If the world really did have just four corners, the fifth annual International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO/IDAHOT) definitely touched all of them. Sunday’s effort to raise awareness about discrimination, violence, and hatred toward GLBTs isn’t just surprising for its global reach, but that a grassroots effort really can mobilize the community around the world. Not to mention getting entire countries to sign on board.
(We especially love the message from Iraq.)
Organizers pitch the event as accomplishing a number of things, including the “further the inclusion of homosexual persons in society,” “show the devastating effects of homophobia,” and even get “teachers to talk about homophobia in the class room.”
You tell us: Five years into the event, how are we doing?
Geoff
Fanfreakingtastic!! At first I was like…”where’s Idaho??”….(my state), but then I caught on. Too much sun this morning made the mind work slower I guess, but I loved this. What a great idea.
Simon
This makes me so happy (and yes, proud to be gay too).
PS: I think the Moroccoan guy might be my future husband. I’m jiust sayin’.
Tallskin
Great stuff
I see over the weekend there gay demos in St Petersburg, Singapore, Croatia, Hong Kong as well as the brutal repressive horror in Moscow.
These are all brave people demonstrating in dangerous places at risk to themselves and I wish them all well.
There seems to be a growing demand from gays all over the world, particularly in repressive shitholes, that they will demand both their rights and equality.
And the beacon they are all following is what we have achieved here in the West. They keep track via the internet of what we’re up to, what we’ve achieved and they want the same. And they’ll achieve it, eventually.
sal(the original)
dont cry dont cry!!!!….no caribbean?lol
Tallskin
SAL (the original)
And virtually no arab/muslim world
No Egypt
No Algeria
No Lebanon
Etc etc etc
sal(the original)
@Tallskin: there was iraq ,thats not part of the “muslim world”?
sal(the original)
@Tallskin: they did blur his face out,i think they are tryin to protect him…everyone had a chance to send a vid in and i guess some countries the gay community feel not safe enough to put themselves out there
Simon
Malaysia and Morroco (remember, my future husband!) also count as the greater Muslim world, and both were included in this video.
schlukitz
This was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes.