Global Summary Report 2014

The IDAHO Committee Summary Report 2014, which gives a global and regional panorama of actions around May 17 this year is available for download here (pdf, 2.1mb).

Individual Country Reports 2014

You can access the individual country reports (in order of publication) via this list, or via this map (just click on your country).

Further Information

After the IDAHOT 2014 week, in which the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was confirmed as the biggest ever mobilisation moment for LGBTI rights worldwide – with actions in over 125 countries – the IDAHO Committee team has been working to gather details, pictures, videos and reports from all countries, to form an Annual Summary Report 2014.

The Summary Report provides an overview of the activities which took place in commemoration of the IDAHOT, from countries that have seen actions for the first time, to places where activists stood up against Homophobia and Transphobia despite the risk of persecution, to the amazing diversity of events which made Freedom of Expression for LGBTI communities a core global focus this year. The report also depicts specific groups and actions, such as faith-related events and the global sing-in in which choirs from many countries joined the chorus for LGBTI equality worldwide.

The Report is supported this year by online Country Reports for all countries where actions were registered.

There are doubtless many actions that we missed – please feel free to send us details at any time, so that we can include your action. If you have any queries about the Annual Reporting process or would like further information please contact the IDAHO Committee team via contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org

For many years now, the Global Interfaith vigil, organised from Italy by Gionata, the Italian Project on Faith and Homosexuality, in support of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups, has taken place throughout the week of May 17 and after in various cities in Italy and other European countries. The focus of the vigil is to commemorate the victims of homophobic violence and discrimination. The events were organised by local churches and groups and took place as followed:

• May 12: Bologna (Italy)
• May 15: Florence and Palermo (Italy)
• May 16: Padova, Parma, Pistoia, Rome (Italy) and Siviglia (Spain)
• May 17: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Borgo Priolo (Italy), Catania (Italy), Colchester (UK), Forano Sabino (Italy), Licata (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal), Mantova (Italy), Mdina (Malta), Pecara (Italy), Pinerolo (Italy), Porto (Portugal), Rome (Italy), Torino (Italy) and Trieste (Italy)
• May 18: Rome (Italy), Florence (Italy), Grosseto (Italy), Licata (Italy), Liverpool (UK), Madrid (Spain), Milan (Italy), Naples (Italy), Padova (Italy), Rimini (Italy) and Trapani (Italy)
• May 19: Barcelona (Spain)
• May 20: Genova (Italy)
• May 22: Milan (Italy)

The vigils and commemorations will be continuing in Italy until June 13 and will include Palermo, Livorno and Cremona.

The Upper Room Communion, a Christian progressive Church in Durban, South Africa celebrated IDAHOT with a walk along the Durban’s beach front and highlighted the global theme Freedom of Expression. 
With signs such as ‘Some Christians are gay. Get over it!’ and ‘God loves Fags’ they also made a stand against Homophobia that is justified through religion.

In Cameroon, the LGBT community met with religious and political leaders to discuss homosexuality.

In Cambodia, CamASEAN Gay Pride organised workshops on the 17th & 18th of May. “Voice to Voiceless” on 17th May invited same-sex couples who live together for more than 30 years, among them are Muslim couples and indigenous couples. The purpose was for them to share how they live under the same roof for many years and how they advocate for acceptance from their community. In addition to that, commune leaders were invited to share how they react to accept the homosexual couples and individuals living in their villages.

In Jerusalem, Israel, prior to IDAHOT there were activities coordinated by the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance (JOH) to commemorate the day, including a Pride Shabbes on May 5 & 6 which was a joined effort by the Jewish congregation.

With the title ‘Living in Prophetic Hope‘ and under the theme “Moving from Fear and Hopelessness to Spirit-led Action in Deeply Homophobic Communities”, various LGBTI christian groups came together in London, UK for a day’s workshop of prayer, film, reflection and talks. They were also highlighting the role of christian churches in anti-LGBT rhetorics and violence, as the organisers stated ahead of the event: “It is our own Christian churches that play a crucial role in supporting homophobic rhetoric and policies of hatred in countries like Uganda, Nigeria, and Russia. Homophobia is also still very much present in the UK, as recent statements from the Anglican House of Bishops sadly attest. It is woven tightly into racism and classism; it feeds people’s irrational fears about immigrants, and ongoing repression within immigrant communities.”

Changing Attitude Ireland (C.A.I.), a Church of Ireland organisation with ecumenical friends arranged services in commemoration of IDAHOT in several cities in Ireland and Northern Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Belfast, Derry and Newry.

As part of the Pride Month, Gay Fraternidad Sin Fronteras has organised a Faith Fair about Churches and Hate Crimes in El Salvador which was sponsored by USAID – ALDES.

In Rosendale, New York (USA), the screening of the documentary “Taking a Chance on God” at the Rosendale Theatre, sponsored by the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, coincided with IDAHOT. The film tells the story of the life of gay pioneer priest John McNeill and aims to open up the Catholic church and society in general to LGBT people.

CALEM, the Confederation of Associations LGBT, Euro-Africans or Muslims, is in the midst of opening the first international, Inclusive, self-sustainable Muslims’ center (an inclusive mosque, a refugees’ shelter & a progressive imam-es training institute) in South Africa in the city of Malmesbury – 30 minutes North of Cape Town–  called CALEM Rumi’s Isiphephelo. The motto of this center is to promote empowerment, learning, sharing and freedom. It will provide refuge for healing from persecution trauma, welcome and train vulnerable individuals, in order to participate to their emancipation, especially LGBT from a Muslim background, with a priority for those coming from Middle East and Africa, thrown out of their home and/or community and/or country because of their sexual orientation; but also welcoming and training HIV positive individuals and women from a Muslim background, in need of support[3], discriminated because of their HIV status or gender identity. The start for building the center was on May 17 and the centre is estimated to be ready by mid-June 2014. The reasons behind the project are that

In a time when the LGBT communities all over the world increasingly are organizing themselves, demanding the public space to exist, to meet and to find protection under the law, the forces against these rights are being mobilized. This is happening both at a national and international level. These forces claim to justify their fight with religious and customary laws, arguing that sexual and gender diversity is a foreign and evil societal import. The irony is that it is often religious movements from outside pushing national politicians and religious leaders to make the already existing laws against women & LGBT vulnerable[1] individuals even more severe, like death penalty or life imprisonment.

Many more religious groups took part in activities planned for IDAHOT and showed their solidarity with the LGBTI community and stood up for a more progressive & tolerant religious practice.

United Kingdom

Nationwide

L Project’s fab new song, We’re all Human, was not only declared the official IDAHOT 2014 theme tune song, it also broke into the UK independent charts on the week of May 17! We love it, and you can check it out here:

Liverpool

Eurovision mania takes hold in this fab IDAHOT contribution from Dysney & Smydge. Yeah baby, you’ve got it!

Norwich

Sing with Pride joined the Global Sing-in with a community singing workshop led by Chris Rowbury. Check out their fantastic video here:

Leeds

Gay Abandon Choir, from around Leeds in West Yorkshire, joined the global chorus with a moving video performance of “Single Step”:

Bristol

Sing Out Bristol performed at an IDAHOT event on May 17, 2014. More details coming soon!

Sheffield

Out Aloud – Sheffield’s first gay choir joined the chorus with a Sing-along at Sheffield Museums, together with local community groups! More details coming soon!

Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove’s Rainbow Chorus joined with local communities at a day of IDAHOBIT events organised by the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum. Read more.

Brighton & Hove’s Rainbow Chorus on IDAHOBIT 2014 ! Source: G Scene.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Loud & Proud Choir were joined by special guests, Common Voices Chorus (from Massachusetts, US), for their Spring Concert on May 17. For more details see their website and facebook page.

Ireland

Con Fusion, Cork’s LGBT Choir, performed at an IDAHOT church service, at the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. Read more.

Con Fusion, performing at an IDAHOT Church service. Cork, Ireland, May 18, 2014.

Dublin

At SIPTU’s great series of IDAHOT events at Liberty Hall, Breda Larkin performed an original live song for IDAHOT 2014. You can watch it here:

France

The LGBT choir, Pelicanto, from Strasbourg, France, joined the global chorus with this spectacular performance of “Uprising” by Muse, featured as part of their “Stras Wars” show. Dedicated to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014, you can watch the video here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-02nt7oCqy3NjFVc0k2RnF1eEE/edit?usp=sharing

For more information about Pelicanto, see their website.

Pelicanto, an LGBT choir from Strasbourg, joining the global ‘Uprising’ for equality on May 17, 2014.

Germany

The Classical Lesbians – a group of women who love women, and classical music! – held a concert ‘Steps to Various Voices Dublin’ on May 17 in the Begine, a women’s center in Berlin. The concert also commemorated the IDAHOT, with an announcement about everyday discrimination against LGBTI communities. They not only addressed the worsening of the situation for LGBTI in Uganda, Cameroon and Russia but also the situation in Germany where anti-LGBTI stigmatization and violence are still an everyday reality. More details to follow!

China

Beijing Queer Chorus / 北京酷儿合唱团 planned to hold a special IDAHOT 2014 performance in Sunrise Hall, Caoyu Theater in Tainjin, on May 17. With around 20 regular performing members, the chorus is the largest and the only public performing LGBT chorus in China. With a widely varying repertoire from classical music to folk, jazz and pop, the Chorus’s aim is to challenge preconceptions – both musical and social – in society, while providing a social network for its members and audience. More details to follow soon.

South Korea

The Rainbow Action, a coalition of sexual minority organisation in Korea, performed a flashmob with singing and dancing which took place in the Daehanmun area. You can see their video here:

Thailand

Okay, this one isn’t technically singing either, but we couldn’t not include it here! A high-energy dance & music #IDAHOT phenomenon from Bangkok’s, the Rainbow All Boy Cheerleaders!

Azerbaijan

As part of their ‘Sing for Equality’, local organisations played music that symbolises the interests of LGBT people, racial, ethnic, social groups, age, professions and other minorities in Azerbaijan to celebrate May 17. More details coming soon.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Organisations gathered for a major concert, as they launched their new media campaign on hate crimes, and held a discussion that served as the starting point for the Anti-Discrimination Strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina. More details coming soon!

Croatia

Le Zbor – a lesbian feminist choir based in Zagreb, not only joined the IDAHOT this year with a special singing performance, but also with a series of events – developed together with Zagreb Pride – focusing on LGBTI refugees & the legacy of fascism in Croatia. As they explained in the lead up to the Day:

This year we are giving a performance at the 70th anniversary of a major anti-fascist event in Croatia: the breakthrough of the fascist army lines that took place on the site called Petrova gora and during which 730 partisans and 12 000 civilians, mostly women and children, were finally liberated from atrocities committed by fascist forces in this area during WW2.

Le Zbor choir from Zagreb, Croatia. Source: Gay Games.

Argentina

Nationwide

For this May 17, Argentinian star Jordana Battaglia, recorded a song for the rights of LGBTI people as part of her commitment to live in a more just and equal world. Born in Buenos Aires, the Argentinian singer’s first television appearance was through the reality show “The Voice” Argentina, which made her well known in the country. You can check out her wonderful IDAHOT contribution here !

Jordana Battaglia, Argentinian singer-songwriter, singing for IDAHOT 2014.

Belize

Nationwide

IDAHOT Belize also joined the global chorus for May 17 this year with this moving original song, set to a montage of IDAHOT and equal rights posters from around the world.

Canada

Vancouver – May 17 Rainbow Refugee’s International Day Against Homophobia Dance, Music, and Storytelling Event! For more info see the facebook event page.

Australia

Melbourne

Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus, together with Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Youth Chorus, performed at Melbourne’s May 17, 2014 ‘Equal Love Rally‘. The rally was a huge success with many hundreds of participants! You can watch a great video-montage of the Rally here, set to the official theme tune song for this year’s Melbourne actions, “Equality“, by Rosco Elliot.

Melbourne Choirs join the IDAHOT 2014 Chorus!
Source: Facebook / Andy Bolger

Blue Mountains

Last, but by no means least, communities came together in Blue Mountains, Australia, for a Ukelele play-along of Somewhere Over the Rainbow! You can learn the notes here and read more here.

Around the world many initiatives took place to highlight how the fundamental right to freely discuss issues around sexual and gender rights, is systematically being violated by the great majority of states.

As a matter of fact, our calculations reveal that 70% of the people in the world are not allowed by law to discuss, or even receive objective information on, matters related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Global Call to leaders of the world

Developed in association between IFEX, Article 19 and the IDAHO Committee, and with the support of Amnesty International, the mobilisation included a Global Call to Leaders of the World which was signed by 170 organisations globally and supported by a “Thunderclap” action which reached 1,5 million people.

The call to mobilise on the issue of Freedom of Expression was also heard by the United Nations.

UN human rights experts, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media issued a joint statement which underlines how “Free expression and association is key to eliminating Homophobia and Transphobia”

Activists in dozens of countries spoke up and spoke out for LGBTI Free Expression on May 17

Around the world, many activists joined the call by organising conferences, debates, and seminars on LGBTI Freedom of Expression – from London, to Nairobi, to Rio de Janeiro. Countless demonstrations were organised with free expression at their core – including dance flashmobs, sing-ins, kiss-ins, body & face painting, street art, photography and arts festivals.

Even in the most hostile and contradictory contexts, many activists made the choice to take to the streets to defend LGBTI rights, and to highlight the erasure and silencing of communities in the public sphere. In 13 cities in Russia, activists took to the streets in the largest nationwide demonstration in favour of LGBTI rights since the federal government approved a law limited “homosexual propaganda” last summer – a case which has sparked international outrage.

In the Ukraine, activists decided to confront the distortion of their most basic demands for human rights (as propaganda, or as a tool for extending “Western influence”), in the context of significant political instability and repression. Against the odds, they organised a rainbowflash balloon release on May 18; a day later than planned, due to security concerns.

In Georgia, activists were similarly unable to take action on the 17th itself, due to security concerns and lack of protection guarantees from the Georgian state. After 4,000 supporters of the right-wing & fundamentalist Georgian Orthodox Church departed from Tbilisi city centre, activists painted rainbow street art around the city, and – on the 18th – left more than 100 shoes at the site of last year’s attacks; a way of marking their presence nevertheless, and speaking back to the silencing and repression of LGBTI communities in Georgia.

In some parts of Southern and East Africa, as well as in many parts of Latin America & the Caribeean, whole street festivals and weeks of events were held around the Day, with many actions focusing on LGBTI Freedom of Expression, or accomplishing it – at least for fleeting, but highly symbolic moments.

Although in some parts of East and South-East Asia – as in China – activists faced significant repression in the lead up to the Day (including, in China, arrests of several activists for even planning a May 17 event), many communities were able to join the commemorations. Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines saw particularly large scale mobilisations this year – many of them connecting with the global focus on LGBTI Free Expression.

We will be updating this page in the coming days, as we gain a clearer picture of the scope and nature of the, some 1,000+, actions which took place around the IDAHOT 2014.      

Further reading:

• IDAHO Committee – Full background info & campaigning kit on the IDAHOT 2014 Global Focus Issue: Freedom of Expression. Download here (pdf, 2mb).
• Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights: “Anti-propaganda laws”, the new criminalisation of homosexuality
• Article 19: Traditional values? Attempts to censor sexuality: Homosexual propaganda bans, freedom of expression and equality.
• Human Rights Watch: The Trouble With Tradition
• PEN International: Resolution – The Russian Federation (79th World Congress in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sept 9-12, 2013)
• Index on Censorship/Mathew Brown: Shut the Duck Up
• American Civil Liberties Union: Banned Books Week 2013 – Books about LGBT Families Remain Targets of Censorship

Called a “Protest on Behalf of the Invisible & Against Invisibility”, the act symbolises both the silence and the resilience of LGBTI and human rights defenders who were unable to demonstrate this year on May 17 itself. Some activists also painted rainbows around the city in the early hours of May 18, 2014.

Last year, on May 17, 2013, the Square was the set of brutal scenes of violence, as some 40,000 people, mobilised by the leaders of the Georgian Orthodox Church, descended on and many attacked a group of less than a hundred LGBTI and human rights activists who had assembled for a peaceful and silent demonstration to mark the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013. Shocking scenes showed priests leading the attacks. Amnesty International received reports of an attempted lynching among the crowds. Millions of people heard about these events as international media quickly responded with hundreds of major press and television reports.

IDAHOT 2013: Priests leading the attacks against LGBTI activists in Tbilisi, Georgia.

On May 17 this year, LGBTI activists decided to cancel even private events for the Day. On May 12, leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church had urged thousands to take to the streets on May 17, in a show of “Strength of Family and Respect for Parents”. 4,000 participated in this “counter” protest, which passed without LGBTI communities being attacked – as they stayed clear of the event. That said, reports did surface of demonstrators attacking one another, after appearing to mistake each other for being gay. Members of a TV crew were also attacked on the Day, reports Identoba and Tabula TV Crew.

In the lead up to May 17, 2014, Georgian activists reported that LGBTI communities had become targets of threats and intimidation, including by the Georgian police. They also advised that, despite petitions by LGBTI activists, authorities offered no guarantees as to the safety of those who wished to publicly assemble and express themselves in favour of LGBTI rights on May 17.

IDAHO 2012: A demonstrator being dragged away by Georgian police.

Moreover, local activists from Identoba group report (May 17, 2014) that pro-Russian groups had been organising to stage a “fake gay pride” this May 17, using certain front groups, with the intention of justifying and sparking confrontation on the Day. As they point out, this has also been the case in recent months in Kiev, Ukraine, as well as in certain other countries.

Sunday’s In/Visible IDAHOT Protest

Organisers’ statement follows:

“This is an installation for the invisible, those who are unseen, those who are not heard, whose existence is not recognised. This is installation is for us, those who view but don’t see and listen to each other.

This is for those who can’t leave homes and those who have no home to go to.

This is for those who were chased after, persecuted and removed, by:

The military,

The banks,

Their own families,

Those whose work remains unappreciated,

Those on hunger strike demanding to be heard,

Those for whom there’s not enough public space allocated,

Those we couldn’t protect from attacks,

The victims of crimes and blackmail that we never investigated,

Those that have to prey in silence,

Those who must hide their names.

Today, these empty shoes stand instead of those humans, who dared, 1 year ago, to stand up against the invisibility of one social group, LGBTQ community, those who tried to unmask how merciless we are, those to attempted to discuss our common challenges. Those who wish to be here to express their woes and joys, but neither the state, nor the society respect their voice and their existence.

This is a protest for the invisible and against invisibility. Despite that fact that we couldn’t yet manage to recognise and appreciate each other, we still exist, with our desires to speak, with your everydayness. Turning blind eye and covering up ears won’t erase our existence, won’t smooth over our wounds, won’t take away our ability to feel empathy and love.

Passersby are free to take a shoe of their choice after 6PM, May 18th.

Freedom Square metro station, Tbilisi, May 18, 2014. Source: © Onnik Krikorian Photography

For more info:

• Identoba: Statement before May 17, 2014
• Meghan Johnson: Recap of May 17, 2014 in Georgia

The White House statement now follows in full:

WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2014

Statement by the President on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Tomorrow, as we commemorate the 10th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we recommit ourselves to the fundamental belief that all people should be treated equally, that they should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, and that no one should face violence or discrimination — no matter who they are or whom they love.

This year, the United States celebrates the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. In doing so, we reflect on lessons learned from our own civil rights struggles and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the human rights of all people are universally protected.

At a time when, tragically, we are seeing increased efforts to criminalize or oppress LGBT persons, we call on partners everywhere to join us in defending the equal rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters, and in ensuring they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Most political parties and their youth organizations and associations will participate. There will be info tables, and perhaps the city’s residents will get surprised by an occasional flashmob.
On the Town Hall, they will be flying the rainbow flag.

The motto of the vent is:
Together we make a difference!
For everyone’s freedom to choose , freedom to be and freedom to enjoy!

More about the program you can go to the RFSU Halland website or check out the Facebook page.

The viral social media campaign for IDAHOT includes “To Carry You,” the work of San Francisco artist Marconi Calindas. Mr. Calindas utilizes vibrant images and colours to depict diversity and promote visions kindness, equality and peace.

Along with raising awareness to the urgent needs of LGBTI refugees worldwide, ORAM’s IDAHOT campaign promotes a campaign urging the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and governments to open their protection systems to these highly vulnerable migrants. The actions urged include tracking and releasing statistics regarding SOGI based asylum requests; resettling LGBTI refugees; and acquiring needed expertise through trainings. You can find the campaign here and you can support it by sharing their message through the twitter, Facebook, or tumblr links found on the page.

This is an urgent call for the agencies charged with protecting refugees to translate words and documents into action,” said ORAM founder and executive director Neil Grungras. When implemented, the steps we have outlined will go a long way to assure that the few who manage to escape this global epidemic of hatred we reach safety.”

ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration is the leading global advocate for people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
To find out more about the organisation and their work please visit their website.

The picnic is being coordinated around the country from midday until 2pm. Everyone is invited to bring a rug and some food, and have a great time with some great people!
The locations are listed below!

Dunedin → Botanical Gardens
Wellington → (will be held a week later, on the 25th of May)
Rotorua → City Focus
Hamilton → Hamilton Gardens
Auckland → Albert Park

If you like to know more about the event, please check their Facebook page.

GEM will organize a culture night at an alternative art space with artists from different nationalities, sexual orientations and gender identities. The organizers will present their new video blog about LGBTQ rights in Kosovo.
The goal is to bring the community together and create a platform to share experiences, stories and contacts. And of course to also have fun!
The organizers do not have any financial resources for the events in May. Please contact to organisers if you would like to support this fantastic all voluntary work!
More about the organisation can you find here.