106-year old transgender woman speaks at IDAHO celebration in Burma

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/

Burma publicly celebrates gay rights for the first time for yesterday's International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

The 106-year-old transgender woman who addressed the first ever public gay rights rally in Burma must have seen incredible changes in her lifetime, from living under British colonialism to Burmese independence to military rule to the recent opening up.

At the first celebration of IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) in the Burmese capital Rangoon yesterday, a local youth brought the centenarian transgender woman to the stage during a section called Paying Respect to Seniors.

‘She was almost in tears,’ one of the organisers of the event, Aung Myo Min, told Gay Star News. ‘She told the audience how pleased she is to see this event take place in Rangoon.’

Aung Myo Min, from Human Rights Education Institute Burma, said the event in Rangoon was a resounding success. ‘It was very exciting and colourful,’ he said. ‘Youth wearing colorful outfits mingled with older men and women in traditional Burmese dress. Everyone was looking around, eager and excited for the first day of LGBT rights in Burma.’

The programme started with a speech by a well-known Burmese make-up artist. Ko Mar. He said that as a gay man in Burma he has struggled for acceptance. He encouraged young LGBT people to maintain a strong sense of self-worth and to fight for equality.

Then author Atta Kyaw spoke about homophobia in Burmese society. He said the media presents stereotypes of LGBT people which reinforces dangerous misconceptions. In movies for example, he said, gay men are comic characters rather than multi-dimensional.

The events in Rangoon and other cities in Burma went smoothly without any interruption from the authorities.

Aung Myo Min, who has organised IDAHO events for Burmese nationals in Thailand for the last three years, said:

‘I am very happy to see this happen. I feel like the rainbow flag in Burma ties the event to others happening around the world. This event is a historic event that establishes the voice of the Burmese LGBT movement as one that will not be silenced.’

http://www.gaystarnews.com/

Abraço contra a homofobia e transfobia

in: http://www.dn.pt

A rede "ex aequo - associação de jovens lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, transgéneros e simpatizantes" realiza quinta-feira uma ação de sensibilização pública, em que vários voluntários irão distribuir abraços, brindes e panfletos informativos contra a homofobia e transfobia. 

O evento já se realizou em anos anteriores e tem como principal objectivo combater a intolerância contra as diferenças sexuais. A ação decorrerá entre as 17.30 e as 18.30, junto à Estação Multimodal da Gare do Oriente.

A rede ex aequo tem como principal missão trabalhar no apoio à juventude lésbica, gay, bissexual ou transgénera e na informação social relativamente às questões da orientação sexual e identidade de género.

A associação pretende ainda que estejam presentes duas figuras públicas para participar no evento, juntamente com os jovens voluntários da rede ex aequo. Mas, para já, não avança qualquer nome.

http://www.dn.pt

Gays albaneses realizaram passeio de bicicleta

in: http://portuguese.ruvr.ru/2012_05_15/74772060/

© Flickr.com/erjkprunczyk/cc-by-nc-sa 3.0

Em 14 de maio os gays albaneses realizaram em Tirana um passeio de bicicleta contra violação de seus direitos civis. Esta ação do movimento LGBT albanês tornou-se uma espécie de ensaio para um evento de grande escala, agendado para 17 de maio, o Dia Internacional Contra a Homofobia.

A ação em 17 de maio ainda está sob questão devido às declarações do vice-ministro de defesa que os manifestantes “devem ser batidos com varas grossas”.

Várias dezenas de gays e lésbicas participaram do passeio de bicicleta. No início do passeio, ainda apesar da presença da polícia, desconhecidos jogaram garrafas com substâncias explosivas em manifestantes. Ninguém dos ativistas não ficou ferido.

Uma das ativistas do LGBT declarou depois do passeio: “Não tememos mais mostrar quem somos. Acho que chegou o tempo para terminar este ciclo de medo e ódio em que vivemos todos esses anos.”

http://portuguese.ruvr.ru/2012_05_15/74772060/

Homophobia: European leaders tell young people It Gets Better

in: http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-leaders-it-gets-better/

In Europe, growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can be challenging: difference often leads to bullying, self-harm, and sometimes suicide attempts. Studies consistently point to higher physical and mental health risks for LGBT young people.

For the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2012, over 50 European politicians and leaders from all EU institutions  join forces telling LGBT teenagers they are working to make things better, and put an end to homophobia and transphobia.

In this unique video message, Members of the European Parliament tell young people it gets better in 17 different languages, from Italian to Bulgarian and Swedish to Polish.

They are joined in the video by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament;Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council; and Cecilia Malmström, Andris Piebalgs, Neelie Kroes, László Andor and Viviane Reding, Members of the European Commission.

This video message is inspired by the American project It Gets Better, which aims to reduce self-harm and suicide attempts among LGBT young people.

http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-leaders-it-gets-better/

Homofobia: motorista de táxi agride lésbica

http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/rio/html/2011/6/homofobia_motorista_de_taxi_agride_lesbica_168197.html

Publicitária desmaiou e perdeu 70% de sua audição após levar um tapa no ouvido. O taxista se irritou ao vê-la embarcar no automóvel de mãos dadas com namorada

Casal de lésbicas foi vítima de taxista homofóbico na madrugada de 8 de maio, após sair de uma festa na Mansão Laranjeiras, no bairro de Santa Teresa. A publicitária e musicista Eliza Schinner, 29 anos, conta ter levado forte tapa no ouvido esquerdo porque entrou no táxi — que não era de cooperativa e estava em frente ao local do evento — de mãos dadas com sua namorada.



Eliza conta que já foi alvo de homofóbicos até em point gay em Ipanema: ela não denunciou o taxista porque não conseguiu anotar sua placa | Foto: Felipe O'Neill / Agência O Dia

Segundo Eliza, a viagem só durou dois minutos, suficientes para o motorista dar arrancadas bruscas. “Estávamos descendo uma ladeira, no sentido Laranjeiras, e ele dirigia perigosamente. Pedi que pegasse leve na velocidade”, conta. Ainda de acordo com seu relato, ele não respeitou e disse: “Continua fazendo essa merda aí atrás, que eu continuo aqui na frente”. Ela diz que estava apenas conversando com a namorada.

Ao ouvir a resposta, a musicista retrucou: “Você quer me matar e ainda é homofóbico?”. Ele teria respondido que sim. A vítima pediu que encerrasse a corrida, pela qual se recusou a pagar e, ao sair do carro, o taxista teria ido em sua direção e dado um forte tapa no seu ouvido esquerdo — o que prejudicou em 70% sua audição. Depois da agressão, ele saiu rapidamente do local, e ela não chegou a anotar a placa do veículo

Devido à falta de informações sobre o agressor, Eliza — que afirma conviver com atos discriminatórios nas ruas — não quis registrar o caso na delegacia. Além de lamentar o caso, ela reclama dos cuidados redobrados que deve ter com seu ouvido agora: “Farei teste para saber se recuperei minha audição, mas não posso mais tocar sem proteção”.

O QUE FAZER

Vítimas de homofobia podem recorrer às ações implementadas pelo governo do estado, com apoio de ONGs e prefeituras, através do ‘Rio Sem Homofobia’.

CENTROS DE REFERÊNCIAS DE PROMOÇÃO DA CIDADANIA LGBT

Serviço de atendimento jurídico, social e psicológico, de segunda a sexta, das 9h às 18h. Unidades já inauguradas na capital, na Central do Brasil, 7 º andar, e em Friburgo, na Av. Alberto Braune 223, Centro.

DISQUE-CIDADANIA LGBT (0800 023 4567)

Serviço telefônico de atendimento 24h e ininterrupto, para orientar e acolher LGBTs, familiares e amigos em situação de violência.

Kit do MEC mais amplo

O polêmico kit-anti-homofobia do Ministério da Educação (MEC) deverá incluir combate ao racismo e à intolerância religiosa. A informação foi dada pelo ministro Fernando Haddad, em sabatina ontem no Senado. O material está sendo refeito porque a presidenta Dilma Rousseff considerou-o inadequado.

A senadora Marta Suplicy (PT-SP) retirou do projeto de lei anti-homofobia proposta que considerava crime as manifestações contra gays em cultos. Apesar disso, evangélicos prometem grande protesto hoje diante do Congresso contra a lei que criminaliza a homofobia

Cubans march against homophobia in Havana

http://news.yahoo.com/


Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuba's President Raul Castro, center, is surrounded by marchers at the start …

Cubans have held a short but colorful parade celebrating sexual diversity to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.

Dozens of people waving rainbow flags and banging drums marched through the capital Saturday. One participant held a portrait of ex-leader Fidel Castro.

Castro's niece Mariela Castro campaigns for gay rights and heads the government-backed National Sexual Education Center. She says the march is meant to raise awareness about discrimination.

Cuba is far more tolerant of homosexuality than in the early years after the 1959 revolution, when many gays lost jobs, were imprisoned or sent to work camps or fled to exile. The government has even began paying for Cubans' sex-change operations in recent years.

http://news.yahoo.com/

International Day Against Homophobia events announced

http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/

The Intentional Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) has announced more events to take place on or around May17.

Fighting so-called 'reparative' therapies, aiming at "curing" sexual and gender diversity, is emerging as a theme.

A coalition of groups from Latin America and the Caribbean has launched a campaign called "Cures that kill". First signatories include the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology, Mariela Castro and the Mayor of Lima.

• Read the full appeal and sign the petition

In Peru a week long programme in Lima includes a national seminar on 'reparative' therapies.

In Italy, Catholics will hold a Vigil of Prayer for the victims of homophobia.

The Latin Americans are seeking support from the international community and the wider public.

The IDAHO Committee has an online "As I Am" campaign which aims to "celebrate our individualities and to honor the collective spirit that binds us all, connecting us to universal, inalienable and interconnected human rights that all people share". It has invited submissions of creative videos, artwork, or written statements "about respecting a person for ALL of who they are".

May 17, the 20 national editions of the free daily METRO, read by 17 million people, will be edited by Lady Gaga. There is a contest for Gaga assistants.

Turkish LGBT group KAOS GL will launch a regional network against homophobia, as part of the sixth international IDAHO conference in Ankara. They said:

"The Conference for Middle East and Balkan Countries’ Homosexuals was a dream when we declared our foundation 16 years ago and shaped our liberation perspective. Liberation and survival struggles of LGBT in our region has always been a constant consideration for Kaos GL, one of the first LGBT organisations in Turkey. The reflections of all ethnic, religious and cultural diversity seen in the Middle Eastern, Caucasus and Balkan countries exist in Turkey’s society. Kaos GL has strived for this diversity to represent and express itself in the LGBT movement since its foundation."

"Homophobia is institutionalised in civil society and the public area by blending racism and nationalism in the countries of this region, including Turkey. Institutionalised homophobia integrates into historical animosities between the countries of our region and increases existing alienation between peoples. It is the LGBT organisations and the regional network between these organisations that will have to resist homophobic and sexist reflections of racist and nationalist policies in our region."

In Rwanda, LGBT organisation HOCA will hold a large-scale media conference to increase awareness of the situation of sexual and gender minorities in the country.

The international photo project 'Walk with Pride' that documents gay pride parades around the globe will be shown simultaneously in more than 20 locations around the world, including at the European Parliament, and on the IDAHO Committee's website.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission will release 'Courage Unfolds', a film highlighting the issues faced by LGBT people in Asia and encouraging the use of the Yogyakarta Principles as a tool to promote LGBT human rights, May 17.

The Courage Unfolds Campaign calls for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to be protected by law, respected by society, and accepted by family.

• Watch the trailer

In Russia, the second "Rainbow Flashmob" will happen, with Hamburg joining in again this year with other cities expected to follow suit.

In Israel, the IDAHO team will announce the winner of the 'academic papers regarding homophobia' contest, which has the support of Shimon Peres. In the city of Nethanya, 120 school counselors will participate in a seminar adressing homo/transphobic bullying in schools.

In Australia, a 'heroes in our communities' event will launch a year-long campaign calling upon government bodies to sign and ratify the joint statement of the 2011 Asia Pacific Outgames Human Rights Conference.

In Chile, a march will close a one-day program about public campaigning and political advocacy.

http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/