The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014, was marked by various actions in different cities in Sweden, including Stockholm, Örebro and Halmstadt. Aside from this, the Swedish government also co-hosted the International IDAHO Forum 2014, together with the government of Malta, which was held in Valletta, Malta. The 2-day conference brought together top political representatives, and civil society associations, from across Europe.

Sweden co-hosts 2nd annual International IDAHO Forum, together with Malta

Erik Ullenhag, Swedish Minister for Integration was amongst the delegates – which included representatives from 17 European states.

Swedish Minister for Integration, Erik Ullenhag, speaking at the IDAHO Forum 2014 Press Conference in Valletta, Malta, May 13, 2014.

More information about the Forum, as well as Sweden’s participation in the co-ordination, and what representatives had to say, can be found in this press release, as well as on the official IDAHO Forum 2014 website.

A full video of the press conference from the Forum can be seen here:

Del LaGrace Volcano talks “Intersex 101″ in Örebro

In Örebro, Sweden, local communities came together for a lecture entitled “INTERSEX 101 OR HOW THE BINARY GENDER SYSTEM VIOLATES THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF EVERYONE”, given by well-known international artist and activist, Del LaGrace Volcano. The event posed the key question – How are the human rights of intersex people violated and why should this be a concern for all of us?

Artist and activist, Del LaGrace Volcano, gearing up for “Intersex 101″ talk in Örebro, Sweden.

Organisers explained: “Del LaGrace Volcano is an artist and activist working to create a world where the diversity of the human body is both recognised and celebrated beyond our current system; a system which only validates people with bodies and gender that conform to female and male. A visual and performative political and personal lecture that offers practical advice on how to resist the rising tides of gender conformity and market forces.”

The lecture was co-ordinated by Örebro Rättighetscenter, Örebro läns museum, RFSL Örebro and ABF Örebro, and was held on May 14. You can find more details about the event on the website or Facebook.

RFSU Halland actions in Halmstadt

To commemorate IDAHOT 2014, in the city of Halmstadt, LGBTI communities, political parties, youth organizations and civil society associations came together for a day of events – co-ordinated by the group RFSU Halland. Stalls with information were set up, and a flashmob action also took place. At the Town Hall, the rainbow was also flown in honour of the Day.

Organised under the banner, “Together we make a difference! For everyone’s freedom to choose, freedom to be and freedom to enjoy!”, more about the programme can be found at the RFSU Halland website or on the Facebook event page.

Halmstadt Town Hall flying the rainbow flag for IDAHOT 2014.

Various events in Stockholm

In Sweden, communities came together for a packed day of various events around the IDAHOT 2014 – actions included an art & photo exhibition / presentations / campaign launches and the unveiling of a plan to set sail from Helsinki to St. Petersburg to protest LGBTI discrimination in Russia ! Local communities also saluted the Austrian winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, Conchita Wurst, and the launch of a new group – International Rainbow Seniors – was also announced.

You can read more about this year’s actions in the organisers’ press release, which follows in full:

Stockholm meetings at culture center, gay bar: Press Release, May 15, 2014
TUPILAK/ILGCN SALUTE TO IDAHO DAY 2014

Stockholm — “This was our way of saluting this year’s IDAHO — international day against homophobia on May 17 — and its 2014 theme “Freedom of Expression,” says Bill Schiller of Tupilak (Nordic rainbow cultural workers) and ILGCN (international rainbow cultural network) Information Secretariat-Stockholm of the event taking place on May 14 at the Folklore Centrum and the award-winning gay bar Side Track — both on this city’s southern island.

“We not only meet for social get-togethers but also to inform local politicians, administrators of homes for the elderly and medical workers — people sometimes totally unaware of the existence and needs of LGBT elderly,” said Agneta Wirén of the Gothenberg Senior Group from this Swedish west coast city.

Another special guest at this event, Frank Lee of Taiwan– a participant of the first-ever Stockholm “Gay Photographers Exhibit”– displayed his work and mentioned that he will be creating giant-sized photos of LGBT people at Stockholm’s international airport Arlanda during the coming Stockholm Pride this July. “I would also be pleased to have my work included in the Tupilak/ILGCN international art and photo exhibit.”

Examples of the collection’s Belarus art and photography were displayed, along with the presentation of the plan for “Swedish-Belarus Queer Cultural Days” 2014 for Belarus and Swedish cities — an idea originated by Maksim Haikou of Minsk.

Also in the spirit of IDAHO’S “Freedom of Expression,” plans were presented for a boat trip from Stockholm to St. Petersburg waiving the rainbow flag in ports of call including Tallin, Helsinki and St. Petersburg — to challenge the Russian ban an “homo propaganda.” Also, a salute to the rotating Baltic Pride — this year taking place in Tallinn and starting on June 2.

“Combating freedom of expression of LGBT people all over the world by all the major religions,” said Carl Johan Kleberg of the Nordic Rainbow Humanists.

Poetry with a Chinese theme was presented by Swedish Tupilak member Tomas Åberg and the Folk Lore Centrum owner Izzy Young read poems of his friend, the late American revolutionary gay poet, Allan Ginsburg.

Discussions also ended with a salute to the Austrian winner of the Eurovision song contest, Conchita Wurst for being an enormous contribution to tolerance and diversity in a Europe these days threatened by facist and homophobic parties in many nations.

As part of the “freedom of expression” theme, we are also announcing the formation of a new group called International Rainbow Seniors – Sweden promoting LGBT culture and international ties — well aware that many nations even with a strong Pride movement still ignore the voices of the elderly LGBT people,” says Schiller.

Italy was witness to one of the strongest mobilisations for IDAHOT 2014, in Europe and worldwide. Actions took place in at least 15 cities, and countless topics and communities were the focus of activities around May 17 this year. Progressive voices of faith and individuals joined in prayer, reflection and remembrance in 14 towns and cities, as part of a Global Interfaith Prayer Initiative for IDAHOT 2014. The project ‘ddl405′ launched a video and public call for anti-transphobia and anti-intersexphobia messages to support their campaign. In the north of Italy a local youth organisation brought more than 500 people together to hug a UNESCO monument, amongst many other events.

Global Interfaith Prayer Initiative

For many years now, the Global Interfaith Prayer Initiative, organised from Italy by Gionata, an Italian Project addressing Faith and Homosexuality, and with the support of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups, has taken place throughout the period around May 17 in various cities in Italy, and other countries. The focus of the vigil is to commemorate the victims of homophobic violence and discrimination. At the same time, organisers and participants also stand up and speak out against prejudice within the Church. The events were organised by local churches and groups, and took place in the following cities in Italy this year:

May 12: Bologna
May 15: Florence and Palermo
May 16: Padova, Parma, Pistoia and Rome
May 17: Borgo Priolo, Catania, Forano Sabino, Licata, Mantova, Pecara, Pinerolo, Rome, Torino and Trieste
May 18: Rome, Florence, Grosseto, Licata, Milan, Naples, Padova, Rimini and Trapani
May 20: Genova
May 22: Milan

The vigils and commemorations are set to continue in Italy until June 13 and will include Palermo, Livorno and Cremona.

Campaign ddl405

On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the project ddl405 has launched their campaign video for the draft bill DDL405 to put forward to the Parliament. The bill would protect the rights of Italian transgender and intersex people, making a series of changes to the current legal framework.

The claims are to
– stop forced surgery for transgender people to enable them to legally change their name and gender;
– ease off the bureaucracy and relieve the expenses of transition;
– prevent the unconstitutional annulment of marriage in case one of the spouses changes their legal gender;
– end mutilating surgeries on intersex infants.

You can watch the ddl405 campaign video here (launched May 15):

The initiative also invited people to send in their message against Transphobia and Intersexphobia with a picture which was then published on their Facebook page.

Here is a message from Francesca Cellini, a candidate for city council in Bagno a Ripoli:

Francesca Cellini, local Italian politician, leaves her IDAHOT 2014 message.

You can find out more about the campaign on their blog and you can sign the petition here.

Free Expression Zone Bologna!

On May 17, the Cassero LGBT Center in Bologna together with ArciLesbica Bologna and other groups declared a Free Expression Zone on the Piazza dei Celestini in Bologna and later on they also took action in via d’Azeglio and Piazza del Nettuno. The public space was created into a space free from violence and racism, where all identities can be expressed. The space was created together with other civic associations active in the field of LGBT or other social justice questions. The space was occupied with workshops, small events, information tables, and activities from morning to evening.

You can find out more about the Center on their website and on Facebook page.

Casa Delle Donne di Milano

On May 18, the Casa delle Donne di Milano organised a conference with presentations and a discussion on the struggles and violence LBT women face, and on good practice to combat homophobia. They also talked about social constructions and the self-image of teenagers. Eva Schwarzwald addressed gender stereotypes and specifically body images; Helen Ibry, an anthropologist, gave a tour of Europe in twenty minutes with numeric data, legislative proposals and political situations of countries; and Milena Cannavacciuolo spoke about popular culture.

Presentation at Casa Delle Donne di Milano

Hug-In in Vicenza

Organised by the local Youth organisation Arcigay, Vicenza (Northern Italy) hosted a big ‘hug’ against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. More than 500 people gathered to hug the Palladian Basilica, a UNESCO monument.

Source: Arcigay Vicenza

Flashmob Venice

The Collettivo Stonewall Venezia LGBTIQueer organised a flashmob against Homophobia on Campo Santa Margherita, Venice. The flashmob was aimed at sparking discussion and increasing public awareness, by participants wearing a mask of Putin in the streets while homophobic insults were shouted and stories told about the impact of homophobic violence. To provide more details they also distributed flyers.

Source: Collettivo Stonewall Venezia LGBTIQ

LGBT Training in Torino

On occasion of the IDAHOT 2014, the LGBT Office of the city of Torino carried out training sessions about gender identity and sexual orientation, as part of a national strategy to sensibilize state officials and police forces.

This year is particularly important for our LGBT Office as the City of Torino, as national Secretariat of RE.A.D.Y, the Italian Rainbow Cities, Provinces and Regions, has been assigned by the national Government the meaningful task of translating in concrete actions the objectives and measures of the national LGBT Strategy.

Top level trainings on LGBT topics have already been carried out for the national Police and Arma dei Carabinieri high rank officials in April 2014 while other top level trainings are going to be hold for CEO belonging to the Minister of Labour and Regions.

Locally, the LGBT Office held its first LGBT training in the jail of Ivrea, a city nearby Torino, on gender identity and sexual orientation in detention. The session addressed police officers, psychologists and social assistants of the Penitentiary Police working in the LGBT section of the prison of Ivrea. LGBT transsexual/transgender persons are likely to experience a double suffering in detention: restrictions of freedom, and restrictions in specific areas of prisons. “Our training focused on sexual identity, applicable law, good practice for the management of transsexual/transgender and homosexual persons in jail aiming at their social and professional reintegration in society,” the organisers explained.

Further details about the national strategy are available 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.

The statement was also co-signed by six major United Nations agencies: OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF.

The statement condemns sterilization requirements for legal gender recognition. It also states that forced, coerced or otherwise non-consensual sterilization should not be a prerequisite for gender-affirming treatment also.

This move will be roundly welcomed by trans, intersex, LGBTI and human rights advocates, who have long campaigned for sounder attention to human rights standards in drafting legislation.

The statement can be read in full here.

Of the 33 countries in Europe which do allow legal gender recognition for trans communities, 16 require forced sterilization as a prerequisite for such changes.

Further research is needed to give a global figure as to the number of countries in the world today, as a whole, which stipulate similar restrictions.

How are the human rights of intersex people violated and why should this be a concern for all of us? These question are discussed in the event on May 14, at 6:30pm.

Del LaGrace Volcano is an artist and activist working to create a world where the diversity of the human body is both recognised and celebrated beyond our current system; a system which only validates people with bodies and gender that conform to female and male. A visual and performative political and personal lecture that offers practical advice on how to resist the rising tides of gender conformity and market forces.

Biography
Del LaGrace Volcano (born 1957) is considered one of the pioneers of queer photography and is one of the few openly intersex artists in the world. Del has published five photographic monographs, from LoveBites (1991) the first photographic monograph of lesbian sexuality, The Drag King Book, (1999), a collaboration with Judith Jack Halberstam, exploring 1990s Drag King culture in the USA and Europe, Sublime Mutations (2000), Sex Works (2005) to Femmes of Power, (2008), a collaboration with Ulrika Dahl, the first photographic monograph celebrating queer femininities in the USA and Europe. Volcano has also been a regular contributor to academic publications, television programmes and films on queer visual art and theory. Del is also a proud MaPa to two year old Mika Alexis Volcano and a practioneer of gender creative parenting.

The lecture is presentet by Örebro Rättighetscenter, Örebro läns museum, RFSL Örebro and ABF Örebro and will be held in english.

Find more details about the event on the website or Facebook.

The Resolution, No. 1952 (2013), ‘Children’s Right to Physical Integrity’ was passed on Tuesday, October 1.

It embraces several key issues for the care of Intersex children, including prohibitions on surgical interventions which are not ‘vital to health’, recognition of the right to ‘self-determination’, and the provision of counselling and support to parents.

These provisions form part of a broader package which also addresses issues such as female genital mutilation and the circumcision of boys for religious reasons.

The groups ILGA-Europe and OII (Organisation Intersex International) Europe, published a joint statement Thursday (Oct 3), welcoming the move and launching a ‘call for relevant European institutions to take note of this resolution and indeed carry out the research that is necessary to increase knowledge about the specific human rights and social situation of intersex people.’

Their release now follows in full:

ILGA-Europe and OII Europe Statement on the adoption of a historical intersex resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

ILGA-Europe and OII Europe welcome the adoption of the resolution “Children’s right to physical integrity” by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe which for the first time ever addressed the issue of bodily integrity of intersex children.

This resolution covered other issues such as female genital mutilation, the circumcision of young boys for religious reasons, and the submission to or coercion of children into piercings, tattoos or plastic surgery.

The resolution calls on Council of Europe Member States to “undertake further research to increase knowledge about the specific situation of intersex people, ensure that no-one is subjected to unnecessary medical or surgical treatment that is cosmetic rather than vital for health during infancy or childhood, guarantee bodily integrity, autonomy and self-determination to persons concerned, and provide families with intersex children with adequate counselling and support.”

This is the first resolution of its kind by any European institution. The language of the resolution signals a shift from the current medical domain to a human rights approach, and addresses the right to bodily integrity, autonomy and self-determination while calling for the end of cosmetic medical and surgical treatment.

ILGA-Europe and OII Europe call for relevant European institutions to take note of this resolution and indeed carry out the research that is necessary to increase knowledge about the specific human rights and social situation of intersex people.

ILGA-Europe and OII Europe also thank Marlene Rupprecht who was the Rapporteur of the report that led to this resolution for taking on board the input provided by our two organisations and Genital Autonomy and for putting the human rights of intersex people firmly on the agenda.

Resolution 1952 (2013) Children’s right to physical integrity

3 October 2013
Brussels

For more information see:

• PACE Resolution 1952 (2013): Children’s Right to Physical Integrity
• OII Europe: Homepage