Happy IDAHOT 2017!

Today also marks the 12th annual celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia or the IDAHOT as it's abbreviated.

In many areas buildings and iconic structures are being lit in rainbow colors to signify support for the IDAHOT.

This 2017 observance finds us not only celebrating the day in over 140 countries, but with TBLGQ people in some parts of the world under legislative and physical attacks.

We're increasingly hearing about the horrible situation in Chechnya, and in the United States we've lost in the first five months of 2017 ten trans women of color to anti-trans violence, of which nine of them are Black.

We've also witnessed in the USA increased efforts by the Republican to roll back the positive advances for trans human rights pushed by the Obama Administration and simultaneously roll out anti-trans legislative attacks in the state legislatures they control.

To add an exclamation point to that last sentence, Texas Lt Gov Dan Patrick (R)  upset that his unjust SB 6 has been killed in the Texas House, with the sessions sine die day looming on May 29, picked this day to call for a tax money wasting special session to pass his anti-trans hate bill

Guess you forgot we have an election in Texas next year and we trans Texans vote.

We're also seeing increased resistance to the demonization of trans people as the realization sinks in that TBLGQ rights are international human rights.

But Happy IDAHOT, TransGriot readers!  

Happy IDAHOT 2016!

In addition to today being a primary election day in Kentucky and Oregon, today is also the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

And with unbridled transphobia and anti-trans hatred being peddled by the Republican Party, it couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.

This day was conceived in 2004 by Louis-Georges Tin as a way to raise awareness of violence, discrimination and repression aimed at LGBT communities around the world and take action against it.  The May 17 date was chosen because it is the date in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases Manual.

The first IDAHOT was held on May 17, 2005, and Tin served as chairperson of the .event until 2013, when he resigned and it was chaired by Tamara Adrian, who now serves in the Venezuelan National Assembly..

Transphobia was added to the campaign in 2009, and biphobia was officially added in 2015.

Happy IDAHOT 2016, everyone.
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President Obama's IDAHOT 2015 Statement

Today I's the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, know as the IDAHOT for short.   It was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social justice movements, the media and the public to the violence and discrimination faced internationally by trans, bi, intersex and SGL people.

President Obama is marking this international human rights day with this statement

Michelle and I join our fellow Americans and others around the world in commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia tomorrow, May 17.  We take this opportunity to reaffirm that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights are human rights, to celebrate the dignity of every person, and to underscore that all people deserve to live free from fear, violence, and discrimination, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

We work toward this goal every day. Here at home, we are working to end bias-motivated violence, combat discrimination in the workplace, and address the specific needs of transgender persons.  Overseas, I am proud of the steps that the United States has taken to prioritize the protection and promotion of LGBT rights in our diplomacy and global outreach.

There is much more to do, and this fight for equality will not be won in a day.  But we will keep working, at home and abroad, and we will keep fighting, for however long it takes until we are all able to live free and equal in dignity and rights.

Hope that day day happens within my lifetime.

The IDAHOT Is Coming!

The IDAHOT is coming next Sunday! 

So what is the IDAHOT?   It's the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia or IDAHOT for shot.   It was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social justice movements, the media and the public to the violence and discrimination faced internationally by TBLGI people.

The IDAHOT has the goal of mobilizing and uniting millions of people in support of the recognition of human rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

It coincides with the May 17, 1990 date that the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.  It's something the international transgender community is working toward having happen in terms of depathologizing transsexuality with the upcoming edition of the ICD-11

When it was founded it was known as the International Day Against Homophobia or IDAHO.   Transphobia was added to the title in 2009 to recognize the different issues impacting sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.  This year, to acknowledge the issues faced by bisexual people, biphobia was added to the title.

IDAHOT is recognized by 130 nations, the European Parliament, and other local authorities around the globe.   Several UN agencies also recognize the IDAHOT with specific events.

And yes, it has its own hashtag #IDAHOT2015

So no May 17, let's join folks around the world in recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and seek to create greater awareness of what people need to do to eradicate it.

Happy IDAHOT 2014

Today is the 9th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.   It has become one of the largest international solidarity events since its conception by Frenchman Louis-Georges Tin.

He acted as the IDAHOT Committee Chairperson until his resignation in September 2013 and was succeeded by internationally renowned Venezuelan trans* rights activist, lawyer and law professor Tamara Adrian.

IDAHOT was created to raise awareness of violence, discrimination, and repression of LGBT communities around the globe, provide an opportunity to take action and engage in dialogue with the media, policymakers, public opinion influencers, and wider civil society.

There are 120 countries in which some type of IDAHOT event is taking place today, and in addition to Vice President Joe Biden tweeting about the #IDAHOT, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have also released statements in support of it. 

Here is President Obama's statement, released yesterday.

Tomorrow, as we commemorate the 10th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we recommit ourselves to the fundamental belief that all people should be treated equally, that they should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, and that no one should face violence or discrimination -- no matter who they are or whom they love
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This year, the United States celebrates the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.  In doing so, we reflect on lessons learned from our own civil rights struggles and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the human rights of all people are universally protected.

At a time when, tragically, we are seeing increased efforts to criminalize or oppress LGBT persons, we call on partners everywhere to join us in defending the equal rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters, and in ensuring they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a statement late on Thursday, May 15, affirming his support for the global commemorations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, followed his statement, with her own IDAHOT op-ed, released Friday, May 16. UNDP, UNAIDS and other UN agencies have also released statements in support of the Day. - See more at: http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/buzz-worthy/may17-2014-welcome/#sthash.puX1djni.dpuf

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Navi Pillay have also released statements and op-ed columns in support of IDAHOT.

Here in Houston, IDAHOT falls as the TBLG community here is involved in a pitched battle against the local Forces of Intolerance to pass a Houston Equal Rights Ordinance that includes sexual orientation and gender identity protections.

In a few hours I head to the Montrose Center to take part in an all day New Organizing Institute event starting at 9 AM and running until 4 PM entitled 'Public Narrative Training For Trans* and Gender Non-Conforming Gulf Coast Organizers'. 

Do you identify as trans* or gender non-conforming? Then this workshop is for you! Join us as we pull together some of the best organizers from throughout the Gulf Coast region to share stories, skills, and strategize!   Gain the confidence to tell your story of self, now and community.

Happy IDAHOT people!

IDAHOT 2013 Happening Friday

IDAHOT stands for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which is an international event created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to this issue.  Transphobia was officially added to the campaign in 2009

It is not one centralized campaign under UN auspices, but coordinated by a Paris based IDAHOT committee founded and headed by French academic Louis-Georges Tin.   It is designed to be a day in which everyone can use it as a way to take action against the twin scourges of homophobia and transphobia.

As of this writing, biphobia has not been officially added to the campaign. 

The May 17 date was chosen by the IDAHOT creators to commemorate the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.    It something we transpeople around the world are seeking to replicate with the WHO in terms of getting GID declassified with this upcoming revision of the ICD-11 manual in 2015.

The IDAHOT is celebated in more than 100 countries and has gained official recognition in the European Union, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

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2012 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Today is IDAHOT Day, and the acronym stands for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

It happens every May 17 and is marked with events around the world that call attention to homophobia and transphobia, salute those who work tirelessly to fight for TBLG rights in our various nations  from our planet and give our allies an opportunity to express their support for the trans, bi, lesbian and gay brothers and sisters.. 

It's a lofty goal but is one that sadly the human race is a long way from achieving as evidenced in the United States.

In just the first five months of this year alone we've witnessed the passage of the unjust Amendment One in North Carolina, a Republican congressman openly stating it should be legal to discriminate against TBLG people, transwomen of color being murdered at alarming rates and no one really caring about it and a major newspaper in the New York Times ignoring the AP Stylebook guidelines on respectfully reporting about trans people and refusing to retract a transphobic story penned about Lorena Escalera's tragic death in a suspicious fire.

While my nation hasn't been living up to the words of the Constitution as it applies to trans and GL Americans, I and others will continue to insist that they do and will not rest until the words 'We the People' also include trans, bi, gay and lesbian people too. 

Well, what better time than today to get started than on IDAHOT doing the work necessary towards  achieving that goal?  Because it's glaringly evident in the United States and elsewhere around this planet we have a lot of work to do to eliminate the scourges of homophobia and transphobia from our planet.

Happy IDAHOT 2012 people.

2011 International Day Against Homophobia And Transphobia

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).   It's a day set aside to focus international attention about the problems of homophobia and transphobia and get concerted action taken to deal with those problems.


Just yesterday two young women were indicted on hate crimes charges because of transphobia.    For a brief moment of their life they let hatred of an individual transperson overcome them to the point that they viciously attacked her for living her life, and will probably pay for that misguided error in judgment by spending a few years in jail for the assault they perpetrated upon her.

Here's a statement from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concerning the IDAHOT.

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

In every part of the world, men and women are persecuted and attacked because of who they are or whom they love. Homophobia, transphobia and the brutal hostility associated with them are often rooted in a lack of understanding of what it actually means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). So to combat this terrible scourge and break the cycle of fear and violence, we must work together to improve education and support those who stand up against laws that criminalize love and promote hate. As we mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia this May 17, let us resolve to redouble our efforts.

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am proud to reaffirm our support for LGBT communities at home and abroad, and to call for an end to discrimination and mistreatment of LGBT persons wherever it occurs. Whether by supporting LGBT advocates marching in Belgrade, leading the effort at the United Nations to affirm the human rights of LGBT persons, or condemning a vile law under consideration in Uganda, we are committed to our friends and allies in every region of the world who are fighting for equality and justice. These are not Western concepts; these are universal human rights.

Despite these gains and hard work, there is more to do to turn the tide of inequality and discrimination against the LGBT community. If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, know that the United States stands with you and we are unwavering in our commitment to ending this cycle of hate.