimination, and promoting respect for the rights of LGBT people. The Free & Equal website carries the new video alongside a “tagboard” that aggregates comments, stories and photos posted on social media using the hashtag “IDAHOT.” To view the tagboard click here.

Commenting on the new video, OHCHR’s chief of global issues Charles Radcliffe said “It’s quite easy to hate an idea, harder to hate a person. This video speaks to the power we all have within us, to share our own stories and to support our friends and family members in the face of prejudice. For everyone who can do so safely, IDAHOT provides a chance to start conversations within our own families and communities and to challenge the negative stereotypes that fuel homophobia and transphobia.”
This year, IDAHOT is being marked by an increasing number of OHCHR field offices around the world. A number of field presences have launched or are planning to launch national anti-homophobia and –transphobia campaigns using materials generated by the Free & Equal campaign and in cooperation with UN and local partners and, in some cases, national and municipal authorities.