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Thursday, May 17, 2012

It's IDAHO: the International Day Against HOmophobia

From the IDAHO website

In practice, our first objective is to provoke action. Actions can take place in a number of different forms: a debate in the classroom, an exhibition in a cafe, a demonstration in the street, a radio program, a screening in a neighbourhood home, a round table organized by a political party, a short story competition sponsored by a newspaper, an awareness campaign led by an association, etc. These initiatives can be backed by LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans) associations, by human rights organizations, but also by women and men of any background and interest. In fact, today many people who are not specifically interested in questions of homosexuality are worried about the problem of homophobia. 

The second goal of this Day is to reinforce the visibility of the varied and often isolated efforts from activists all over the world. Actions happening the same day will benefit of the collective visibility and will gain in effectiveness and impact. And now the day becomes an annual meeting, the media and public opinion will be all the more attentive to the questions brought up, as well as to ground gained or lost. Moreover, those who coordinate this Day can report back the results of the efforts, informing journalists and favoring best practise exchanges among activists. 

This project has a third objective : to place this Day on the national calendar in the highest number of countries possible, and then to have it adopted at an international level. Obviously, this is a long term objective. But official recognition is not just a symbol, since even symbols have real power, as we all know. Recognition will contribute to the persistence of the fight. It will also make it possible to show that the fight against homophobia is not only the business of gay, bi or trans people, but that it is the full responsibility of public authorities and the concern of society as a whole.

Let us know what you're doing for IDAHO 2012! Just write blog@gaygames.org to share your news.


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