For the third year in a row, the Sarajevo Open Center (SOC), together with other organisations, organised a series of events in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The title of the events and campaign was ‘POLJUBAC NIJE SKANDAL!’ (A Kiss is not a Scandal!)

From May 6th to 19th, through various types of activities (workshops, round tables) as well as a media campaign (TV, radio, press, internet), the Sarajevo Open Centre sent the message that a kiss between two gay pilots is not a scandal, that love is a human need, and that together, it is possible to fight against all types of violence and discrimination and for a more tolerant and better Bosnian-Herzegovinian society.

On May 17, together with the group Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, the Cure Foundation and with the support of the European Union, the SOC organised a print campaign: ‘Live and let love!’ which consists of mini campaigns and is connected to the project ‘Coming out! Advocating and Protecting LGBT People’, a visual campaign in newspapers.

IDAHOT 2014 in Sarajevo

There was also a training session organised for mental health experts called ‘(R)education on homophobia and transphobia’. This training was dedicated to experts from the field of mental health, with the goal of providing more education and improving knowledge of the specificities connected with LGB communities, and especially trans* communities, and consisted of prevention as well as therapeutic work.

On May 17, the SOC also asked several public figures to say what they think about the current situation when it comes to homophobia and transphobia in BiH, and whether BiH should officially mark this date, and therefore show commitment to respect the laws that are there to protect LGBT people from discrimination and violence. The statements collected include the musician Grof Đuraz, the director Selma Spahić, the psychologist Srđan Puhalo, the politician Besima Borić and the journalist and activist Husein Oručević.

Director, Selma Spahic, promotes the official recognition of IDAHOT. Source: lgbt.ba

In Bosnia & Herzegovina, violent attacks on LGBT communities are not unknown, and verbal attacks frequently occur on the internet and in public spaces. These events are therefore an important tool to raise awareness about the situation of LGBT people in BiH and beyond. The full program of the events can be found here.

Okvir group banner; Source.

Their full programme was as follows:

Activities for Friday, May 17th by OKVIR and friends

1. Music by Glitter Decadence
Great music from Noise Wimmin’s folder!

2. FOOD NOT BOMBS – vegan lunch by BAZA 13h – 15h
Lunch will be for donations and there would be a donation box (donations will be used to cover cost for ingredients for lunch). Donations are more than wellcome, but not obligatory.

3. Free shop TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT 13h – 18h
The main principle of free shop TAKE IT OR/AND LEAVE IT is circulation of USABLE stuff that you can find in your closets, attics, basements, shelves, balconies… So you can bring stuff that you no longer need, but you find it could be useful for somebody else. Taking stuff is not preconditioned with how much you brought or if you brought anything at all… You can bring clothes, footwear, books, sheets, bags, rucksacks, rainbow jewelery, toys, social games, cookware, household stuff, mobile phones, computer or parts for it,… basically ANYTHING! It’s only important is that is usable! One person’s thrash is another person’s treasure!

4. Having coffee with activist Slobodanka Boba Dekic 16:30h – 17:15h
Chillin’ and different dilemmas spillin’ with Boba

5. Lecture “Queer on Movie” by Aleksandar Stojakovic 18h – 20h
Homoeroticism in movies is as old as movies themselves. During this lecture we will hear about history of homoeroticism on movie screen, how homosexuality is presented in homophobic society, until LGBT emancipation and stereotypes of lesbian and gay characters; which are influential gay movies, directors, actors and actresses; what is the relevance of movies as art for sexual freedoms. Lecturer: Aleksandar Stojakovic (Center for Queer Studies, Belgrade), member of editorial staff of magazine for queer theory and culture “QT”.

6. Rainbow party @22h until we fall asleep, music by fantastic Glitter Decadence and DJ BunnyBoy!

Activists in the city also held a series of events at the Sarajevo Open Centre

This included a dedicated media campaign around IDAHO – more info about that can be found by downloading this pdf, courtesy of activists behind www.lgbt-prava.ba.

For more details in general about these events see http://lgbt-prava.ba/idaho-2013/ where there are also a set of videos available for view. The full programme of events, which took place at the Centre ares listed in the table below: