News
2006-05-18
International Day
Against Homophobia observed worldwide
Nations around
the world celebrated the second annual International Day
Against Homophobia on Wednesday.
Nations around
the world celebrated the second annual International Day
Against Homophobia, or IDAHO, on Wednesday, launched
last year by the International Lesbian and Gay
Association. The event is held on May 17 to mark the
date when the general assembly of the World Health
Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental
disorders in 1990.
In 2005, IDAHO
was celebrated in more than 40 countries, from France to
China. The observance included a variety of actions, which
received widespread media coverage. In Iran, in spite
of the government's homophobia, IDAHO was mentioned on
numerous blogs and in thousands of e-mails. In Kiev,
Ukraine, a huge balloon carrying the message "Say
No to Homophobia” was let loose.
This year
activists in Japan delivered letters to embassies of
countries with antigay policies. Gays rallied in
Nepal, held a conference in Jersalem, and organized
protests throughout Latin America and Europe.
"We acknowledge
all the positive achievements by the European
institutions to make homophobia in Europe a thing of the
past," said Patricia Prendville, executive director
for the ILGA of Europe. "But we also need to issue the
reminder that there is a lot of work that still needs
to be done." (The Advocate)
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