The 4^th annual IDAHO Forum this year took place in Copenhagen, where policy makers, campaigners and professionals from various backgrounds gathered for a number of talks, discussions and presentations. During the event information was presented by experts on various topics, including discrimination and stigma, and various dialogues focused around how the international community can work together to support the equality of LGBT individuals.

The event was also opened by Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, who called upon more action to be taken, and helped bring the IDAHO Forum agenda to the international media.

The event also featured a number of side-events organized by local campaigners. A mini-conference titled ‘Still Much To Be Done’ was organized by Danish campaigners and focused on the work of European organizations, and how campaigners can support equality across the continent.

Also in Copenhagen, Copenhagen Pride held their annual event on the weekend of IDAHOT 2016. The event saw hundreds gather for a celebration of sexual and gender diversity.

On an international level, several Danish embassies and diplomatic services also helped to promote the message of IDAHOT 2016 by supporting local actions, hosting events and sharing messages of support online.

From high-level government officials to local activists from communities across Europe, the event will hope to foster a meaningful dialogue that leads to real change across the region. Previous European IDAHO Forums have helped build incredible inter-European connections and has led to a number of high-profile events and campaigns.

In Rådhusbladsen, campaigners from Copenhagen Pride will host their annual gathering for IDAHOT 2016.

Also in Copenhagen, activists from LGBT Danmark will hold a side-event alongside the IDAHO Forum. The mini-conference, titled Still Much To Be Done, will focus on LGBTI politics in Europe.

Stay tuned for further updates and our annual reports to see how Denmark marked IDAHOT 2016.

In the country’s capital city Copenhagen Pride marked the day with a special international celebration, in which they asked individuals of all backgrounds to ‘fight tolerance across national boundaries’. As part of the event advocates were encouraged to bring flags from across the world to demonstrate that the fight for equality is a globally significant one.

The Pride event was open to all and took place for the first time at the Town Hall at 16:00. For more details visit the official Facebook event page.

LGBT Danmark

LGBT Danmark, the largest LGBT rights group in Denmark, released a statement about the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013, which focused specifically on the ILGA-Europe and Fundamental Rights Agency surveys, published on the Day. Although Denmark was the second lowest in terms of experiences of discrimination (31% of those surveyed said they had experienced some form of violence and discrimination), group spokesperson, Martin Christensen, called for further action, arguing that 31% was still too high a figure.

Danish Family Planning Association 

The association released a statement underscoring the value of the day and called for more action on ‘Combating homophobia and transphobia through education and training’ (the chosen theme for 2013). The statement was accompanied by teaching and training resources, including lesson plans and films, about how to effectively tackle homophobia & transphobia, and to encourage young people and educators to challenge taken for granted gender roles.

Part of the statement (original in Danish) now follows:

‘In 2013, the theme of IDAHO was “Combating homophobia and transphobia through education and training”.

Sex education and homophobia and transphobia

Sexual teaching about sex and sexuality, and this includes sex education, has a huge potential to break with prejudices and ignorance that can lead to disparaging remarks about LGBT people and to homophobia and transphobia. This potential is developed and strengthened, including through an educational approach to sex education, which is critical to societal norms of gender and sexuality.

Combating stereotypes and prejudices is not simply to focus on homo-and transphobia one day a year. It requires a focused and systematic sex education that is based on:

• That a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity is a human right that can not be discussed.
• That is critical of how societal and media-created standards for gender and sexuality can help to create certain expectations of how to be a boy and girl, and who can be the girlfriend with whom.
• Educational materials, films, case studies and literature on equal terms presents different ways to be boys and girls and different ways to define and live one’s sexuality.

In addition to systematic sexual education, the International Day against Homo-and-Trans-Phobia provides a framework for activities which particularly focuses on people’s right to choose their gender identity and sexuality.’

Official proclamations

The Ministry for Gender Equality and Ecclesiastical Affairs published a statement just before the Day, announcing the publication of the FRA survey, and underscoring the Danish government’s commitment to challenging discrimination against LGBT people. The Minister of Gender Equality and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Manu Sareen, also represented the Danish government at the International IDAHO Conference in the Hague (May 16 – 17).

Amnesty International Denmark

Amnesty International Denmark made various statements online, specifically as regards AI’s international campaign ‘Love is a Human Right‘, which was launched on May 17. For more information see also Amnesty International Denmark on facebook.

May 17 in the Media

• Politiken: Verbale overfald og fysiske slag. Homoseksuelle og transvestitter mener, at deres forhold er blevet forværret.