Have you made your IDAHO promise?
No more excuses, it’s time to stand up against discrimination properly – this is the new national anti-homophobia push launched today on the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
No To Homophobia organisers revealed their new ‘promise’ campaign, urging people to pledge that they will challenge discrimination when they see it.
The pledge reads: “I will stand up against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Always.”
JOY 94.9 FM broadcasted the launch live on Friday morning, inviting community members such X Factor contestant Paige Phoenix (pictured below) and No To Homophobia spokeswoman Anna Brown.
Brown said said people could “give their word” at the No To Homophobia website and participate in a range of actions within their workplaces, community groups, sports clubs and local communities.
Within hours of the new campaign going live, more than 300 people had signed up online.
“The No to Homophobia campaign was founded on a growing body of research showing a strong link between sex and gender-based harassment, discrimination and abuse with a range of physical and psychological health issues, including anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide,” she said.
“Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia should be viewed as serious public health issues that cause great harm, particularly to younger and more isolated members of our community.”
Acting Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights commissioner Karen Toohey said the commission was proud to support the No to Homophobia Campaign.
“It is up to all of us to take action to send the strong message that homophobia in all its forms is destructive, unacceptable and often against the law,” she said.
“There is no place for hate, discrimination and harassment in our community. We all have a role to play in standing up to the homophobia and transphobia that exists in our workplaces, schoolyards, businesses, on the sporting field and in and other public places.”
Brown said that asking people to stand together was an important strategy in creating change.
“It鈥檚 hard to stand alone, but together we can make our community a safe place for everyone.”
The No To Homophobia campaign was launched last August and featured two 30-second TV commercials that have since been screened at last year’s AFL preliminary finals as well as on Foxtel and community TV channels.
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