WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO TO IDAHOT – SOME “QUICK” IDEAS FOR ACTION !.

Archived page from 2013.
If you have only just heard about the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, May 17th 2013, when collective actions will be taking place in dozens of counties around the world, DO NOT PANIC. There are lots of ways you can take part near the day, nearer the day, really near the day, on the day and after the day !

So here is the first of several “quick” ideas for action articles we’ll be posting in the final countdown to May 17, which we hope you’ll find useful.

There are 2 weeks to go, what can I do?

You can still plan a new event ! Especially a simple, cheap and yet effective one, such as:

A Rainbow Chalk event or “DIY Rainbow Crossing”

Since the government in Sydney, Australia took the decision in March 2013 to end their creation of a “rainbow crossing” on one of the city’s main streets, some people have taken matters into their own hands, by creating their own rainbow crossings – out of chalk! The craze has taken Australia by storm and has made its way to countless countries as well (for details see the DIY Rainbow Crossing facebook page). How about doing a crossing especially for IDAHO? Together, we can stop traffic. 

A different project, chalk4peace, has also been doing collective chalk projects for kids since 2004. Schools or youth groups get together in a public place and each gets a paving slab or concrete area on which to design their own message for peace. For more inspiration check out the chalk festivals held annually in Sarasota andPasadena in the US.

A Kiss-in Flashmob

A Kiss-in can be organised on really short notice. And kissing is not just low cost, it is free – like the best things in life! In Rio de Janeiro, for example, these sorts of events have been running for years – often to protest cases of discrimination against same sex couples kissing in restaurants, bars and cafes! All you need is to decide a place to kiss, get the word out and pick a partner to pucker up with! It works effectively even with around 5 or 6 couples, so you could organise this even amongst your friends, invite your friends friends, post it as an open event on facebook and see what you get!

The “Great Global Kiss-In” was the joint international action to mark IDAHO 2010, with connected actions in 60 different cities ! The UK-based LGBT group Lesbian & Gay Foundation is making “Kiss Hate Goodbye” their central campaign theme for IDAHO 2013, and have invited all different people to participate and to organise their own kiss-ins! See the LGF site for more details. For more ideas see also http://rainbowflash.org/blog/rainbo…

A Dance Flashmob

Although it might be too late to come up with a complex choreography, there’s plenty of time to get together with your friends or colleagues, practice some simple moves (or vogues!) and mark a public place on the Day, or the Saturday afterwards (the 18th) where you can perform to music (perhaps bring along your beat box, 80s hop-hop style!). You may need a poster, placard or leaflets printed, to explain what the event is, or maybe not! For extras, you could each bring along coloured t-shirts and film the event on your phone or camera (and upload it to youtube!). For more ideas see the rainbow flashmob page.

For more inspiration see also this brilliant dance flashmob from the UK and for something simpler (organised in less than one week!): check out this and this !

A Queer Bomb

The first “Queer Bombs” were organised by students at the University of California in 2004, and mean you “infiltrate a traditionally heterosexual venue and bomb/overwhelm it with Queer Fabulousity”. So, basically, you get your queerest and dearest friends & loved one’s (and their queerest and dearest friends & loved ones!) and your pink feather boas, fishnet stockings, YMCA costumes, rainbow wigs, Freddie Mercury moustaches & rubber suits (if you have them!) and get yourselves down to a traditional local bar, a city landmark, or an establishment with a record of discriminating against same-sex couples!

Since this is a fun, but sometimes confrontational event (in sometimes difficult contexts) it is a good idea to carefully consider personal safety & security issues, and try to keep the mood upbeat, friendly & engaging. Depending on your national context it may also not be advised. For more details see the queer bomb org site. A good document about protecting yourselves and others when engaging in queer direction action, especially relevant for trans communities, is also available here.

Other ideas?

You can also plan to pledge your support at a public event you will otherwise be taking part in or leading. If you are a musician, presenter, politician, sports person, or in the public-eye on the Day for whatever reason, you could plan dedicate a song or segment to the Day, or simply say that you support the Day.

Finally, with two weeks to go, you could also make plans to volunteer for the day. Get in touch with people organising an event near where you are, outline your skills and figure out the best way to help. This could be the start of a lasting relationship with an LGBTQI group near you!

Follow news & events on facebook.

Help get the Day trending on twitter : #may17IDAHO