Amongst the main findings are that:

– 17% of all annual discussions on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia are generated around the IDAHOT.

– Online activity around the IDAHOT takes place in 183 countries.

– Over 2,000 tweets and hour are generated during May 17.

– At least 130,000 unique items were published on social media on May 17.

Read more in the IDAHOT social media impact 2014 report

2014 was a landmark year for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Malta. The major event of the year was of course the 2nd annual International IDAHO Forum being held in the country, on May 13-14, featuring the participation of the Maltese Prime Minister, high level ministers from various countries, and LGBTI rights advocates and civil society organisations from across Europe. The University of Malta also organised a significant particpatory photo campaign.

IDAHO Forum co-hosted by Maltese and Swedish governments in Valletta, Malta

This 2nd annual IDAHO Forum was held under the theme: ‘Responses to Homophobia & Transphobia at the National, European & International Levels’.

Various high level ministers and national level politicians participated in the conference, which also featured the participation of the Prime Minister of Malta. Many civil society organisations from the international LGBTI rights field were also represented at the conference, including ILGA-Europe, TGEU (Transgender Europe), ORAM International and the IDAHO Committee. Key international institutions and agencies were also be represented, including UNESCO, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, the Council of Europe, the Intergroup on LGBT Rights of the European Parliament, and the European Commission.

Helena Dalli (Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs & Civil Liberties, Malta) and Erik Ullenhag (Minister for Integration, Sweden) speaking at the 2014 IDAHO Forum in Valletta, Malta.

Key outcomes included the signing of an IDAHO declaration of intent – a 12-point plan and commitment to defend LGBTI rights, which can be read in full here (pdf download).

A full list of the ministerial signatories to the IDAHO Declaration – representing 17 states – can be found here.

We are committed to the principle of the universality of human rights and reaffirm that cultural, traditional or religious values cannot be invoked
to justify any form of discrimination, including discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. – IDAHO Declaration of Intent, 2014

Amongst other highlights, the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Joseph Moscat, gave a well-received speech to the floor, in which he urged other governments to “throw away your prejudices”:

This event is ultimately about the Europe that we aspire to live in. Having so many countries represented, especially at Ministerial level, augurs well for what we are trying to achieve. We need to stamp out homophobia and transphobia once and for all. Such a goal cannot be achieved easily. We must work together.

I’ve heard people say that lesbians, gays and transgender people shouldn’t be given special rights. I have to agree with them. They don’t deserve special rights. They deserve the same rights as anybody else. Nobody should be turned away from a job because of their sexuality. Nobody should face intimidation or violence because of who they are. And no government should turn a blind eye to prejudice in society.

We are building a better Malta. I am certain of that.

And to other countries I say: throw away your prejudices. You’ll be surprised at how good it will make you feel.

A video of the Prime Minister’s welcoming speech can be viewed here:

The Prime Minister also commented on the publication of the latest Rainbow Index from ILGA Europe, which judges how countries are performing on LGBT rights questions:

“I’m pleased to say that the fastest climbers in the past year were Malta – up 22 per cent – and Montenegro – up 20 per cent. Progress can happen quickly if the will is there.”

For full information on the IDAHO Forum 2014 please see the dedicated website: www.idaho2014forum.org

University of Malta public photo campaign

In a Betapsi Malta & We Are initiative, students, MEP candidates, lecturers and international activists at the University of Malta had their photos taken, to take a collective stand against homophobia.

At least 57 people had their photos taken, and 52 posters were made. Below is just a snapshot – You can see larger versions of each here.

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

Events were confirmed in over 120 countries – Main global leaders released public statements

Today, 2.8 billion people worldwide live in one of the 81 countries that still criminalize same-sex acts.

4.9 billion people – 2/3 of the world’s population – have their right to information or expression around sexual and gender diversity systematically violated by their State.

The world’s largest LGBTI solidarity moment took place on Saturday, May 17 – the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014. Early reports suggest that actions took place in well over 120 countries, with hundreds of millions of people reached by online and offline information. Actions happened in several of the 81 countries where same-sex acts are punished by law.

Activists in various countries faced threats, intimidation, arrests and police targeting.

In Russia, where publicly defending LGBTI rights is harshly limited by law, activists organised balloon release “flashmobs” in 13 cities. In Murmansk, one activist was arrested on accusations of “homosexual propaganda”. In Khabarovsk and St. Petersburg participants were attacked but managed to hold the event. Svetlana Zakharova, of the LGBT Russian Network, said: “I’m proud that despite all of it there are people who are not afraid and who can still resist.”

In Georgia where 40,000 people marched last year on May 17 in a counter demonstration, all LGBT mobilisations were cancelled after the Russian Orthodox Church called for a show of “Strength of Family and Respect for Parents”.

In several other countries, events had to be cancelled under pressure from authorities or social conservative groups.

At the other end, various top global figures spoke up and spoke out in support for LGBTI rights worldwide, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who was joined by the heads of most major UN agencies. The UN office of the Commissioner for Human Rights released a special video campaign for the Day. The heads of UNHCR and UN Women both marked May 17 this year for the first time, signaling how much the issue of sexual and gender minorities has progressed at the UN and how much the Day acts as a catalyst for high level engagement.

In the USA, President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice-President Joe Biden all released statements on May 17 in support of equal rights.

The President of Costa Rica raised the rainbow flag outside the Presidential house on Friday, whilst the Prime Minister of Malta has affirmed for IDAHOT that there is “no such thing as a-la-carte equality”. Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted “Because we are making Mexico a country of equality, today we celebrate for the first time the National Day Against Homophobia”. UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, also released a statement in support of the IDAHOT 2014.

In several countries where LGBTI people face severe social stigma and public persecution, the embassies of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, Germany and France flew the rainbow flag.

The global focus issue of the mobilisations this year was on Freedom of Expressionand countless activists, artists, journalists, educators, musicians and writers created a massive buzz around this– in the streets, online, in classrooms, churches, and in dozens of countries.

Over 170 organisations in the fields of gender, sexual and human rights and freedom of expression signed a “Global Call to Leaders of the World to Protect LGBTI Free Expression” – a call that was blasted to 1.5 million people via a ‘Thunderclap’ campaign!

Many actions will continue on Sunday and in the coming days.

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

Ban Ki-moon observed that, “In all parts of the world today, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experience discrimination in every aspect of daily life… We have a long road ahead. It will not be easy. But we must ask ourselves: Do we want to live in a world where love is targeted or where it is celebrated; where people live in fear or in dignity?”

His message of support was also promoted via the United Nations official Twitter account (@UN), which read “Equality begins with you – Ban Ki-moon weighs in on #IDAHOT here”.

Over 2.6 million people were reached by this message, less than 48 hours before the #IDAHOT commemorations are set to start, in around 120 countries, in all world regions.

This comes just hours after the UN campaign Free & Equal launched a special #IDAHOT video “The Power of Sharing”, which you can watch here:

Today, 2.8 billion people worldwide live in one of the 81 countries, which still criminalize same-sex acts.

4.9 billion people – 2/3 of the world’s population – have their right to information or expression around sexual and gender diversity systematically censored by states.

While Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a special statement, the Free and Equal campaign lead by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay released a special video to mark the Day and an interesting map debunking the myths that sexual and gender diversities are contemporary Western concepts.

UNAIDS director Michel Sidibé, who has been marking the Day since very early days, also sent a strong message of support and created a powerful video

ILO’s Director General Guy Ryder strongly stood up against stigma of LGBT people in the workplace.

UNESCO held several activities, including events in Geneva and in Bangkok 

UNDP’s Administrator Helen Clark reminded of the organic connection between Development and Human Rights

Also noteworthy, UN Women’s Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka marked the Day for the first time with a message underlining “the oppression of LGBTI people is closely related to the discrimination that women face in their daily lives”

UNHCR also marked the Day for the first time, with a message from High Commissioner António Guterres to all staff, reminding of the “specific risks that LGBTI people face in many parts of the world”

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.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a statement late on Thursday, May 15, affirming his support for the global commemorations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, followed his statement, with her own IDAHOT op-ed, released Friday, May 16. UNDP, UNAIDS and other UN agencies have also released statements in support of the Day.

US President Barack Obama released a late statement on Friday night, affirming “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.”
US Secretary of State, John Kerry released a statement on Friday night, also affirming his support for the May 17 commemorations worldwide. And US Vice-President Joe Biden has also been tweeting his support for #IDAHOT.

Elsewhere, various heads of states have also already marked the Day. The President of Costa Rica raised the rainbow flag outside the Presidential house on Friday, whilst the Prime Minister of Malta has affirmed for IDAHOT, there is “no such thing as a la carte equality”. The embassies of the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and the United States will be flying the rainbow flag in various countries today.

Global Call to Protect LGBTI Free Expression

The global focus issue this year is on Freedom of Expression, and countless activists, artists, civil society organisations, journalists, companies, schools, local authorities, musicians and writers have already been creating a wave of online & offline buzz around this focus.

#IDAHOT related messages have been flooding in on social media, with initial reports suggesting that over 100 million people may have already been reached by messages about May 17.

Over 170 organisations in the fields of gender, sexual and human rights and freedom of expression have signed a “Global Call to Leaders of the World to Protect LGBTI Free Expression” – a call that will be promoted via a May 17 Thunderclap due to go out at 12pm GMT today.

Today, 2.8 billion people worldwide live in one of the 81 countries, which still criminalize same-sex acts.

4.9 billion people – 2/3 of the world’s population – have their right to information or expression around sexual and gender diversity systematically censored by states.

Yet today’s global May 17 commemorations are set to send a clear signal that human rights for all are shared values for billions of people worldwide.

Follow the Day online

Follow the official May 17 page on facebook, and twitter.
You can also follow & support the May 17 movement via the principal campaign hashtag: #IDAHOT