IDAHO kicks off
Parties, awards nights and chalk rainbows are set to mark this year鈥檚 International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
In NSW, the Pride in Diversity awards luncheon at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney鈥檚 CBD will recognise businesses working to make workplaces safer for LGBTI employees.
Outside Sydney, HIV/AIDS advocacy body ACON have provided small grants to community groups across the state to stage their own IDAHO events, including an IDAHO Fair on-campus at the University of Wollongong, rainbow chalking at a Newcastle youth centre and a flashmob at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market.
ACON are also promoting their 鈥楾his Is Oz鈥� campaign, encouraging people to upload photos of themselves online featuring messages of support for LGBTI people and social inclusion.
In Victoria, Tertiary Recreation Entertainment Victoria are hosting the inaugural Intervarsity IDAHO Ball at Roxanne in Melbourne鈥檚 CBD, while Hobson鈥檚 Bay Council are staging a rainbow flag-raising ceremony outside the council offices.
Activists are also organising a flashmob near Flinders St Station, inspired by the 2010 鈥楧ie In鈥� protest in Amsterdam, where participants 鈥榙ropped dead鈥� for several minutes to pay tribute to those who have died as a result of homophobia and transphobia. The stunt will be repeated by the Melbourne flashmob, who will also dress in bright clothing to reflect a 鈥榬ainbow鈥� theme.
IDAHO, celebrated on March 17 every year, commemorates the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases.
