The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is once again upon us! The 17th of May is the day the world unites to say NO! to homophobia, and South Australia will once again join the rest of the country (and the world) in uniting to celebrate diverse sexualities.
Initiated by Fondation Émergence – a Canada-based organisation – IDAHO is a theme-day dedicated to the fight against homophobia and was designed and set up in Québec on the 4th of June 2003. With the kind help of partners, this theme-day expanded to reach the rest of Canada, and then France and Belgium. In 2005, the IDAHO committee proposed the symbolic date of 17th of May, to commemorate the World Health Organisations landmark decision in 1990 to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.

Fondation Émergence has announced that the theme for the IDAHO 2010 is ‘Speaking About Silence: Homophobia in the sports world’.

“On a personal level, athletes and figures involved in the sports world are no more homophobic than any other people. Yet, the sports environment is weighed down by a heavy silence on anything dealing with sexual diversity.

What's surprising is how an entire sector of society seems to have escaped the progress of the last thirty years, a time when society grew sensitive to sexual diversity and sexual minority issues.
The sports world has always favoured a lifestyle and a certain way of being that focus on physical performance. Both set rules for excluding everything that does not live up to the environment's stereotypes.

Homophobia originates from a stereotypical image of what a man should be and of what a woman should be. In the sports world, masculinity and femininity can only be heterosexual.

However, boys who are gay and girls who are lesbians are also attracted to sports and wish to take part in them or make a career out of it. People entering athletic organisations know what rules to play by: being gay or lesbian needs to be tucked away into the closet and silence becomes master of the game.
The sports world needs to join in society's progress, put an end to the silence on LGBT issues, and get involved in the fight against homophobia.”
(www.homophobiaday.org)

Why do we need to have IDAHO?
Homophobia persists in the sports world…

(www.homophobiaday.org)

On a global scale
Over 80 countries across the globe 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 grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity remains unrecognised (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.

1. Personal homophobia is prejudice. It is the personal belief that LGBT people are sinful, immoral, sick or 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, bisexual or transgender, 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 LGBT people, it is called internalised homophobia.

2. Interpersonal homophobia is the fear, dislike or hatred of people believed to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This hatred or dislike may be expressed as name-calling, verbal and/or physical harassment, and individual acts of discrimination. LGBT people are regularly attacked for no other reason than their actual or assumed gender or sexuality identity. Most people act out their fears of LGBT people in non-violent, more commonplace ways.
3. 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.
4. 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 the opposite sex.

http://www.ecu.edu.au/equ/resources/docs/Homophobia.pdf
Examples of Homophobia include behaviours or attitudes which:

• Make assumptions about a persons sexuality based on dress, behaviour, or personality.
• Focus on a person’s sexuality, rather than the whole, complex person.
• Being afraid of social or physical interactions with people who are lesbian or gay.
• Avoid social situations or activities where you night be perceived as lesbian or gay.
• Assume 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.

• Reinforces socially constructed gender roles.
• Pressures heterosexual men to have to prove their masculinity.

• Disadvantages heterosexuals having close relationships with same-sex friends with the possible fear of being perceived as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
• Promotes discrimination.
• Promotes exclusion and does not embrace diversity.
• Impacts not only on individuals, but their families, friends and children.

References:
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
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 in-depth issues surrounding homophobia. The audit proved a huge success and can still be downloaded on the website here… just scroll down! 

2009
The theme for IDAHO 2009 wasHomophobia knows no borders and emphasised the need to remember that homosexuality is a universal fact and cannot be restricted by borders. The 2009 IDAHO reminded us that there are LGBT people in all countries. What actually differs from country to country is how these people are treated.  IDAHO 2009 aimed at making the general public, particularly ethno-cultural communities of all backgrounds, more aware of LGBT issues, and sexual diversity.
The ‘Stars Against Homophobia’ event was held at the Higher Ground Art Café on Light Square, Adelaide where the launch  of the display of STARS against Homophobia took place! It included 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’.

Hundreds of stars were collected, written-on by community members, and displayed at the launch telling stories of how homophobia has impacted their lives.

The City of Charles Sturt coordinated a neighbourhood community breakfast to celebrate IDAHO. The event was comprised of a free BBQ breakfast, a prominent speaker to open the event, a door-prize raffle, and  lots of rainbow colours, music, face-painting and fun.

So what is happening in SA in 2010?
A number of events are happening across the Adelaide metropolitan area in order to celebrate IDAHO

Breaking the Silence on Homophobia in Sport - (IDAHO Launch Event, '10)
17th May 2010: State IDAHO launch with guest speaker (to be confirmed), light luncheon and lawn bowls. Local sports players and member of the LGBT community will be invited to attend. Media will be invited with a press release regarding the event.

Raising the rainbow flag and signing the Declaration Against Homophobia in Sport
Letter strategy to encourage sporting organisations to raise the rainbow flag for IDAHO and endorse the “Declaration against Homophobia in Sport”. Responses will be compiled and a poster will be made.

IDAHO SA Facebook page
Facebook page with information and promotional material, as well as a discussion forum on people’s experiences of homophobia in sport.

Postcard promotion
Various promotional activities and resources, e.g articles in Blaze, mass email strategy, production and distribution of IDAHO postcards, banner at Adelaide University and more…
Rainbow Café  anf Documentary Screening: Walk Like a Man
17th May 2010 3:30 – 7pm: Rainbow Café in Salisbury – a youth event – with coffee, cake and other light refreshments, live music performances and This is Oz poster-making and photography (see event details on Facebook)

17th May 2010 7 – 8pm: Documentary screening in Salisbury of “Walk like a Man”, the story of Ian Roberts (Rugby player) coming out.

IDAHO stall
13th May 2010 4-8pm: IDAHO information stall at Elizabeth Shopping Centre, with promotional and educational material to be handed out, to be staffed by peers and run alongside SA Police stall.
PEACE Multicultural Homophobia Workshop
More information to come…

IDAHO Resources
South Australian Developed resources
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
2010 IDAHO Posters, Pamphlets and other resources
Declaration Against any Form of Discrimination in the Sports Worldwhich can be signed by sporting clubs/associations/individuals and returned to Holley Skene (see contact details at bottom of page).

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
Join the IDAHO SA Facebook page, invite your friends and contribute to the discussion about homophobia and sport.
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.

Support
Ask your Local Council or State Government to support IDAHO on the 17th of May each year and get informed about the Same Sex Law Reforms relating to same sex couples in Australia.
Visit http://www.wearitwithpride.com.au/ to find out more.

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
Holley Skene
Social and Cultural Research Officer
Gay Men's Health
(08) 8334 1632 or email Holley Skene

Jacintha Moerman
Young Women’s Diverse Sexuality Worker
Shopfront Youth Health and Information Service
(08) 8281 1775 or email Jacintha Moerman

Kirsty Degabriele
Youth Counsellor – Inside Out Project
The Second Story
Project Officer – Safe and Free to be Me Project
SHine SA
(08) 8255 3477 or email Kirsty Degabriele

Craig Murray
Community Health Worker
SHine SA (South)
(08) 8325 8164 or email Craig Murray

Goran Jovanov
Case Manager
PEACE Multicultural HIV & Hepatitis C Services
Relationships Australia
(08) 8245 8100 or email Goran Jovanov