Today marks the anniversary of the 1990 decision by the World Health Organisation to remove homosexuality from their list of mental disorders (yes, I was shocked too). What’s equally as shocking is that in 77 countries it is still a criminal offence to be gay (and in several others the police turn a blind eye to abuse, beatings and rape – yes Jamaica, I’m talking about you). These countries punish women, men and children because of their sexuality, and in seven countries the punishment is death.
The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) allows people to make a strong statement to demand improvements in the human rights of people who live in these oppressive regimes. Several events are taking place today in London to mark the event. Please go along to one of them if you would like to show your support:
In Holborn, LAGNA (the Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive) are putting on a special exhibition for IDAHO day and to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the implementation of Section 28, entitled “Section 28 – Hiding Homosexuality Exhibition”. The event consists of an evening of music, talks, exhibitions, headlines and TV broadcasts. Information on this event can be found here.
In Lewisham Library there will be an exhibition throughout the day called “1967 and all that”, as well as a collection of photographs entitled “My Sexuality” taken by young people participating in local youth groups who are either lesbian, gay, bisexual or who are questioning their sexual identity. The event will be taking place in the Limelight Gallery on the ground floor of the Library.
And in Wood Green, Haringey, things will be getting very noisy as SING OUT!, READ LOUD!, SPEAK LOUD! and finally SHOUT LOUD! take place in Wood Green Library from 6pm today. Details of the event can be found here.
