International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in the Media
May 17th marked the 7th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Commemorated around the world with positive reactions in many countries, it was also marred by attacks in others, generating intense and diverse press coverage. In line with one common media principle, a large share of the coverage featured the officials who provided their weight to the event. This resulted in a large and illustrious pool of international appearances, from US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. Most European Institutions proclaimed their support for the core message of the day, which reached approximately 50 million people world wide with its call for tolerance. Apart from its prominent supporters, the press also covered countries which celebrated the day for the first time in their history, such as Burkina Faso, Fiji and Trinidad & Tobago.
Apart from positive reports, Paul Canning of the Guardian focused on places where homosexuality is still a risk. Featuring recent anti-gay and anti-lesbian legislation, and arrests in Uganda and Malawi, he notes the challenge of promoting equality in countries that are in deep economic trouble. Some might still remember the infamous Ugandan ‘Kill the Gays’ bill, a debate on which was delayd for a second time. In Malawi, blaming gays has also become a simple way of identifying where the problems of the country stem from. An article published by the Bulgarian Sofia Echo hit a more positive note. It highlighted a new survey to better understand the roots of homophobia and transphobia, introduced by the EU’s Agency for Fundamental Rights. Spanish El Mundo ran a story focusing on the Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FELGTB), which published a statement to raise awareness that being condemned of homosexuality still means capital punishment in seven countries (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, Iran, Mauritania and Sudan), and denounced the violence against equal rights protesters in Africa and the Middle East.
Coinciding with the IDAHO, the Moscow protest held at the end of May received large coverage: As in previous years, the city’s administration banned a gay march which was held anyway and ended in violence being purpotrated against IDAHO activists. Founder Louis Georges Tin was arrested by police. Homphobia is also still prevalent in Montenegro and the country earlier this year became the last Eurpean state to found a specifically designed LGBT rights group called LGBT Forum Progress. The group had already faced agression when a concert at the beginning of May was disrupted by anti-gay protesters throwing tear gas and attacking participants. Following the incident and in the absence of government protection the group decided not to hold their pride march at the end of May. Hence, there were even events that the Media were unable to cover for IDAHO.
