International Day Against Homophobia
In parts of the world it may seem that significant progress has been made towards eradicating homophobia, but globally the situation is very different. In at least 80 countries, homosexual acts are still forbidden by law (Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Bosnia, ...); in many countries the punishment can exceed ten years in prison (Nigeria, Libya, Syria, India, Malaysia, Jamaica, ...); sometimes the law prescribes life imprisonment (Guyana, Uganda); and in a number of countries capital punishment may actually be carried out (Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, ...). Even in countries where homosexuality is not considered a crime, persecutions have multiplied. In the majority of these nations, homophobia appears more violent today than ever before.
The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is the initiative of Louis-Georges Tin, editor of the Dictionnaire de l’homophobie (Presses Universitaires de France, 2003). Its goal is to articulate action and reflection in order to combat all physical, moral or symbolic violence related to sexual orientation or gender identity. The first International Day Against Homophobia is scheduled to take place on 17 May 2005, the 15th anniversary of the day the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Events are planned in many countries throughout the world. The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association is acting as coordinator for the UK.
If you support this initiative, and if you want the International Day Against Homophobia to be officially recognised on the national and international calendar in future years, please sign the online petition if you haven’t already done so, and encourage others to sign it too.
For further information on plans for the first International Day Against Homophobia, visit the IDAHO website (with information in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish).