This year’s IDAHOT was marked by a big wave of mobilisation in the South Pacific island of Fiji – where all events keyed into the 2014 focus on Freedom of Expression. FEMLink Pacific, a grass roots women’s radio station had a day of broadcasts around the day, featuring the participation of 30 rural women’s leaders, amongst many other highlights. Haus of Khameleon, Emerging Leaders Forum Alumni and Drodrolagi Movement organized a “Family Fun Day OUT!”.

FemLINK Events

The IDAHOT inspired events were built around FemTALK 89FM’s “Rainbow Connections” radio programmes, which were launched in February 2014 and are produced and hosted by SOGI activists including The Haus of Khameleon, Oceania Pride and Rainbow Women’s Network. 28 participants including rural women leaders, members from Oceania Pride, Haus of Khameleon and the Rainbow Women’s Network came together through FemLINKPACIFIC’s rural community media network and affirmed that regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity and religion, everyone’s development priorities are the same.

The theme for their community radio 10th anniversary campaign was “Communicating Peace, Development, Diversity, Security and Freedom” which connected with the IDAHOT 2014 focus on Freedom of Expression.

The programmes covered issues ranging from Gender Equality in Disaster Risk Management and Responses, Economic security and equality in decision making, access to services, and disability rights. A youth speak out session also discussed current youth priorities, including mental health and well being.

In Fiji, IDAHOT 2014 was merged with the 10th anniversary celebrations of FemLINK – a grass roots feminist community media project.

Family Fun Day Out

Haus of Khameleon, Emerging Leaders Forum Alumni and Drodrolagi Movement held a “Family Fun Day OUT!” to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014. The call for the event said “The daily struggle that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) communities encounter in our endeavours for Equality, Diginity and Humanity would not be as substantial to the movement if it weren’t for the firm and unwavering support of our loved ones – families (chosen and biological), partners and friends.”

The Family Fun Day OUT involved activities for children, games, music, creative expressions and a candle light vigil followed by an after party.

From the Source: One of the many photos from today as we mark a belated International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia at the My Suva Park. Vinaka shukriya and thank you to all those who brought their friends and families along and made today so special and memorable! More photos coming later. ‪#‎IDAHOT‬ ‪#‎Fiji‬

In a write up of the event in The Fiji Times, organiser Kris Prasad said: “This is a belated celebration. We were supposed to have the fun day on May 17, on the actual International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia but couldn’t because of bad weather… This day really is to bring everyone together. Our previous events to mark May 17 were always on the serious side. We wanted to have a family fun day so we can enjoy fun activities with our friends and family, and especially the children.”

Media Coverage

• The Fiji Times: LGBT Community Hosts Fun Day

Various actions took place to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2014 in Switzerland, in different cities, and spanning a great diversity of types of action and themes addressed.

Dialogi actions in Geneva – Love Does Not Differentiate

The association Dialogai in Switzerland developed, in cooperation with the municipality of Geneva, 3 main activities for IDAHOT. Firstly, a communication campaign on equality of all love, which was promoted in Geneva’s public transport systems from May 9 to May 18. During 10 days, all screens in the Geneva transport system showed a short slide show featuring three couples kissing: one straight, one lesbian and one gay. The 20 second long slide show concludes with the slogan ‘Love does not differentiate’.

‘Love does not differentiate’ – campaign for IDAHOT 2014 Switzerland

Dialogi campaign for IDAHOT 2014 in Switzerland

Stop Homophobia in Sports

Secondly, in collaboration with the City of Geneva, information booths were set up at the Jeux de Genève, as part of a campaign against homophobia and gender discrimination in sports. For this action, they worked with the visuals of the Stop Homophobie dans le sport campaign of the Swiss association of Sports services. 500 rainbow coloured wristbands were given out to young sportsmen and women aged 10 to 18 with the motto ‘Freedom to Love’ engraved in them.

UNAIDS Placemats Campaign

Finally, developed in partnership with UNAIDS, 10,000 placemats were distributed in restaurants and UN and school cafeterias. The pic and the list of restaurant can be accessed here.

Dialogi and UNAIDS infographic developed for IDAHOT 2014

Marriage Rights Event

A coalition of Swiss politicians from several political parties organised a gathering in the Capital city Bern in favor of same-sex marriage rights, thereby countering a current campaign by conservative movements to restrict marriage rights constitutionally to the union between a man and a woman. A march also took place in the city.

During the meeting, the city of Bern’s educational authorities presented the French and German versions of the ‘IDAHO lesson’, an official UNESCO lesson plan to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.

Poster for IDAHOT 2014 march in Bern, Switzerland

IDAHOT Switerland Equality Video

Activists also produced this promotional video for IDAHOT 2014 actions in Switzerland:

Other Events

Various other events, such as a special club evening by the organisation 360°, or a dance evening in support of a Nigerian gay man who is threatened to be deported back to Nigeria, also marked the day in the country.

The events is aimed to have a fun time with family and friends while celebrating IDAHOT and LGBTIQ achievement.

The daily struggle that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) communities encounter in our endeavours for Equality, Diginity and Humanity would not be as substantial to the movement if it weren’t for the firm and unwavering support of our loved ones – families (chosen and biological), partners and friends.

Next to celebrating progress and the LGBTIQ movement in a fun environment, there will also be space to pay tribute to the lives lost due to homophobia and transphobia.

The Family Fun Day OUT will involve activities for children, games, music, creative expressions, other rainbow fabulousness and a candle light vigil followed by an after party.
Light refreshments will be provided

ALL AGES, ALL DIVERSITIES, ALL WELCOME!!!

If you like to participate in the Games please register your team of 3 in advance for the Great Gay Games to win awesome prizes and obtain special passes for the Official After Party and IDAHOT Drag Show in one of Suva’s most popular night spots.
You find more information on the event on Facebook.

Please visit the pages for more details about IDAHOT Fiji, Haus of Khameleon (Fiji) and the Drodrolagi Movement.

To mark IDAHOT in Hong Kong various groups (Pink Alliance, Pink Season 粉紅天, Amnesty International Hong Kong 國際特赦組織香港, and the 跨性別資源中心 Transgender Resource Center – TGR) will be coming together to present an ‘IDAHOT Event Series’.

Campaign Launch: April 5th via Press Release and participation in ‘Operation I’ Diversity Youth Conference by Rein Beau Group, Sha Tin College

The series will consist of the following events:

1. Les Peches Fundraising Night, Part put on by Les Peches Lesbian Group
2. Social Media Campaign: #RainbowLaces Launching April 5th (at ‘Operation I’). The campaign is designed for children and youth and was launched with the ‘Rein Beau’ student advocacy group at a local school
3. Active Transgender Awareness Session May 14th, hosted by Standard Chartered Bank (Please note this event will be by invitation only, but please contact them if you are interested)
4. Candlelight Vigil, Friday May 16th , Chater Gardens, 6.30pm -­ 8.30pm; Geena Rocero who is an amazing model and transgender activist and who recently rose to fame bravely sharing her TEDTalk to a standing ovation, will be the very special guest at the Vigil and will speak out on the need for expanded legal rights for all trans individuals living in Hong Kong. Dr York Chow, the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission will also attend the event and deliver a speech.
The event will start the screening of a series of short videos representing the challenges that LGBT individuals face in Hong Kong and the world including videos from a series produced in Hong Kong titles I AM ME.
Two MCs including Abby Lee, the renowned local lesbian activist and Reggie Ho the former chairperson of the Pink Alliance will discuss IDAHOT international theme – Freedom of Expression – and local theme:’Make the invisible – Visible They will also explain to the audience that the rainbow laces given to them can be used for the #RainbowLaces social media campaign sponsored by ANZ Bank titled: Express yourself, express your rights, express you support.
The ceremony will continue will the introduction of a series of short panel discussions around the following themes: LGBT in the Media, LGBT Stigma, LGBT Youth and Bullying and LGBT in the Workplace.
Acclaimed local LGBT entertainers Penny Salcedo and Rick Lau will perform at the event with the songs, ‘Reach for the Stars’ and ‘I am What I am,’ respectively.
The event will end by the audience lighting up candles in remembrance of the victims of homophobia, transphobia in Hong Kong and around the world.
5. IDAHOT HK Community Picnic , Sunday May 18th , 3pm at Cyberport Waterfront Park

With the series of events above, our friends in Hong Koing aims to be “Making the Invisible, visible!” by increasing the awareness of homophobia and transphobia existing in Hong Kong, making the connection to global homophobia and transphobia issues for solidarity and human rights actions, as well as promoting and empowering LGB and ally community to be ‘Transgender Allies.’

IDAHOT Hong Kong committee and partners have already kicked off their social media campaign. You can get live updates via @IDAHOTHK on Twitter or their Facebook page. You can also join them as a volunteer by joining their community & volunteer group.

Another great event will be organised by Gay Harmony, Women Coalition of HKSAR and Rainbow Action

The event is a street exhibition showing the discrimination that LGBT people are facing internationally and locally. The organisers would like to raise the awareness of the suffering of LGBT people, in order to fight for anti-discrimination legislation of sexual orientation. The event will be held on the streets of Hong Kong on May 17, 2014, with theme of “fight against discrimination, way to legislation”. There will be a rally with installations and art performances, showing the pedestrians the experience of LGBT people. The organisers also organised a Domino down, building a legislative Rainbow Road where over 400 domino bricks, as a symbol of discrimination, will be pulled down to show the six-color rainbow as a symbol of equality.

Beat off discrimination!
Fight for legislation!
Let’s make a change in 3 years!
Walking through the darkest tunnel brings you to the place full of discrimination. Can you imagine people being killed or put to jail just because of homosexuality?
Support LGBT. Support Anti-discrimination Legislation.
SHOW UP and show your support on May 17!!

The event will take place on May 17 at 2pm until 5pm at the Great George Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

For more details about the IDAHOT in Hong Kong please check the website or the Facebook page.

Sneak peak at the preparations for #rainbowlaces: