Activists celebrate 7th International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
LGBT campaigners are celebrating the seventh International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).
The event has been held every year since 2005 to raise awareness of discrimination and harassment of LGBT people around the globe.
It is estimated that around 50 million people in 50 countries will be exposed to the event’s messages today.
In Latin America, campaigners in 14 countries are highlighting the dangers of ‘gay cure’ therapy. Under the banner ‘Cures that kill’, activists will denounce therapists’ attempts to change sexual orientation.
The date of IDAHO marks the day when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality for its list of mental disorders.
The European Parliament is to hold a series of events, while the UN will release a document of its most important pronouncements on LGBT rights translated into languages from around the globe.
In Uganda, campaigners will hold a conference, ‘Sexuality, Orientation, Gender Identity and Health’, on how to reach out to politicians, policymakers and community leaders to further understanding.
Lady Gaga is to act as editor for the international Metro newspaper, which is one of the largest in the world and is read in 100 cities. She will work from the London newsdesk of Metro World News, giving her views on the breaking news of the day, as well as championing equal rights.
In London, a conference on LGBT rights and faith is to be held in Tower Hamlets, following upset over anti-gay stickers posted around the area. The event, organised by Rainbow Hamlets, will feature gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, communities minister Andrew Stunell and the mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman.
In Manchester, the cast of Outloud, a play about homophobia and bullying, will begin a two-week tour of the city’s schools.
Across the UK, town halls, public buildings and businesses are being encouraged to fly the rainbow flag to mark the day.
