Sydney marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
Pink News • May 18, 2009
The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) was marked in more than 50 countries yesterday, May 17th 2009.
IDAHO seeks to raise awareness of gay and lesbian issues, celebrate sexual and gender diversity, and bring an end to homophobia around the world. The theme this year was ‘homosexuality knows no borders’.
IDAHO occurs every year on May 17th because on this date in 1990 the
World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental
illnesses.
Events were held around the world including in Sydney where
Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) held a rally aptly beneath
the ‘I have a dream’ mural in Newtown. The main aims of the rally were
to call for the legalisation of same sex marriage in Australia,
highlight the need to tackle transphobia and continue working towards
an end to homophobia globally.
The rally was opened by Freedom Fighters with lead singer Conor
Montgomery performing a cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and closing
the rally with Tracy Chapman’s “Talking ‘bout a Revolution”. A range of
speakers came together to speak out against homophobia and
discrimination against gays and lesbians. People called upon the
Australian government to legalise same sex marriage and governments
around the world to decriminalise homosexuality.
View SSO Photos - Thanks, ann-marie x
Eighty-six member states of the United Nations still criminalise
homosexuality. Among these states, at least five have legal provisions
with the death penalty as punishment.
To raise awareness for the plight of gay and lesbian refugees all
over the world, Ben Cooper, a CAAH activist, completed a four-day
hunger strike in 2008. He was motivated to do this by the tragic story
of a 14-year-old boy and his 16-year-old boyfriend in Iraq. The police
arrested them, charged them both and seven months later, publicly
hanged them. Their corpses were hung in the street to remind people
homosexuality is an abomination.
In many countries homophobia is a part of everyday life, even in
Sydney Australia, the home of Mardi Gras. This is why events such as
IDAHO are important to raise awareness of these issues and combat this
discrimination.
Conor Montgomery told PinkNews.co.uk: “It is important to stand up
and speak out here in Sydney to put pressure on countries where
homosexuality is illegal. We must show solidarity with people around
the world as it is an international day.”
Emma Cullingford is PinkNews.co.uk's Australia Correspondent
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Vic Commissioner says no to homophobia
SX • May 14, 2009
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has thrown his support behind International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
Showing early in his tenure a willingness to follow former police commissioner Christine Nixon’s lead in speaking up for GLBTI Victorians, Overland will join the community in speaking out against homophobia. Read more
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Check out Photos of the CAAH IDAHO Rally here
Look at some of the leaflets and posters CAAH has produced for IDAHO. Leaflets to download, share, use
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