In Germany, organisations have elected “Rainbow Flashmobs” as their annual preferred action format.

This year again, rainbow colored balloon with solidarity messages will be flying over many city skylines.

In  Berlin, the anti-homophobia project MANEO marched on Sunday 13 to mark IDAHOTB

Report and pics of the march, in German, HERE

In Frankfurt, an alliance of 80 LGBTQI+ organisations is preparing an afternoon of joyful celebrations.

Organisers announce “We have info-tents, also for children, about politics, discrimination worldwide, our LGBTIQ*-groups in Frankfurt, education and much more and stage programm. About 4pm we have an wreath-laying ceremony with politics at Frankfurter Engel, a memorial for killed homosexuals.”

Details HERE

Berlin

Queering AlexanderPlatz event

Augsburg

IDAHIT*2018 Augsburg

CSD Augburg and queer aktivists organize IDAHIT*2018 on 17th of May 2018 15.00-17.00 o’clock at Elias-Holl-Platz (behind the town-hall).
Everybody is wellcome to show our rainbow-colours against discrimination of LGBTT*IQ-people here and word wide, because tolerance and aceptance do not come by themselves!

Across many cities the Rainbow-Flashmobs once again drew big crowds to launch rainbow colored balloons in sign of hope and solidarity to neighboring countries, where similar events were also planned, but kept confidential for security reasons, like in Russia or Ukraine.

While many large events took place, as in the video above from Stuttgart, smaller gatherings were also held in Trier, Koln, Nordhein-Westfallen, Kaiserslautern and a number of other locations.

In Jena, local activists for IDAHOT Jena hosted a series of eclectic activities for IDAHOT 2016. From May 12 – 23 the festival of events  included film screenings, club nights, performances, talks and workshops all with the aim of promoting equality and solidarity while creating an important outlet for the LGBTI community.

In Kaiserlautern, activists planned an afternoon of events that hoped to raise awareness for the LGBT community and their problems in Germany. The event featured public talks, a mass ‘kiss-in’ and of course, luftballons!

In Berlin, a march drew crowds to the streets

In Mainz the focus this year was on love, with a public kiss-in held to mark the day.

In Hanover orgnisations held a demonstration with talks around the theme of equality for the IDAHOT Rainbow Flash. In Rheinland-Pfalz a number of small independent events were held on the morning of IDAHOT, organized by local campaign groups and Rheinland-Pflaz authorities in towns across the region.

Hamburg Flashmob:

Rainbow Flashmob and Commemoration of homosexual NS-victims in Hamburg
The LSVD Hamburg did organise a rainbow flashmob where they release over 1000 balloons with personal messages from around 700 participants. They have also organised a religious ceremony to commemorate the victims of NS prosecution of Homosexuals and reviewed ten years of the initiative ‘Gemeinsam gegen das Vergessen – Stolpersteine für homosexuelle NS-Opfer’. The activities received broad support from 70 organisations. The organisers also highlighted this year’s global theme LGBTQI Youth and Lisa Petschke from the YouthLesbianCenter reported about the difficulties she faced as a young Lesbian in Hamburg.

Find more information on their Facebook page.

‘Rainbowflashes’ in Saxonia
In the tradition of releasing colourful balloons, the LSVD Sachsen (regional representation of the Lesbian Gay Association Germany in Saxonia) prepared for a number of ‘Rainbowflashes’ in various cities in the province.
The LSVD Sachsen has been organising these events for IDAHOT since 2010. An important part of the actions is to raise awareness of the situation for homosexual people in those parts of the world where homosexuality is still criminalised and to show their solidarity.
The messages that were attached to the balloons speak up against hate, violence, exclusion and discrimination.

Places for ‘Rainbowflashes’ were

• Chemnitz, Roter Turm
• Dresden, Goldener Reiter on the Neustädter Markt
• Leipzig, Augustusplatz
• Plauen, Theater Platz
• Pirna, Marktplatz
• Schneeberg, in the cultural centre “Goldene Sonne”
• Torgau: Marktplatz
• Görlitz

Find more details and updates on the event page.

Balloons in Cologne
In a joint effort with members of the Aidshilfe Köln, anyway, Heart of Cologne, Homoklüngel e.V., LSVD OV Köln and Landesverband, Rheinfetisch e.V., Rubicon and TX Köln, KLuST/ColognePride hosted the RainbowFlashmob again this year in the city of Cologne.
On the Roncalliplatz in front of the Cologne Cathedral an estimate of 1.500 balloons equipped with personal messages against Homophobia and Transphobia were released into the sky. The messages called for diversity and tolerance.

Find out more on their Facebook page.

More actions organised by LSVD and affiliates…
„Mit Vielfalt gegen Homophobie und Transphobie“ (With Diversity against Homophobia and Transphobia) is the name of a manifestation and participatory action that the LSVD Berlin-Brandenburg prepared in Berlin. The event took place on May 17 at the Metro Station Wittenbergplatz, exit KaDeWe. Local Football clubs joined the celebrations and spoke up for more diversity in sports. The event was followed by a photo action where everyone was invited to share their message for IDAHOT.

Find more details here.

Photo: Sebastian Funk

For IDAHOT 2015, the LSVD Sachsen-Anhalt commemorated the 80th anniversary of Magnus Hirschfeld’s death on May 16. Part of the event was a celebration and naming ceremony of a street in Magdeburg in honour of Magnus Hirschfeld. Find more details here.

Stuttgart saw a day of activities on May 17 in the city centre with info booths and the traditional rainbow flashmobs with around 350 people releasing balloons. The city’s Equality Commissioner Ms. Ursula Matschke and other local politicians took part in the celebrations. Details here.

And in Schwerin, the LSVD-LV Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Gaymeinsam e.V. held their Rainbow flashmob action at the Pfaffenteich. Find more details here.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! OPEN YOUR MOUTH
The private initiative ENOUGH is ENOUGH! OPEN YOUR MOUTH! celebrated the 11th IDAHOT with activists and guests this year at the Brandenburg Gate. In cooperation with the Project 100% Mensch, 77 (LOVE IS LOVE) celebrated its premiere as Pride song 2015. There was a variety of musical and art performances throughout the day. The event at the Brandenburg Gate (Pariser Plaza) was hosted by Holger Edmaier and Anne Heger. The campaign used the hashtag #WirAlleGemeinsam (All of us unified), which allowed everyone to send an individual message. STOP HOMOPHOBIA. STOP TRANSPHOBIA.

Despite the bad weather, the event was well received and had a great turnout with over 1.000 guests. International guest were also invited to share their stories and to enable networking on a global level.

At 17th of may, the International day against homophobia and transphobia, the LGBT activists Stosh Mugisha from Uganda, Alfonso Pantinsano from Germany and Kirill Kalugin from Russia met at the demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Stosh had to leave Uganda after a newspaper had published his name in a list of the „Top 100 homosexuals“ and caused a real manhunt.

Kirill Kalugin, a student from St. Petersburg, raises attention again and again with courageous LGBT-activities and thereby bcomes victim of brutal homophobic violence and repression by the state in russia.

More details and images here.

Find out more about the project here.

IDAHIT* in Leipzig
After a successful demonstration on May 17 last year, the organisers, a group of the student representatives of the University of Leipzig, decided to have a demonstration again this year which was rounded up by a concert with Electro-Pop band POP:SCH.

The organisers decided to name the event IDAHIT* to be inclusive of intersex people and to highlight the issues of Interphobia that are often forgotten within the queer community and society in general. Around 350 people participated in the demonstration that went through the city and was accompanied with electric music and queer-feminist rap. Additionally, the organisers and participants commemorated Ferinaz Khosrewani who died in Irani-Kurdistan and showed their solidarity with the resistance against the patriarchal islamic regime in the region.

Find more details on their Facebook page.

IDAHOT* Jena
For the seventh time, the IDAHOT* Jena team was working very hard to set up a multi-week program with street-fairs (on May 17), cinema, talks, lectures, workshops and more.

• May 12: workshop ‘Online provocations’
• May 12: discussion ‘Football for diversity – Possibilities of the ‘Berliner Erklärung’
• May 13: film screening “Call Me Kuchu” + short movies
• May 14: discussion round  “IDAHOT* vs. IDAHIT*”
• May 17: City festival with info booths, actions and music. Rainbow Flashmob with colourful balloons
• May 17: Signing on Berliner Erklärung
• May 18: dancing courses
• May 19: social gathering ‘Coming Out’
• May 20: presentation and discussion ‘Femme as a queer identity’
• May 21: discussion on Queer Lives in Thuringia
• May 23: Concert and Party (Kassablanca)
• May 27: in Jena Presentation about religious discrimination at the work place (https://www.facebook.com/events/592985894174540/)
  and in Weimar discussion round on „masculinism, Antifeminism, right wing populism“
• May 28: Public reading ‘Gender Roles and other (children) stories’

Find out more on their Facebook page or website.

Kiss-In in Paderborn
On May 17, at 17:05 (5:05pm)a Kiss-in flash took place in front of the town hall Paderborn.
Read more about the event on the Facebook page.

IDAHOTI* in Heidelberg
The IDAHOTI* Heidelberg was organised by the Queer Student Representatives (Queerreferat Heidelberg) of the University of Heidelberg. They have come up with a number of events:

May 7: 7.30pm
Presentation “LSBTTIQ* in Russia”
City Library
organised by Quarteera e.V. and CSD Rhein Neckar e.V.

May 13: 7:00pm
Queerfeminist Movie Night in solidarity to the Lady*fest Heidelberg
breidenbach studios, Hebelstraße 18
organised by Queerreferat Heidelberg und Lady*fest Heidelberg. Find out more here

May 16: 6pm
Presentation “LSBTTIQ* in Africa”
Landfriedhaus, Landfriedkomplex

May 17: 11am
Movie premiere “Positive Gefühle”
Karlstor station, Grand Hall. Find out more here.
2pm
Info booths at Anatomiegarten
Hauptstraße 47-51, HD (in front of Psychology Institute). Find out more here.
4.45pm
“Rainbow-Flash” Balloon Action
Anatomiegarten

May 19: 7pm
“Mr. Angel” – Movie screening with discussion round
breidenbach studios, Hebelstrasse 18
organised by schwarzweiss e.V and Initiative in Heidelberg “Identität & Geschlechtlichkeit”

Rainbow Flashmob with Angels in Frankfurt/Main
The ‘Frankfurter Engel Freundeskreis’ (Frankfurt Angels), a group who has organised previous IDAHOT, hosted this year’s IDAHOT celebration at the Klaus-Mann-Platz in Frankfurt on May 17th.
Guest speakers
– Jeffrey Hill, US Consulate General in Frankfurt
– Arthur Ahmetgaliev and his partner Sasha, political refugee from St.Petersburg/Russland
– Helmut Richard Brox, activists for homeless people and partner of Günter Wallraff
– Rayan Benyahoun, gay moroccan student in Frankfurt
– Enis Gülegen, member of communal representation ‘Ausländervertretung’ KAV in Frankfurt
– Harald Rein, founder of the Frankfurt center for the unemployed
– Walter Jauernich, actor and speaker at theatre Die Schmiere
The variety of backgrounds and focus areas showed the importance of standing together in solidarity and share experiences.
After the speeches the balloons with the messages were released.

Social Democrats raised the Rainbow flag
On Wednesday, May 13, the Schwusos, the Gay Social Democrats, together with SPD Secretary General Klara Geywitz raised the Rainbow flag on the SPD Brandenburg building, Regine-Hildebrandt-Haus, Alleestraße 9, Potsdam. The flag was flying till May 17. See more here.

In Germany, in at least 24 cities actions and events took place in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014. The focuses of these actions included equal rights for same-sex couples, for marriage and adoption in Germany, anti-LGBT laws around the world, violence against LGBTI communities, equal rights and inclusion of trans and intersex communities.

Rainbowflash events in 15 cities

The provincial affiliates of the LSVD, the Lesben- und Schwulenverband Deutschland (Lesbian and Gay Association Germany) organised Rainbow Flashmob events in 15 cities (Stuttgart, Hamburg, Rostock, Schwerin, Stralsund, Hannover, Osnabrück, Cologne, Chemnitz, Dresden, Leipzig, Pirna, Plauen, Torgau and Magdeburg). Rainbow coloured balloons were released into the skies by local communities with messages of hope and solidarity tied onto them.

Rainbow Flash Hamburg. Source: LSVD Hamburg

In a press release by the headquarters of the LSVD, they highlighted the extent of homophobia and transphobia in Germany, and pointed out the problem that 50,000 gay men who had been prosecuted under §175 (the law criminalizing same-sex activities between men and which was abandoned in 1994), are still awaiting rehabilitation and compensation.

For 6 years now the LSVD Hamburg has organised the RainbowFlash events in Hamburg and has coordinated the rainbow flashmobs nationwide. The founder of the event Wanja Kilber received the Pride Award from the Hamburg Pride in 2012. Also in 2012 the LSVD Hamburg, on behalf of all the organisers, was awarded for the RainbowFlash by the Bündnis für Demokratie und Toleranz gegen Extremismus und Gewalt (Network for Democracy and Tolerance against Extremism and Violence). New Updates and recent news can be found on the LSVD Hamburg’s Facebook page.

Aside from the LSVD, many other organisations and groups also organised activities on and around May 17 in Germany.

Thousands march in Berlin for LGBTI rights worldwide

At the same time in Berlin, at around noon, thousands of people joint the demonstration, organised by the initiative Enough is Enough! Open Your Mouth!. The theme of the demonstration was ‘When did you decide to be hetero?’ which was chosen to highlight that sexual orientation is not a choice. The organisers highlighted the discrimination of LGBTI people in Germany, for example that same-sex couples are still not allowed to adopt a child together, and also raised the issue of homophobia and transphobia worldwide.

Thousands Protest for LGBTI Rights on IDAHOT 2014 in Berlin. Source: Enough is Enough!

Berlin – A ‘Thousand Hand for the Rainbow’

In Berlin, the mayor of Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Angelika Schöttler (SPD), and the LSVD Berlin-Brandenburg invited people to join in the action a ‘Thousand Hands for the Rainbow’ that took place at the Memorial for the Homosexual Victims of National Socialism which was damaged in February 2014. After the manifestation there was a painting action and a picnic in the park Friedrichshain. The event was a joined effort by various local organisations.

Awareness raising in Ulm

In Ulm, a cooperation of 5 different groups (Aids-Hilfe, CSD Ulm/Neu-Ulm, Frauentreff Ulm, Rosige Zeiten and the Freundeskreis transidente Menschen) hosted a rainbow flashmob in the city centre where 600 balloons were released. Before they released the balloons there were info booths to raise awareness and inform the population about the day and the situation of LGBTI people in Germany and worldwide.

Source: IDAHOT* Jena

Street festival and more in Jena

In Jena, the IDAHOT* Jena group had prepared a two-week festival, which included presentations, concerts, workshops and a
street festival in the city centre on May 17. The street festival included a music program, info booths and the releasing of balloons with messages. IDAHOT* Jena is a cooperation of different associations, groups and individuals. The festival has been organised for the sixth time now, and received the Thuringian Democracy Award.

Source: IDAHOT Mainz

Activists ‘Kiss the Pride’ in Mainz

As in previous years, the campaign ‘KISS THE PRIDE‘ in Mainz included a march, a massive Kiss-In and rainbow flashmob with balloons in the city center. The event called out for diversity and acceptance and was afterwards celebrated with the Queerbeet-Party.

Prior to May 17, the organisers started a online campaign and street action where people could send in selfies with colourful lips and some of the photos were presented at the May 17 event in a rainbow kiss photo mosaic.

This campaign and event were organised in a joint effort by QueerNet Rheinland-Pfalz e.V., an initiative which works towards a better visibility and awareness of queer interests in the region and beyond, as well as with the support of Amnesty International. QueerNet’s aim is to network different groups and organisations to work together on political and cultural project and to promote LGBTI rights and equality.

Hand holding march in Kaiserslautern

Queernet Rheinland-Pfalz also organised rainbow actions in Kaiserslautern, including a demonstration, in Koblenz and Trier where they also had a march holding hands. Actions include Rainbow balloons, demonstrations and Kiss-Ins. The organisers also highlighted the importance of the upcoming elections for LGBTI people in the European region.

The groups Knutschfleck, Queerreferat Aachener Hochschulen (queer representatives), Rainbow, Rainbow Sports Aachen, SchLAu Aachen, Gleichstellungsprojekt im Asta (Project for Equality in student representation) and Aidshilfe Aachen (HIV/AIDS support Aachen) joined efforts this year to organise an IDAHOT demonstration in Aachen on May 17. After the demonstration, all the participants gathered and released balloons.

Students organise in Leipzig

In Leipzig, the Student Representation for Equality at the University of Leipzig together in cooperation with other organisations organised the IDAHIT* demonstration in Leipzig. For the second time the demonstration took place under this name which intends to highlight the importance of including Intersex communities.

Info booths & film screening in Heidelberg

The Queerreferat (Queer Student Representatives) of the University of Heidelberg had info booths on May 16 to inform the public about the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia and the situation of LGBTI people in general. On May 17, they held a film screening of the movies ‘Milk’ and ‘Transamerica’.

Demonstration in Cologne

Unfortunately, the demonstration in Cologne, organised by the Freie Vereinigung gegen Homophobie, had to be cancelled.

Photo: RainbowFlash on IDAHOT 2013

The Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) has organised Rainbow Flashes
Like the years before, there will be thousands of people in different German cities releasing colourful balloons with notes attached as a symbol for solidarity with LGBTI people all around the world and to raise awareness of the obstacles they face. RainbowFlashes will also take place in other countries. In the venues there will be other activities surrounding the RainbowFlashes.

The coordination of the RainbowFlashes is organised by the LSVD in Hamburg. So far, confirmed places for the events are in
Hamburg (Hansaplatz)
Dresden (Goldener Reiter)
Leipzig (Augustusplatz)
Chemnitz (Roter Turm)
Plauen (Theaterplatz)
Pirna (Marktplatz)

For 6 years now the LSVD Hamburg is organising the RainbowFlash in Hamburg. The founder of the event Wanja Kilber received the Pride Award from the Hamburg Pride in 2012. Also in 2012 the LSVD Hamburg, on behalf of all the organisers, was awarded for the RainbowFlash by the Bündnis für Demokratie und Toleranz gegen Extremismus und Gewalt (Network for Democracy and Tolerance against Extremism and Violence). New Updates and recent news can be found on the LSVD Hamburg’s Facebook page.
For this year the LSVD Hamburg was able to win, amongst others, Knut Fleckenstein, a Social Democratic representative at the European Parliament, to hold a speech at the event. The organisers invite everyone to join on May 17, 7pm at the Hansaplatz in St. Georg, to make a strong statement against Homophobia and Transphobia and to enjoy themselves afterwards at the party.

IDAHOT* Jena
As part of the two-week long IDAHOT* Festival in Jena, there will be a street festival on May 17. Many information boots and activities for young and old will be taking place at Holzmarkt starting from 2pm.

There will also be a live-music program with “Bender & Schillinger” from Mainz at 4.30 pm and Cucun at 6.30 pm.
As part of the global action, the activists together will their visitors Jena will also release colourful balloon with messages into the sky.

The IDAHOT* Festival will still be going on after May 17. For further detail, please visit their website.

Joint efforts for IDAHOT in Aachen
Knutschfleck, Queerreferat Aachener Hochschulen (queer representatives), Rainbow, Rainbow Sports Aachen, SchLAu Aachen, Gleichstellungsprojekt im Asta (Project for Equality in student representation) and Aidshilfe Aachen (HIV/AIDS support AAchen) have joined efforts to organise a IDAHOT demonstration in Aachen on May 17. The meeting point will be at Kugelbrunnen in Aachen. The demonstration starts at 13:45pm and at the end the partcipants will release colourful balloons into the sky (around 15:00pm).
For more details on the event and updates please go to their Facebook page.

IDAHIT* Demonstration in Leipzig highlights Intersex

Like the years before, there will a demonstration through Leipzig in May 17 to protest against Anti-LGBTI violence and to stand up for sexual and gender diversity.
The organisers, Student Representative at the University Leipzig are also highlighting the importance of the inclusion of intersex people and have therefore extended the name of the day to IDAHIT*.
The demonstration will start at 3:00pm Körnerplatz.

ENOUGH is ENOUGH – OPEN YOUR MOUTH
In Berlin, Enough Is Enough has organised a major demonstration on May 17 which will start at 11am at the Wittenbergplatz.
For more updates and details please go the their page.

Many Rainbow activities by Queernet Rheinland-Pfalz
QUeernet Rheinland-Pfalz has organised rainbow actions in various cities in the province of Rheinland-Pfalz. Actions include Rainbow balloons, demonstrations and Kiss-Ins:
Here are the details:
Kaiserslautern
14:00 Uhr: Deutsche Bank (next to Stiftsplatz) Demonstration through the city
15:00 Uhr: Rainbow Flash at the Deutschen Bank
Koblenz
10:00 Uhr: Zentralplatz (Central Plaza)
16:00 Uhr: Zentralplatz Rainbow Flash
Mainz
14:00 Uhr: Bar jeder Sicht: preparations of the rainbow balloons
16:15 Uhr: March from Bar jeder Sicht to the Domplatz
17:00 Uhr: Domplatz: Kiss-In and manifestation
20:00 Uhr: KuZ Kiss the Pride- & Queerbeet-Party
Trier
14:00Uhr: Main Station Trier
15:00 Uhr: Kornmarkt: holding hands and march to Porta Nigra
16:00 Uhr: Porta Nigra: Rainbow Flash

Please go the the page to check on more details and updates.

Andersr(a)um Hannover has organised Rainbow Flash and queer_bar
The Rainbowflash on IDAHOT will take place at the Opernplatz, Hannover. Start is at 7pm and there will be speeches until 7:30pm when the balloons will be released. Afterwards there is a queer_bar at the andersr(a)um, Asternstr. 2, 30167 Hannover-Nordstadt. The event is organised by the andersr(a)um Hannover in cooperation with the LSVD Niedersachsen. Find out more on their website or Facebook page.

Rainbow Flash and Demonstration against Discrimination of LGBTI in Cologne
On May 17, the Freie Vereinigung gegen Homophobia has organised a demonstration in Cologne to stand up against Homophobia and Transphobia and to fight for education about LGBTI. Before the demonstration which will start at 15:00pm at the Wallrafplatz, there is also going to be a Rainbow Flash on the Roncalliplatz at 2pm.
For more details please visit the Facebook event.

As last year, there will be a march towards the Mainz cathedral square, where they will have a Kiss-In at 5 pm, including a balloon release and hoisting of the large rainbow kiss photo mosaics.

This campaign and event is organised in a joint effort by QueerNet Rheinland-Pfalz e.V., an initiative which works towards a better visibility and awareness of queer interests in the region and beyond, and Amnesty International. QueerNet’s aim is to network different groups and organisations to work together on political and cultural project and promote LGBTI rights and equality.

For more information about the campaign, visit their website  or Facebook page.

Here is a small taste of the event:

Moreover, you would be joining actions planned already in over 20 towns and cities, in 8 different countries: Austria, Australia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, and South Africa !

If you are organising something for May 17 anyway, it might also be a nice way to get more connected to what’s going on around the world on the Day as well.

The “rainbowflash” project was originally started by a small group of LGBT activists in Germany in 2008, who decided to get people together in a public place to release balloons in the colours of the pride flag. They also attached personal messages to the strings of the balloons – as a way of reaching out to others. The idea quickly multiplied across different cities in Germany and was taken up as well by LGBT activists in Russia in particular as well.

Since then the project has grown and, in 2012/2013, the organisers of the rainbowflash project called on the IDAHO Committee team to lend a special support to the idea – in the hope that it might inspire connected yet unique local actions around the world on May 17, 2013. Which it has! Activists in 35 countries have now joined the call to participate in the Global Rainbow Flashmob for IDAHOT 2013.

And not just in the form of balloon releases, but rainbow dance flashmobs, rainbow street theatre, face painting, chalk festivals, musical flashmobs, and many more really creative forms of protest – all of this will come together to give a common vibrancy and buzz to May 17 actions this year.

But balloon releases still do have a strong presence on the list of global events this year as well. And people in different contexts are re-working the format in their own way.

Activists in South Africa, from the group Iranti-Org advised that they would accompany their rainbow balloon release with the message, when they all fly up into the air, ’you can never kill us all’. Whilst activists in Kenya are inviting participants to “write your name, name of a Rainbow friend you would like to remember, perhaps a lost love etc…. on the balloon. If you are still not out, you could perhaps make it your own way of coming out by writing your own name and releasing it to the world.”

To see the full list of events and to participate in an existing rainbowflash balloon release, log ontowww.rainbowflash.org and click on the relevant country on the map.

We should add that the organisers of these events have thought carefully about potential environmental and health and safety issues – for more information about how to make your event safe & green log ontowww.rainbowflash.org/ideas-f… and click on the relevant page.

For further information and queries you can also email contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org.

Bielefeld

Rainbowflash balloon release – see the video here!

Cologne

Rainbowflash balloon release – see the video here!

Chemnitz

Various actions – see the videos here:

Halle (Saale)

On Friday 17 May participants gathered 16:00 – 18:00 in the town marketplace for a series of events to mark the Day. At 16.00, presentation of exhibitions on homophobia and gender role stereotypes, setting up a “discrimination-free zone” and filling the balloons for the Rainbow Flash with pinned messages against homo-and transphobia. → exactly 17.05 clock: Rainbow Flash on the steps of the Court Council (upgrade of balloons). → then: Kiss-In before and on the steps of the court council (as many couples regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity kiss a few minutes). Actions were supported by BBZ “way of life”, AIDS Help Halle/Saxony-Anhalt South, Dorn Rosa, Lambda Youth Network Saxony-Anhalt working group and que(e)r_einsteigen the University of Halle.

Hamburg

Various actions =- see the videos here:

http://true-type.livejournal.com/381287.html
http://true-type.livejournal.com/435001.html

Mainz

Activists in Mainz held a a Kiss-in flashmob on the local market square in front of Mainz Cathedral, including a balloon release. They also ran a photo project around IDAHO under the slogan “Kiss the Pride” – where they gave people rainbow coloured lisptick, to make kisses into the camera! You can see the video for the Mainz actions here:

http://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/region/mainz/meldungen/13097277_video_2391248025001.htm

For more details see the facebook group www.facebook.com/KISSTHEPRIDE2013

Pirna

Events were also held in Aachen, Berlin, Hannover and Lübeck. More details to come soon.

The German city of Bielefeld yesterday held the second Rainbow Flashmob, releasing rainbow-colored balloons into the air. The balloons carried short messages, condemning homo/bi/transphobia and violence, with a musical support of the LesBenitas drums.

The event was supported by the AIDS Help and the Bielefeld network of Gay and Lesbian Groups.

For more information, please visit http://www.weird-bielefeld.de/index-Dateien/rainbowflash2013.htm