The International Day against Homophobia (UK site) was established in 2005, to fall annually on 17th May, by one Louis Georges Tin (translate).

I think the issue of homophobia is just as relevant today as it has ever been. Oh, we may think we live in a little bubble in a city in Ireland or somewhere, just because the religious fanatics aren’t burning us at the stake or hanging us at Tyburn.

But actually, homophobia in all its forms is alive and well: from the subtle insidiousness of Irish politicians’ fears of providing full parity and equality for same-sex relationships; to the likes of places where men are brutally tortured to death in disturbing new ways, or where women are raped to “correct” their lesbian identity, or where society in general condones every form of violent homophobia, to where elective gender reassignment surgery is routinely carried out as an answer to male homosexuality (when they’re not being executed by the state, that is).

This year, Gays.com are running a campaign in the lead-up to IDAHO, calling for anyone and everyone to submit a brief little vid of themselves. Here’s the run-down:

Hi everyone, I’m Kenneth Tan from Gays.com, and here to recruit you for the IDAHO Challenge!

The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is coming really soon on May the 17th. While 67 countries have already signed the new UN resolution to decriminalise homosexuality, anti-gay discrimination remains a reality in most parts of the world.

We believe that the single biggest obstacle in dismantling homophobia is our invisibility. Invisibility breeds ignorance, ignorance creates fear, and fear maintains oppression.

Which is why, this year, we’ve decided to create a video that will send out the message that people like us exist in every country, in every society, in every corner of the world.

And we need your help!

Simply get in front of a video camera, smile, and in your own language tell us your name, where you come from, and how proud you are to be gay, lesbian, bisexal or transgender.

[ … ]

When you’re done with the video, you can log on to Gays.com/idaho and upload your video, or you can record it via webcam on the site. Or, you can email it to us at idaho [at] gays [dot] com.

It’s our hope that every country can be represented in this video, so if you like this message please send this video [of Kenneth Tan] to all of your friends, and get them to take part in the IDAHO Challenge!

I’ll be a tad out of touch with the internets over the next few weeks, as a result of moving into a new abode with the lady friend, but if I get the chance to make my own vid, I’ll be sending if off a.s.a.p., and posting it here!

Will anyone else be doing the same? Or do you have any opinions on IDAHO in general?

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