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NOVEMBER 18, 2013
With 6 months to go now to May 17, 2014, we thought we'd share with you some announcements about plans in place for the day !
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After months of outreach and consultation with LGBTI rights activists and allies around the world, as to what to focus on for the 10th Anniversary edition of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, 2014, we found that the most popular campaign call, in diverse country-settings, was Freedom of Expression !
A great deal of action is, of course, already taking place around Freedom of Expression restrictions targeting LGBTI communities in Russia, as well as in countries with similar 'propaganda' style laws and discussions, such as Moldova, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and Costa Rica. But we also found that Freedom of Expression restrictions were highlighted, in diverse ways, by activists in a great many countries.
From sexual diversity education in schools, to censorship of community websites, to silencing of journalists and human rights defenders, to laws which guarantee people's rights to self-determine their own gender identities and expressions, to the ways in which we all, everywhere, experience limits on how far we can truly express who we are; Freedom of Expression, we hope, will offer a flexible and creative way to frame diverse demands, and to support space for the articulation – too – of alternative campaigns.
LGBTI Asylum and Migration was also a popular issue this year, and we are already in touch with other organisations, activists and artists who are working on these questions, with what looks like some campaigning and resources already in the works.
Fighting LGBTI-related Stigma in the Fight against HIV/AIDS, Biphobia and Mobilising City Spaces were also highlighted this year, and we will be producing campaign packs and other material on each of these themes, and emphasising them in our communications in the lead-up to, and on, May 17. For more information on this year's focus issues check out this link.
The venue for the IDAHO Forum 2014, has also now been confirmed as Stockholm, Sweden. We will be releasing more details shortly about the programme and scope of the conference, and on how you can attend.
Plans are also already moving ahead in mobilising artistic communities, and supporting creative engagement around the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2014, with a participatory virtual exhibition already planned for May 17 – which we hope will encourage publics, everywhere, to Express their support for LGBTI rights !
Once again this year, we've created a Working Group on Facebook, where activists from around the world will be discussing their plans for Creative Mobilization around the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014. All are welcome. Please come and join us here.
Finally, the IDAHO Committee is also recruiting ! For details of posts available see www.dayagainsthomophobia.org/jobs
To find out how you can get involved in this year's campaign, or for more information, drop us a line at contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org
Thank you, and the best of wishes for the rest of 2013 !
The IDAHO Committee team
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