1st Annual International Day Against Homophobia to be Celebrated in over 40 Countries on May 17

In partnership with the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), the first-annual International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO)will be celebrated on May 17, 2005 in more than 40 countries. IDAHO is recognized by numerous international and human rights organizations. Its purpose is to support the international recognition of lesbians, gays, bi and trans people and has three primary objectives:

Paris, France (PRWEB) May 12, 2005 -- In partnership with the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), the first-annual International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) will be celebrated on May 17, 2005 in more than 40 countries throughout the world, announced Louis-George Tin, the events founder.

IDAHOs purpose is to support the international recognition of lesbians, gays, bi and trans people, and has three primary objectives:
1. Provoke Action: Stimulate public debate, exhibitions, radio programs, book readings, round tables, film screenings, awareness campaigns, etc. by LGBT organizations, human rights organizations, and any other individual and/or organization concerned about the problem of homophobia.
2. Coordinate and increase the visibility of efforts of LGBT Groups involved in actions on May 17: This is to help focus media and public attention, as well as to report back the results of efforts, informing journalists and exchanging successful actions among local organizers throughout the world.
3. Place this day on the national calendar in a maximum number of countries: This is the first step toward a longer term objective-having IDAHO adopted on an international level.

Why May 17? The Day will take place on May 17 because on May 17, 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders, serving to end more than a century of medical homophobia.

Following this historic decision," says Louis-Georges Tin, Founder of IDAHO, the goal of IDAHO, ILGA, and other supporting organizations is to have the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Commission for Human Rights to condemn homophobia in its political, social, and cultural dimensions by recognizing this International Day Against Homophobia."
Partners of the IDAHO Project: The first partner of IDAHO is the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). IDAHO is also supported by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGHLRC), the European Association for Human Rights (FIDH-AE), the European Green Party, the Coalition of African Lesbians, the Intergroup of the European Parliament on gay and lesbian rights, the Green Group of the European Parliament, the Liberal and Democrats group of the European Parliament, and the World Congress of LGBT Jews, among other organizations.

Moreover, IDAHO is supported by national organizations and individuals in all countries where IDAHO will be celebrated. These countries include Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

How IDAHO Differs From Gay or LGBT Pride Day: Annual LGBT Pride Day marches emphasize that LGBT people are proud of their identity and refuse to be shamed; whereas the Global Day Against Homophobia highlights that in reality it is homophobia that is shameful and must be deconstructed in its social logic and fought against openly.

Rather than marching through the streets in order to be heard by civil society, through IDAHO, members of civil society act to bring debate into institutions, schools, neighborhoods, and in the media-symmetrical and complimentary tactics," says Louis-Georges Tin. To help stimulate awareness, we encourage media to bring attention to events and books that capture the essence of the day. For example, the book titled Breakdown: Diamonds, Death, and Second Chances, by Gregory DiStefano, is a coming-of-age memoir that explores the devastating effects of systemic homophobia on a young man who had a fantastic career."

International Petition: All those concerned about the issue of homophobia are encouraged to sign IDAHOs international petition: www.petitiononline.com/idaho

Media Contacts:            
Louis-Georges Tin            
Founder, Intl Day Against Homophobia   
(in partnership with ILGA)      
tin@idahomophobia.org   
phone: 00 33 6 19 45 45 52      

Author Contact: Gregory DiStefano
book title: Breakdown: Diamonds, Death, and Second Chances, published April, 2005
gregdistefano@yahoo.com
                     
phone: 401/419-6684

www.idahomophobia.org

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