United Kingdom IDAHO Report 2012

An unprecedented level of action took place in the UK to commemorate IDAHO 2012, involving a host of high-profile people and a range of organizations, from city councils and trade unions to schools and universities.
British Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne and International Development Minister Stephen O’Brien made a special statement to mark the Day, in which they spoke out about the criminalization of same-sex relationships around the world. International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Speaker of the UK House of Commons also made a speech on IDAHO, which was attended by the UK Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, and other MPs and Members of the House of Lords.
Prince Harry also joined the celebrations, being photographed with rugby union star Ben Cohen in support of the rugby legend’s charity football match celebrating IDAHO.
Rainbow flags flew across the UK on the Day, in such places as Norwich, Derby, Liverpool, Manchester and Brighton.
Energy company E.ON, which employs 85,000 globally, was displaying flags at five offices in the Midlands. Manchester Airport was welcoming guests to the UK with the multi-coloured standard, and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust flew the rainbow flag at its headquarters in Norwich as a show of solidarity with those suffering homophobic abuse.
Of special interest, the Liverpool based Homotopia project managed to get fifty companies and organisations in Merseyside to fly the rainbow flag or make another form of pro-gay visual statement for the International Day Against Homophobia in May (Read details)
This year’s education campaign also elicited a lot of support, with such actions as the making of short videos and posters, photography, discussions, and the launch of two reports into the prevalence of homophobia in schools.
Rallies, marches, conferences, panel discussions, lectures, live radio broadcasts, film screenings, the making of one-minute’s noise events, sports events, music festivals and photographic exhibitions.
Police departments also got in on the action, holding information sessions, Q&As and open days.