The tactic has also been popular in Germany, Ukraine, Armenia and various other countries. And, in 2013, these actions inspired the worldwide focus campaign for IDAHOT – the “Global Rainbow Flashmob” with actions in 40 countries, spanning balloon releases, dance flashmobs, rainbow kiss-ins, chalk-ins and die-ins, and many more kinds of actions in support of LGBTI rights worldwide (You can watch the video compilation of the actions here).

Because rainbow flashmob events are not usually classified by authorities as “protests”, they can provide a way for communities to meet publicly and make a visible impact, without alerting authorities to the existence of the action first. In many cases, activists organise privately and do not release the time and place of the action publicly, until after the event.

We spoke with a group of activists from Ukraine, who have been bravely organising these events since 2011, despite widespread hostility to public actions in support of LGBTI rights in their context. They told us this inspiring story, which will maybe help others thinking about organising this event, or who are also organising in hostile contexts where safety is a key concern.

Where/how did the idea originate? What were the main assumption behind the idea, the main expectations?

Participants gather to release rainbow balloons – in Zaporizhia, Ukraine. May 17, 2014.

Holding flashmobs with the release of rainbow balloons is our tradition since 2011. The format of the event was chosen based on local realities: to conduct any kind of human rights rally or activity the organizer needs to apply to the city municipality, with the exception of flashmobs, because this format is new and yet not established in any Ukrainian official documents. If we decided to apply for the action officially, then, with 100% confidence, they would have banned its conduct under any pretext. In addition, we would have also provoked a surge of homophobic activity which could affect the safety of participants. So only with the flashmob format we have a legal opportunity to join IDAHOT.

The main expectations we had were to speak out for LGBT rights regardless of the political and social situation as well as to have fun. Another expectation was to set up a tradition of celebrating the 17th of May.

What were the risks/threats/obstacles involved and how did you mitigate them?

The anti-gay movement wasn’t so well organized in our city in 2011, because we weren’t visible before. Thus, while organizing our first rainbowflash – our first event aimed at society – we knew that we would face a number of challenges, but till the end we did not know which ones exactly. A few days later after this action, after the first articles about our event were published in the media, we saw growing anti-LGBT activity. The situation worsened in the next years, together with the strengthening of the national LGBT movement, holding Pride weeks, and the increased visibility of our organization, but also with appearance of the first homophobic draft laws in the parliament etc.

A participant writes a message of hope, to tie onto the balloon.

The more we were visible, the more homophobic discourse intensified in society – created by religious fanatics and nationalists, and approved by the authorities, thereby provoking hatred, discrimination and violence against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. But at the same time we previewed some safety issues. For example, we decided not to spread publicly the place and exact time of the flashmob. Participants and journalists were invited either personally or through our friends/supporters, taking into account all of the same safety concerns. Since 2012 we already had this challenge not to allow violence as we observed, for instance, homophobic groups in social networks which organized a campaign to encourage people who were ready to use violence against the LGBT community, in cases where they detected attempts to carry out human rights meetings. Groups of aggressive hooligans were also created to patrol popular public places in our city, during the whole flashmob day.

How did you get it done? How much time did it take? How much did it cost? How many people did it involve? What were the tactics that you used?

The same idea of every year’s performance was to voice and to discuss the current situation – to write on a piece of paper our dreams and wishes, tie them to the balloons, before we let them color the sky. This part of our flashmob remained unchanged. But every year we tried to add something new.

Balloons colour the sky in Ukraine. May 17, 2014.

For example, this year we recorded a video media message. Last year we lined up in a row, composing the media inscriptions “F*ck homophobia” and “Love is stronger than hate”. In 2012 we composed the letter Z with the balloons like in Gender Z (the mark of our city of Zaporizhia). The main event (communication, wishes writing, balloon release) was always about a half an hour of duration. After this part we organized a kind of picnic for the participants. The action didn’t require significant expenses, only costs of balloons, stationery and/or banners’ printing.

This activity gathered about 20 participants every year, those people who decided to be open, visible and brave, despite of the threats.

How do you rate the impact of this action, and how did you see its effects?

Every year the IDAHOT performance raises a huge discussion in society about homosexuality, gender identity, and LGBTQI’s position in Ukrainian society. It’s the most important impact – to increase visibility. We also observe a rise in supporters of our organization, including among journalists – one of the most powerful tools of shaping public opinion.

Watch the video of their IDAHOT 2014 action here:

Ukranian LGBT activists took to the streets despite considerable social and legal challenges, and widespread political instability and distortion of human rights campaigning, and celebrated May 17 with a visit to a national wildlife island.

In the city of Zaporizhia, Ukraine, a flashmob action dedicated to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was held on the Khortytsia island – a national wildlife refuge, located in the heart of the city on the Dnieper River.

Rainbowflash action in Ukraine for IDAHOT 2014

Participants repeated the tradition established for rainbow flashmob events, and wrote their wishes on cards tied to balloons during the event. Before letting the balloons fly into the sky, the participating activists, using banners, created a media message in which they expressed their protest against homophobia and hate and urged media and public to “be over hatred”.

This was also a symbolic statement, since the group made a point of climbing to one of the highest points within reach of the city.

You can watch the flashmob action here:

Russian LGBT activists and allies in 16 cities took action for the IDAHOT 2014 despite considerable social and legal pressure, attacks and threats from opponents. 15 people were detained on May 17, all of whom are now released (June 4, 2014). Two actions were targeted by neo-nazi groups. No serious injuries occurred this year and local groups underscored the bravery and resistant spirit of LGBT communities in the country.

In most Russian cities rainbow flashmob events (coloured balloon releases) went quite well, with a considerable 150 people showing up in St. Petersburg. However, during or because of the flashmobs the police detained activists from Moscow, Murmansk, Perm and Vladimir. Two people in Moscow, 1 person in Murmansk, 11 people in Perm and 1 person in Vladimir were detained on May 17. They are now all released.

While most events in the 16 cities went without any incidents, 4 of these cities witnessed arrests. The organizer of a Rainbow flashmob event in Murmansk, Violetta Grudina, was detained before the event actually started. She was accused of “propaganda of homosexuality”. The police stated that by publishing information about LGBT events in the social network (Vkontakte), she “committed propaganda of homosexuality among minors”.

Russia, image by St Petersburg Times

On May 17 in Perm, several members of the group LGBT-Perm were also detained. An activist of another LGBT group (Raduzhniy dom), Julia Babintseva, who wasn’t detained on May 17th, was not charged with anything yet, however, she got a call from the police. Moreover, representatives of the police visited her parents. All this situation strangely resembles the situation in Samara, where after the Day of Silence LGBT activists started to get calls and then charges, all happening as a form of systematic intimidation.

The National articulation group, Russian LGBT-Network, provided legal support to Violetta Grudina and Julia Babintseva. The Chairman of the Network, Igor Kochetkov, states that “Solidarity was one of the main messages of the May 17th this year and we are ready to support everyone who suffers because of the unlawful actions of the police”.

Further Information

• Russian LGBT Network:Police getting more and more interested in the activity of LGBT activists.
• To see photos from the rainbow flashmob event in St. Petersburg, organized by “Coming Out” Organization: click 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.