International Day Againt Homophobia (Today May 16th)

As some of you guys might be aware, on the 17th May the international community celebrates International Day Against Homophobia. Its goal is to articulate action and reflection in order to combat all physical, moral and symbolic violence related to sexual orientation. In some parts of the world, significant progress have been made towards eradicating homophobia, but in most places (especially the Caribbean regions where I'm from) there's still a mountain to overcome.

In 2003, a group of fellow law students and I formed a group called Students Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) to lobby for an end to discrimination on any basis, but specifically on the grounds of sexual orientation. At that time the Government of Guyana had proposed a constitutional amendment which sought to amend the discrimination clause in our constitution to include sexual orientation as a ground of non-discrimination. This group consisted to a fair mix of gay and straight persons who only sought to have a fair society for all. We failed to lobby enough support to get this amendmet to be approved and it was subsequently shelved.

This group has evolved to Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) (as we are no longer students :p) and we are still struggling for Human Rights, with rights for sexual minorities one of our top priorities. To coincide with International Day Against Homophobia, we are streamlining a series of events which will highlight the plight of gay persons everywhere. On Tuesday we have a movienight. There is a movie called "Bent" that we are showing, which I think highlights the plight of a gay German man (not sure as I didn't get a chance to screen it as yet). We are also having a program on national radio to discuss what society can do to help in this fight against all forms of discrimination.

On Wednesday I am co-ordinating a concert themed "Tolerance for Diversity", which will feature persons singing songs promoting tolerance, readings that promote tolerance on whatever level (be it based on race, sexuality...etc.), and dances and stuff. This is where I'm hoping you guys can help me. We are approaching crunchtime and I'm finding it difficult to juggle work and tennis and everything, and at the same time look for music and poetry or prose pieces aimed at promoting tolerance. Any suggestions about any kind of music would be welcome...be it POP, soul, R&B...anything. Also if you have any pieces of prose or poetry you think might be helpful...please post it...as long as it promotes any form of tolerance (race, sexuality, gender).

There is an online petition for those who are interested. If you support this initiative, please go ahead and sign the petition :). Let's try to make a difference for generations to come...no matter how small. Take care :wavey:.

http://www.petitiononline.com/idaho/petition.html

Thanks for this :yeah:

I signed your petition, and I just want to tell you that we need more people like you all around the world to stop homophobia or anything type of discrimination. You rock :kiss:

just signed it-fuck homophobia!!

The gays only get 1 day? Hmmm.

The gays only get 1 day? Hmmm.
better than none I suppose :p

and thanks for the positive comments guys :wavey:

now there is only the matter of someone suggesting a few songs and poetry that may relate to anti-discrimination ;)

I like to wear pink undies and make it gay day every day! :D

Good Job Shuji..
I will sign the petition for you..I am proud of you.....

I just signed it...I am surprise that Indonesia is not part of this event yet...

Okay. I watched the movie Bent last night and found it really good. Here's a basic rundown of what it's about. If you guys get a chance please check it out. It's also a good movie for straight persons to watch too :p.

This movie is about 2 gay concentration camp victims who are sent to Dachau and who fall in love, using their relationship as an emotional crutch in their efforts to rebuff the horrors of the Holocaust. Max (played by Clive Owen), would rather wear a yellow star and proclaim himself a Jew than be lanced with the pink triangle that designates homosexuality. Horst (Lothaire Bluteau) chastises him for his homophobia. Later the tables turn on Max, who finds (through Horst) the strength both to keep alive indefinitely and to ultimately come to grips with his sexuality.

Double Post :rolleyes:

I also signed your petition.

This thing that your doing is so admirable, so I'll try my best to think of something. :)

Signed and bumped :)

Somehow, Come Out seems to fit the thread title better than Come In ;)

And that Bent movie sounds really interesting! Must check it out someday.

Today is International Day Against Homophobia. On this day Gay and Straight persons worldwide come together to show solidarity in erradicating cowardly acts of negativity towards sexual minorities. In the 21th century, someone's sexuality should not be such an issue as it is today. We should all be free to live our lives, and not treated like second class citizens because I'm attracted to another guy. So to all the Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, Transvestite and Bisexual posters, I urge you to stand up and live your life. Let us not be downtrodden because of the bigotry of others. NO form of discrimination should be tolerated :wavey:. Let's celebrate tolerance for diversity today :kiss: :hearts: :kiss:

:rolls: :rolls:

:aparty: :kiss: :hearts: Hope such days can open few minds and stop that kind of discrimination.

Well done for this initiative and good luck. The film is an adaptation of a brilliant play written by Martin Sherman.

Okay. I watched the movie Bent last night and found it really good. Here's a basic rundown of what it's about. If you guys get a chance please check it out. It's also a good movie for straight persons to watch too :p.

This movie is about 2 gay concentration camp victims who are sent to Dachau and who fall in love, using their relationship as an emotional crutch in their efforts to rebuff the horrors of the Holocaust. Max (played by Clive Owen), would rather wear a yellow star and proclaim himself a Jew than be lanced with the pink triangle that designates homosexuality. Horst (Lothaire Bluteau) chastises him for his homophobia. Later the tables turn on Max, who finds (through Horst) the strength both to keep alive indefinitely and to ultimately come to grips with his sexuality.

Yep..old movie..but a good one

:rolls: :rolls:
:)...thanks for the significant contribution :worship:

all straight people should watch , at least gay/lesbian/transgender movie, like Capote, transmerica,family stone, walk on water...any movie with gay/lesbian content