International Day Against Homophobia, biphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) 2017, May 17th ! “WorldWide Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities”. IDAHOT-IFED 2017: Celebrate Family Diversity

International Day Against Homophobia, biphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) 2017, May 17th ! “WorldWide Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities”. IDAHOT-IFED 2017: Celebrate Family Diversity






Ronald Tintin, Super Professeur and Ronning Against Cancer support  the global LGBTI (The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex) movement.

International Day Against Homophobia, biphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) 2017, May 17th ! International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia truly deserves its title of “WorldWide Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities”

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on Wednesday, May 17th 2017!


What is May 17th ?


t was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.

In under a decade, May 17 has established itself the single most important date for LGBTI communities to mobilise on a worldwide scale.

The Day represents an annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, opinion leaders and local authorities to the alarming situation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people and all those who do not conform to majority sexual and gender norms.


This year again, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia truly deserves its title of “WorldWide Celebration of Sexual and Gender Identities”. Beyond the rather narrow notions of “Homo”, “Trans”, “Bi”; the day offers a fantastic display of diversity, which mirrors the many facets of human sexualities and gender identities and expressions.

All over the world, advocates and their allies are fighting for what matters most to them: the right to be free from criminalisation, persecution, stigmatisation.

Sometimes the right to just live, as in many countries people have to fear for their lives.


IDAHOT-IFED 2017: Celebrate Family Diversity

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT)
International Family Equality Day (IFED)
2017
“LOVE MAKES A FAMILY”

Consultation with advocates from around the world identifies “Families” as a focus issues for IDAHOT 2017


This focus includes both
-  The role of families in the well-being of their LGBTIQ members
-  The respect of the rights of LGBTIQ families (rainbow families) 
We also of course want to use this focus issue to counter the reclaiming of family values by conservatives.
We hope that this focus issue on families will
- Strengthen the visibility and voice of LGBTIQ parents
Strengthen the visibility and voice of Rainbow families and lead to advances in recognition and rights
- Strengthen the visibility and voice of children of LGBTIQ parents, and possibly strengthen the structuring of their nascent movement
- Reclaim “family values” in a progressive understanding
- Facilitate alliances with progressive family organisations
Given the proximity in dates and values of the  International Family Equality Day (IFED), early May, we have taken the very natural and exciting decision to combine IFED and IDAHOT in 2017. 

The IDAHOT will of course remain open to any other initiatives, either around other aspects related to Families, or on other issues. As always, the focus issue constitutes a possible entry point for mobilisation, advocacy and alliance building, but only if this is relevant for each stakeholder.
Feel free to download (right-click) the full visual below and to use if for your communication purposes



On the one hand, activism in some countries is definitely rising, with more and more visible events and strong support from institutions, which the Day has always been a good framework for and this year again many official buildings will be lit in Rainbow flag colors, such as the Chilean Presidency building.

Rainbow flags will be flying all over the UK and Australia, where this action has become a national IDAHOT favorite.

On the other hand many activists have asked not to disclose information about their actions for fear of backlash, even in countries where conditions were relatively safe  in previous years. In Lebanon for example, the public conference organised by Proud Lebanon had to be cancelled under pressure from opposition.

In some places, this reaction comes as a backlash against stronger visibility of sexual and gender diversities but in some other places, there is increased State and social repression even though the levels of activism have not seen any significant change.

This shows that highly visible recent victories, and some severe defeats, on LGBT issues on several fronts  have certainly increased the focus of moral and religious fundamentalist movements on sexual and gender rights. Activists from the sexual and gender minorities movement now have to struggle against increasingly well funded, well organised movements, which are getting much better than before at occupying the ground of values that appeal even to otherwise socially progressive constituencies.

Luckily, international organisations and progressive States are more than ever showing support. Local activists in dozens of countries are supported by Embassies and representations from international organisations.

The United Nations’ Free and Equal campaign has released a special “Why we Fight” music video for the Day. European institutions have held their annual IDAHO Forum, hosted this year by the Danish Government. Unesco is about to open a two-day inter-ministerial meeting on Education sector responses to homophobic and transphobic bullying.
The United Nations have also taken a specific stand this year on the global IDAHOT focus issue on “Mental health and well-being”, as a large alliance of UN experts have issued a joint declaration toend the pathologization of LGBT people,  highlighting the many harmful impacts of human rights violations. In over 30 countries, this issue of Mental health and well-being will be a central part of the IDAHOT discussions.

As we see all the fantastic energy and creativity which the activists deploy around May 17, it is more than ever urgent to increase the capacity and resources of activists to stand their ground and promote positive social change.

To know more :



Ronald Tintin, Founder of the project Ronning Against Cancer to support the fightt against Cancer and raise funds
 “ Together, we can get rid of cancer; we are not alone. Together, we are stronger.”

 

Breast Cancer Awareness - Let’s support the Fight Against Breast Cancer and raise funds! Supported by the project Ronning Against Cancer, Super Professeur, Marina Nival , mobile.superprofesseur.com, http://mobile.ronningagainstcancer.xyz  and Les Aventures de Ronald Tintin




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