May 17: International Day Against Homophobia

May 17 is a symbolic date for homosexual people. Homosexuality is withdrawnfrom the World Health Organization (WHO) list of mental illnesses on May 17, 1990.World Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia ( International DayAgainst Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia ) is held on May 17th . For the first time,Louis-Georges Tin, French teacher and activist, organized it internationally in 2005.

May 17 is a symbolic date for homosexual people. Homosexuality is withdrawnfrom the World Health Organization (WHO) list of mental illnesses on May 17, 1990 .

The Fondation Émergence created in 2003 the first national day against homophobia inQuebec . Since then, the Fondation Émergence has organized an awareness campaign every year.Other organizations have taken up this day to celebrate it in many countries.

This day allows us to reflect on the verbal and physical violence suffered by thesepeople all over the world. The theme of the year is: « Together: resist, support, heal! »

The action of the European Union

The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to respect, protect and promote the full andequal enjoyment of human rights for LGBTI + people. It is unthinkable to seeanother 69 countries consider consenting same-sex relationships ascriminal offenses. In 11 of them , homosexuality is punishable by death .

Following the pandemic, the number of violence and discrimination against LGBTI people,(domestic violence, hate speech and hate crimes) have increased. We have seen an increasethe number of arbitrary arrests and detentions, physical assaults and traumapsychological.

Thanks to the EU action plan (2020-2024) in favor of human rights anddemocracy, and the first strategy for equal treatment of peopleLGBTIQ for the period 2020-2025, the EU promotes equality in all spheres of life, both inwithin its bosom than outside its borders.

Paris and IDAHOTB

The city of Paris took advantage of World Day Against Homophobia to announce that it iswould soon declare a zone of freedom for LGBTI + people. She provides support important internationally to these people in danger.

It is a symbolic gesture in reaction to the worrying decline in rights and the repression ofsexual and gender minorities in the world.

Last March, the European Parliament adopted a similar resolution in reaction to the « zoneswithout LGBT ideology « decided by a hundred Polish local authorities.

At the beginning of June, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, deputy mayor PS Anne Hidalgo in charge of rightshuman rights, integration and the fight against discrimination, presents a wish to declarethe whole of the capital « LGBTQI + freedom zone ».

This declaration includes concrete measures to protect and support the public LGBTQI +. It also presents training programs in this area for police officers future Parisian municipal police.

This is an opportunity for the capital to reaffirm its support for equal sexual rights andreproductive health of LGBTQI + people. Among them, PMA (medically assisted procreation)universal and free for couples of women, and its positioning for the prohibition ofconversion therapies in France.

Commemorative plaqueIn 2011 

The Paris Council voted on a proposal from the PCF-PG, the affixing of a plaque at the corner of Bachaumont and Montorgueil streets in tribute to Jean Diot and Bruno Lenoir. In 1750 , theywere the last 2 French people known to have been sentenced to the death penalty because of a homosexual practice.

The plaque was affixed in 2015; it will be vandalized and cleaned the same day in 2018. Eachyear since, a wreath has been laid.

City of Paris International Prize for LGBT + Rights

The City of Paris International Prize for LGBT + Rights is an annual event created on the 17th May 2018. It rewards the action of those (associations or activists) who defend andadvance LGBT + rights in France and abroad.

The 2021 winners

French Prize:

Les DégommeusesCécile Chatrain created the association  » Les Dégommeuses  » in January 2012. Women’s football team in 2010, it becomes 2 years later an association wishing to promote this sport while fighting againstdiscrimination in the world of sport and mainly football.

Special mentions:

– Intersex and Allies collective – LGBTIO + // MOGAI collective

The LGBTIQ + Collective // ​​MOGAI was born on November 8, 2016, international day of solidarityintersex, by and for intersex people. He opposes the pathologizing approach ofintersex people. The collective advocates the self-determination of these people with the protection of their physical integrity.

Its actions: support and discussion groups, sharing of theoretical and historical knowledge onintersex conditions and struggles. Trained personnel address these people and their entourage.

The collective is the basis of the deletion of the mention of sex or gender in civil status (respectof the right to self-determination of persons).

-The Arab Network for Knowledge about Human rights (ANKH) association

In 2018, a group of Egyptian human rights defenders living in France created the associationArab Network for Knowledge about Human rights (ANKH). They help and support the rights ofminority groups in the Euro-Mediterranean region, including the LGBTQI community and people living with HIV. The association carries out advocacy actions by documenting the situation in the countries concerned by its action. They are mobilizing in favor of the liberation of rights defenders (Hossam Ahmed, Eman AI-Helw, Malak EI-Kashif) and provideto people in danger in their country of origin.

She works with recognized associations including the Christian NGO against torture and the penalty ofdeath (ACAT). ANKH is mobilizing in favor of the liberation of people or the association for the recognition of the rights of homosexual and trans people. Immigration and residence (Ardhis) for asylum issues are also in its program.

Francophone award: Lesbian Life Association Côte d’Ivoire (LLACI)

LLACI is an association based in Abidjan , chaired by Ms. Diane Alexis Ouattara. Itis aimed at lesbian, bisexual and trans (LBT) women. Its purpose is to support the actionscarried out in favor of LBTs. It fights nationally and internationally for the promotion of LGBTI rights.

His hopes: To change mentalities on homosexuality. Create a pleasant atmosphere byits actions for LGBTI people in Côte d’Ivoire, in the face of the stigma and intolerance to which this community faces.

Its actions: Create a framework for sharing and activism around dialogue, debates,awareness raising and training. Changing the way people look at homosexuals in general.

Special mention: Mawjoudin « we exist », Tunisia

Mawjoudin « we exist », is a Tunisian association which fights to guarantee equality, protecthuman rights, sexual rights of members of the LGBTQI + community and othersmarginalized groups.

It offers secure spaces for support and psychological follow-up to victims ofdiscriminations. It offers places of listening between members of the community and givesinformation on the rights of LGBTQI + people. A network of health professionals andlaw is available to them. She does important advocacy work to challenge casesof arbitrary arrests related solely to gender identity or the sexual orientation orof other cases of torture perpetrated by the police. Every year since 2018 , the association organizes atcenter of Tunis, the queer film festival , the first of its kind in the country and in North Africa.

International Award

Laureate 2021: Atlas Nienawisci – Atlas de la Haine.Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak, Pawet Preneta and Kamil Maczuga

Polish LGBTI activists Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak and Pawet Preneta, Kamil Maczuga havefounded in 2019 the website Atlas de la Haine (Atlas Nienawisci). This site monitors, follows the newsand mapping of Polish local authorities adopting, rejecting or suspending resolutions. He declares  » LGBT-free zones « ,  » LGBT- free zones  » or  » anti -LGBT zones  » .LGBT . ”Today, more than 700 Polish local authorities have adopted this type of resolution.

Nominated for the 2020 Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament for the Atlas of Hate, they are the subject oflegal proceedings by 5 local authorities who accuse them of prejudicing theirreputation. They demand a public apology as well as damages for thepro-family organizations.

Special mentions:

-Mrs. Sandra Melhem. founder of Club Ego Beirut

The Queer Relief Fund initiative helps the LGBTQI + community in Lebanon affected bythe explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4 , 2020 . It is for those who have lost everything(disoriented, homeless, without work and without income). Without housing, they are often rejected by theirfamily.

-LGBT Russian Network. Svetlana Zakharova

This Russian LGBT network was conceived in April 2006. An interregional organization, it advocates the equality ofrights and respect for human integrity, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.It unifies and develops advocacy groups and provides social and legal services. Disputedby the Russian government for several years, she struggles across the country helping people toto run away.

-Ms. Shamin Salim, Club Ego Beiru

Shamim Salim is a queer Muslim disabled feminist and human rights activist.She saw her existence as a political declaration. Creating more opportunities for young peopleLGBTQI + and women, she claims their place, speaks out and advances the movement.

For 4 years, she has worked with the Church World Service (CWS) on religious advocacy forLGBTQI + people. She urges religious leaders in Kenya to take action in favor ofinclusion of LGBTI people.

Shamim is also:

• Co-founder of Henna Space, an organization for queer Muslim women andqueers with disabilities working on the intersectionality of religion, sexuality andhandicap

• Member of the African Queer Youth Initiative, a network of young activists and organizationsmobilizing, supporting and amplifying the voice of LGBTQI + activists and creating visibility andstrategic networks to support LGBTQI + youth in Africa

• Member of the board of directors of UHAI EASHRI, a fund of indigenous activists whoprovides flexible and accessible resources to support civil society activismaround issues of sexuality, health and human rights in the East African region.

Next event

Several Gay Prides are due to take place in major French cities this year. Somecities like Lille or Nantes have decided to cancel it following the pandemic. However, in Paris, sheshould be held on June 26 while in Lyon and Strasbourg, it will be June 12. Marseille on July 3,Annecy scheduled it on July 17 while Bordeaux, Biarritz and Grenoble chose September.In Toulouse, it will be October 9.

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