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The 2009 International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is once again upon us! May 17 is the day that the world unites to say NO! to homophobia, and Adelaide will once again lead the country in uniting to celebrate diverse sexualities.
Send an email to Danny.Hales@gmhealth.org.au if you would like to help, support, sponsor or donate to IDAHO 2009.
Fondation Émergence has announced that the theme for the 2009 International Day Against Homophobia 2009 is ‘Homophobia Knows No Borders’ and will focus on combating homophobia within and directed at cultural communities, to raise awareness among newly arrived communities, to support gays, lesbians and all queer folk from these communities and to challenge racism within the queer community.
For further information on this year’s theme or to see what is happening is SA this year and how you can get involved just click HERE or scroll down to the bottom of the page.
What is IDAHO?
On 17 May 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders. The fight for the recognition of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people did not end there though. And it continues today, across the globe, in a great variety of ways.
Today over 80 countries in the world still criminalise homosexuality and condemn consensual same sex acts with a variety of penalties (Ottosson 2007). In seven countries consensual same sex acts still carry the death penalty. These include:
- Iran
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Saudi-Arabia
- Sudan
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Information current on March 13, 2009 (International Lesbian and Gay Association, 2007)
You can view a world map of current laws which discriminate against queer individuals and communities by clicking on the link here.
Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity is still not recognised formally by the member states of the United Nations (even though human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Committee have repeatedly condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity).
 What is Homophobia?
Homophobia is the hostility, disapproval, prejudice, hatred or fear of homosexuals or those perceived as homosexual. Homophobia sometimes may lead to acts of violence and expressions of hostility and discrimination.
(Pharr, pp. 424-437)
There are four distinct but interrelated types of homophobia: personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural. Institutional and cultural homophobia are often referred to as heterosexism.
- Personal homophobia is prejudice. It is the personal belief that lesbian, gay,
and bisexual people are sinful, immoral, sick, inferior to heterosexuals, or
incomplete women and men. Prejudice towards any group is learned
behaviour; people have to be taught to be prejudiced.
Personal homophobia is sometimes experienced as the fear of being perceived
as lesbian, gay or bisexual, out of the fear that one will be treated as if they
were sinful, immoral, sick or inferior. This fear can lead to trying to “prove”
one’s heterosexuality. Anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or
preference, can experience personal homophobia; when this happens with
lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, it is called internalised homophobia.
- Interpersonal homophobia is the fear, dislike or hatred of people believed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. This hatred or dislike may be expressed as namecalling, verbal and physical harassment, and individual acts of discrimination.
Lesbians, gay and bisexual people are regularly attacked for no other reason
than their assailants' homophobia. Most people act out their fears of lesbian,
gay, and bisexual people in non-violent, more commonplace ways.
- Institutional homophobia (or heterosexism) refers to the many ways in
which government, businesses, churches, and other institutions and
organisations discriminate against people on the basis of sexual
orientation. These organisations and institutions set policies, allocate
resources, and maintain unwritten standards for the behaviour of their
members in ways which discriminate.
- Cultural homophobia (or heterosexism) refers to social standards and norms which dictate that being heterosexual is better or more moral than being
lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and that everyone is heterosexual or should be.
While these standards are not written down as such, they are spelled out every
day in television shows and print advertisements where virtually every
character is heterosexual, every sexual relationship involves a female and a
male; or in the assumption made by most adults in social situations that all
"normal" children will eventually be attracted to and marry a person of other
sex.
http://www.ecu.edu.au/equ/resources/docs/Homophobia.pdf
Examples of Homophobia include behaviours or attitudes which:
- Making assumptions about a persons sexuality based on dress, behaviour, or personality.
- Focusing on a person’s sexuality, rather than as whole, complex person.
- Being afraid of social or physical interactions with people who are lesbian or gay.
- Avoiding social situations or activities where you night be perceived as lesbian or gay.
- Assuming that lesbians and gay men will be attracted to everyone of the same gender.
- Legislation which discriminates against same-sex attracted people and/or same-sex couples.
(Pardie & Luchetta, p. 76)
The impact of Homophobia
- Homophobia reinforces socially constructed gender roles.
- Homophobia pressures heterosexual men to have to prove their masculinity.
- Homophobia disadvantages heterosexuals having close relationships with same-sex friends with the possible fear of being perceived as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
- Homophobia promotes discrimination.
- Homophobia promotes exclusion and does not embrace diversity.
- Homophobia can impact not only individuals but their families, friends and children.
- Depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness.
- Isolation.
- Self hatred or low self esteem.
- Suicide or suicidal ideation.
Reference:
Ottosson, D 2007, State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults, International Lesbian and Gay Association, Belgium.
Pardie, L & Luchetta, T 1999, The Construction of Attitudes Towards Lesbians and Gay Men, Haworth Press, Philadelphia.
Pharr, S 2000, ‘Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism’, in Umansky, L & Plott, M, Making Sense of Women’s Lives: An Introduction to Women’s Studies, Rowman & Littlefield, New York.
The International Lesbian and Gay Association, World Day against Death Penalty 7 countries still put people to death for same-sex acts, Retrieved from (International Lesbian and Gay Association, 2007)
http://www.ecu.edu.au/equ/resources/docs/Homophobia.pdf
The International Lesbian and Gay Association, World Map of GLBTI Rights.
How has IDAHO been celebrated in South Australia in the past?
2006
Adelaide’s Northern Voices Working Group launched SA’s and Australia’s initial IDAHO actions in 2006 with an ongoing email campaign leading up to May 17 distributed to organisations of all types asking them to take action. Morning teas and displays were held in agencies and companies around the state and resources were distributed for people to display themselves. SAPOL also participated with uniformed police officers (Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer’s – GLLO’s) holding information stalls in shopping centres.
2007
Members of the newly developed IDAHO organising committee for 2007 included representatives from Gay Men’s Health (a program of the AIDS Council of SA), SHine SA, Inside Out and Evolve (programs of the Second Story Youth Health Service), Central Northern Primary Health Care Services and the South Australian Police.
Posters and postcards were developed and printed and IDAHO was also featured on the front page of blaze (Adelaide's fortnightly queer community newspaper) issue #161.
A number of events were held across the Adelaide metropolitan area, including displays in community service offices and morning teas where rainbow cakes and other IDAHO-suggested food was served and the effects of homophobia discussed.
SA Police also mounted displays on the day in suburban shopping centres. These displays were coordinated by Local Service Area (LSA) Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs).
The main event was a car convoy through the city streets of Adelaide held on May 12th, the Saturday before IDAHO. Cars were decked in the colours of the Pride Flag, each designated a different colour. A police escort lead the convoy through the city streets including Hindley Street, North Terrace, King William Street and Rundle Street. The convoy blared out anti-homophobia messages through a megaphone, receiving many cheers and waves from café patrons and passers by.
Afterwards, the crowd celebrated with pizza at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, George Street, Thebarton.
2008
Last year the IDAHO organising community held a community event for the first time at Fowlers Live, a giant morning tea encouraging the community to gather in one place to challenge homophobia for the first time. It was a great success with many people turning up and quest speakers including Vicki Bennett who got the crowd all impassioned!
Other agencies and groups celebrated with their own morning teas and public info stalls and displays, many assisted by Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers from SA Police.
A Queer Service Audit was also developed for services, companies and other groups to fill in as a group to discover how queer friendly their organisation really was and generate discussion around the more indepth issues surrounding homophobia. The audit proved a huge success and can still be downloaded on the website here… just scroll down!
Theme for 2009 – Homophobia Knows No Borders
Held on May 17 each year, the International Day Against Homophobia is the moment to remember that homosexuality is a universal fact and cannot be restricted by borders.
There are gay men and lesbians in all countries. What actually differs from country to country is how these people are treated.
Not all of the world’s citizens are able to enjoy the privilege of living in an egalitarian society. In many countries, loving a member of the same sex and having sexual relations with that person are against the law.
Meanwhile, in many countries like ours, sexual orientation is recognised as being a basic freedom just as is the right to freedom of religion and belief.
We must realize that homosexuality can and does make some people feel uncomfortable, particularly people who have been taught that homosexuality is abnormal, against nature, and contrary to some religious values.
An Awareness Campaign
The current campaign, Homosexuality Knows No Borders, is aimed at making the general public, particularly ethno-cultural communities of all backgrounds, more aware of gay and lesbian issues, and sexual diversity. It is generally assumed that one out of ten people is gay or lesbian, which should basically be the case in all countries and all cultures.
The United Nations Organization (UN) has 192 member countries. The political systems vary greatly from one country to the next. Although countries like ours prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, others ban any expression of homosexuality.
In the world, countries and governments grant rights to gay men and lesbians. They abolish criminal punishment that targets them, prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and recognise rights for same-sex couples.
But what is happening in SA in 2009?
Stars Against HOmophobia (Main Event, '09)
Well, the IDAHO organising committee has been working hard since last year ensuring that IDAHO 09 is bigger and better than ever. This year the committee has planned an event, among other stuff, to celebrate SA’s diverse sexualities and communities!
The ‘Stars Against Homophobia’ Event will be held at the Higher Ground Art Café on Light Square, Adelaide on Sunday, March 17 at 2pm and will launch the display of STARS against Homophobia! It will include a speech by the Hon Ian Hunter MLC, the sharing of stories from young queer South Australians and performances from local STARS Lori Bell, Luke Ashby and Linda Paterson followed by an evening of acoustic music at Higher Ground’s ‘Acousticum’. The event is catered and bar facilities will also be available.
Hundreds of stars have been collected, written on by community members telling their stories of how homophobia has impacted their lives. Even straight folk can be affected by homophobia… you can find the star template and a poster for you to advertise the campaign at your workplace below… and then collect as many stars as possible. You can then send them to Danny Hales at Gay Men’s Health, PO Box 907, KENT TOWN, SA, 5071
Click here to view Stars Against HOmophobia Invitation - an SA event celebrating all diverse sexualities.
Other SA Community Events
City of Charles Sturt
Community Breakfast – Friday 15 May 2009, 8am-9am
This year the City of Charles Sturt is helping to coordinate a neighbourhood community breakfast to celebrate IDAHO.
A free BBQ breakfast will be happening out the front of the City Of Charles Sturt Civic Centre, 72 Woodville Road from 8am-9am. We are planning to have a prominent speaker to open the event, a door-prize raffle, and there will be lots of rainbow colours, music, face-painting and fun.
Click to view more information here.
STAR Poster and Template
Click here to download a STAR template.
The IDAHO organising committee has also been working hard trying to involve agencies who work with communities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and plan to send an anti-homophobia pack out for them to use in displays. We encourage everyone to endorse 2009’s IDAHO theme – Homophobia Knows No Borders – and use the posters and information from the IDAHO Canada website in their displays… you can find the links and posters below!
In line with this theme Bfriend with the assistance of the IDAHO organising committee will be facilitating a day long workshop on working with same-sex attracted people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background and the different issues that may arise in these relationships. This be held at Way Hall, Uniting Care Wesley, 10 Pitt St, Adelaide on May 12. For more information or to RSVP click here.
The committee has also been working with several churches who will announce their support of IDAHO at their own mass on Sunday, May 17
Also, the committee have been liaising with the National LGBT Health Alliance who have pledged their support for IDAHO with more information to come!
And finally, the committee has been liaising with ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) who are now facilitating a project call ‘This is Oz’ - a 3 month online photo gallery adapted from a U.S. initiative ‘Faces of US’ www.facesofus.blogspot.com. Participants will be able to upload photographs of themselves holding their own handmade sign with a message about homophobia or LGBT rights. The resulting collection of images will be a powerful illustration of the diversity of supporters for LGBT rights and of the range of impacts of homophobia. ‘Thisoz’ will go live on May 15th.
To participate contact ACON on (02) 9206 2000 or visit their website at http://www.acon.org.au/
Workshop Flyer
For further resources and to discover more ways in which you can contribute to IDAHO 2009, just scroll down now!
IDAHO Resources
South Australian Developed resources
IDAHO Poster
IDAHO Pamphlet
IDAHO Postcard
IDAHO Web Banner and instructions on how to display web banner on your email.
Sexual Diversity Health Services AUDIT
Workshop process for Health Services AUDIT
Sexual Diversity Health Services AUDIT
Fondation Émergence Developed resources
2009 IDAHO Poster
2009 IDAHO Pamphlet
Please note contact details on Fondation Émergence resources are for residents within Canada only.
How Can I Celebrate IDAHO?
The fight against homophobia requires each and everyone in their communities to get involved. Here are a few examples of increasing community awareness:
Posters and Pamphlets
Hang IDAHO posters and provide IDAHO pamphlets in waiting rooms.
Internet
Post an IDAHO banner on websites.
Email
Send out emails for the annual campaigns against homophobia with links to http://www.homophobiaday.org/ and add an IDAHO banner to your email signature.
Click for instructions on how to ad a banner to your email signature.
Support
Ask your Local Council or State Government to support IDAHO on May 17th and continue the momentum for law reforms as recommended in the Same-Sex, Same Entitlements report from HREOC (http://www.hreoc.gov.au/Human_RightS/samesex/report/index.html)
Activities
Organise activities, seminars or conferences on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual (LGBT) issues in your workplace or community.
Speaking Out
Report anti-LGBT language and incidents, lodge a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission or The Human Rights Commission. Report any gender based crime to the South Australian Police on 000 for emergency or 131444 for reporting and police attendance. Click here for link to your closest GLLOs
Media
The fight against homophobia needs to reach all communities. The media can contribute to community awareness if you suggest reports and viewers’ letters, and if you invite the media to organised events.
- Thank someone for not being homophobic
- Thank someone for not assuming your sexuality
- Host a morning tea
- Make a display
- Fly a rainbow flag
- Educate others about homophobia
- Bake a rainbow cake - click here for recipe
You might also like to check out the websites listed below
International Lesbian and Gay Association - IDAHOmaphobia - International Lesbian and Gay Association
Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association - IDAHO
Homophobia Day - Canada
For further information on IDAHO in South Australia, contact
Danny Hales, Social Marketing Officer
Gay Men's Health
(08) 8334 1627 or email Danny Hales
Craig Murray, Community Health Worker
SHine SA (South)
(08) 8325 8164 or email Craig Murray
Luke Ashby, Youth Counsellor
The Inside Out Project, The Second Story Youth Health Service
(08) 8232 0233 or email Luke Ashby
Jacintha Moerman, Young Women’s Diverse Sexuality Worker
Shopfront Youth Health and Information Service
(08) 8281 1775 or email Jacintha Moerman
Naomi Hutchings, Community Health Worker
SHine SA (North)
(08) 8256 0700 or email Naomi Hutchings
Russell Disher, Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO) co-coordinator
South Australia Police
(08) 8204 1354 or email Russell Disher
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