This year's International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) will be marked by serveral events in Hong Kong. The theme of this year's IDAHO is "Religions, homophobia, transphobia".
Across the world, in many different social and cultural contexts, homophobic and transphobic violence is being propagated by people who use religious arguments to justify their positions.
The objective of this campaign is to expose and oppose the negative impact of religious fundamentalist discourses and to give visibility and promotion to voices who are working for inclusion, tolerance and peace.
Here are the events taking place during IDAHO Hong Kong 2010:
Inter-faith Seminar in Hong Kong
We in Hong Kong are remembering the people of different sexual orientations and sexual identities who are suffering from unnecessary misunderstandings, discriminations, and even physical violence, under the homophobic cultural and religious atmospheres in various corners of the world. In this inter-faith seminar, representatives from various religious groups in Hong Kong come together to urge putting aside differences among religions on the basis of tolerance and compassion common all religions to create hope and space for reconciliation between religion and sexual minorities.
When:
Saturday, May 15, 2010, 2:30-5:30pm
Where:
Kowloon Union Church, 4 Jordan Road, Kowloon
(MTR Jordan Station exit B)
Language:
Cantonese (English simultaneous interpretation available)
Organizer:
Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship (BMCF)
» Find out more [1] about this activity
High Level Dialogue - Punitive laws, human rights and HIV prevention among men who have sex with men in Asia-Pacific
This High Level Dialogue will bring together key members of the Judiciary, Parliament, Community advocacy groups and the UN system. The discussion will explore how effective HIV prevention can only be achieved in a conducive legal environment that allows unimpeded dissemination of evidence based prevention messages, appropriate service provision, and creates confidence among the most marginalized and vulnerable to seek information and access health related services.
When:
Monday, May 17, 2010, 5:00-7:00pm
Where:
Council Chamber, 8/F Meng Wah Complex, University of Hong Kong
Language:
English
Co-organizers:
The United Nations Development Programme
Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)
Center for Comparative and Public Law (CCPL), Faculty of Law, HKU
» Find out more [2] about this activity
Candlelight Vigil
On the evening of IDAHO Day, a candlelight vigil will be held at Chater Gardens. Please come if you can and spread this message as widely as you can, too. The program will include a commemoration of acts of homophobia and transphobia by readings and a display, a moment of silence for the victims, a symbolic "die in", short speeches by contributors and guests and a candlelight vigil.
When:
Monday, May 17, 2010, 7:30-9:30pm
Where:
Chater Gardens, Central
» Find out more [3] about this activity
The IDAHO video from 2009: One Voice, One Message, Heard Around the World
[4]On Saturday 8 May, Lithuania is set to host the 2010 Baltic Pride which celebrates diversity and champions human rights. It will be the first ever Pride event to take place in Lithuania. However, LGBT people in Lithuania are still subject to discrimination and intolerance, and the Lithuanian authorities have cancelled all previously planned public LGBT events in the country. Call on the Lithuanian President to ensure the Baltic Pride 2010 will take place safely and freely [4].