It may seem that these days sexual orientation and gender identity is getting less and less of an issue and people who live their gender identity and their sexuality differently from the majority enjoy comfortable and secure social and political spaces to do so.

When you have a closer look though, you will witness that there is increased homophobia and transphobia in a majority of places; and the XXth century was actually one of the most homophobic periods ever in History.

Everywhere homosexuality and gender variance is being discriminated against ; in more that 80 countries in the world, same sex relationships are criminalised and in 7 of them, death penalty can be enforced.

Intolerance, prejudice, hate, ignorance and fear still largely prevail in individuals, groups, States, international institutions, etc…

This is why this international day to fight against homophobia and transphobia and for sexual freedom was created

Why an International Day against homophobia and transphobia?

In 2008, sexual relations between persons of the same sex were punishable by death in 7 countries and considered to be some form of crime in more than 80 others. In most countries in the world, people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, intersex, queer, … community are being denied their fundamental human rights as defined, inter alia, by the Universal Declaration of Human Right, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Day has been launched with the idea of creating a worldwide community of activists and committed people, sharing the ideal of a world without homophobia nor transphobia in which everyone can freely choose their own sex life and gender identity.

The origin

In 2004, Louis-Georges Tin, university professor, intellectual, and homosexual rights activist, took the initiative of launching a International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, and founded the IDAHO Committee, an international association aiming at developing this initiative.

Since then, hundreds of associations in more than 50 countries have used the Day to bring about public and political mobilization for LGBT rights.

In addition to being adopted by associations and movements, the Day is now officially recognized by a growing number of countries, provinces, regions, cities —from Mexico to Quebec, from the European Parliament to France, etc.

Why May 17th?

May 17 was chosen because the date is the anniversary of the World Health Organization's May 1990 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

This victory of the lesbian-gay-bisexual and transgender (LGBT) cause was a historic step towards considering freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity as a fundamental basic human right.

Actions

Countless activities are organized by associations all over the world. The IDAHO Committee itself also organizes seminars, events, and conferences every year.

In 2006, the IDAHO Committee launched a petition in favor of universal decriminalization. This petition was supported by many international associations, including ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and also by many famous people throughout the world: 5 Nobel Prize winners (including Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu), 10 Pulitzer Prize winners (including Edward Albee and Tony Kushner), political leaders (such as Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission, and Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner), prominent intellectuals like Noam Chomsky and Judith Butler, and celebrities including Victoria Abril, Meryl Streep, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Elton John, etc.

… and results

On the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia 2005, the first public gay and lesbian demonstrations were held in China, Congo, and Bulgaria. These were historic events in each country concerned. In 2006, the IDAHO Committee co-organized the first Moscow Gay Pride.

Results of these activities are not, of course, always solely attributable to the IDAHO Committee or the World Day against Homophobia. Nonetheless, our work makes a significant contribution to advances in LGBT rights by creating a unique moment when mobilization takes place all over the world, generating in its turn other forms of mobilization and showing policy makers the collective strength of the worldwide LGBT movement.

Organisation

The International Day against homophobia is facilitated by the IDAHO Committee, an international organization created by the Day's founders to support and facilitate the development of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, support local community based actions and disseminate information.

The IDAHO Committee is a network. At national and regional levels, ad hoc coordination mechanisms have been set up to coordinate activities, disseminate information and spur people to action.

In Manchester we meet in Wilbraham Saint Ninian's United Reformed Church in Chorlton, about 4 miles south of the city centre, and we offer a warm welcome to our services and meetings.

Our main service is held on Sunday afternoons at 4.30pm.

Our Sunday service is designed to be celebrative and to appeal to folk from a range of different church backgrounds as well as to those for whom spirituality is new.

We are a friendly church and after worship - which usually lasts just one hour - we invite everyone to join us for refreshments and fellowship.

In Manchester we meet in Wilbraham Saint Ninian's United Reformed Church in Chorlton, about 4 miles south of the city centre, and we offer a warm welcome to our services and meetings.

Our main service is held on Sunday afternoons at 4.30pm.

Our Sunday service is designed to be celebrative and to appeal to folk from a range of different church backgrounds as well as to those for whom spirituality is new.

We are a friendly church and after worship - which usually lasts just one hour - we invite everyone to join us for refreshments and fellowship.

Partners are also most welcome at the meetings
The Renaissance group that meet here has over 100 members with 24 to 34 Tgirls (and the occasional F2M) at most meetings. The membership is a great mix of ages and TVs & TSs. If you haven't been to a meeting, do come along and meet us, you can be sure of a warm welcome

Renaissance is taken from the French for Re-Birth: our group was formed to help trans people to come out and be themselves in a safe environment and find support in their journey. The group started over 18 years ago with only 6 people at the first meeting.

The first meeting was organised by Suzanne Dee Gallagher at a friends beauty salon in a small town north of Preston, handy for both Preston and the Fylde coast. From the first meeting Renaissance has always welcomed both Transsexuals (TSs) and Transvestites (TVs).

The owner of the salon gave the group its name – Renaissance.

Meetings are currently held in Blackpool at the The Gynway.

Myself and my partner Petra provide both the Venue and Refreshments for group meetings. The group does not have a committee and remains very informal. Its been a successful formula with Renaissance now established as one of the main Trans venues in the North West.

There is a small admission charge on meeting nights to cover costs of the food, tea / coffee and of course the venue.

The meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, starting round 6pm.Overnight accommodation is available, recommend early booking [stayovers can of course be extended as required]

The Crown Inn Public House,
40 Curzon Street,
Derby.
Derbyshire DE1 1LL.

Here you will find a warm friendly atmosphere with only background music, so talking is not drowned out. Being T friendly means that other events at the premises are open to us if required.

Our meeetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 8pm onward. There are changing facilities if needed, and car parking outside is free. If you are unsure about entering alone we are happy to come and walk in with you.

FTM London meets monthly on the first Saturday of each month at Trinity Unitied Reformed Church in Camden.

We know that coming to your first meeting might seem a bit daunting so please remember we are more than happy to meet up with someone coming along for the first time before the meeting. Just give us a call or send us an email.

The main meeting is from 7 - 8.45 and is for FTM's only. This is because we want to have a safe space where we can talk about anything without worrying that we might be offending someone in the group who may not be trans. We welcome significant others, friends family and allies (SOFFA's) to attend the SOFFA's group (see the 'Support for SOFFA's page on the left hand menu), and everyone is welcome for social time from 8.45 onwards.

You don't have to be a member to attend the group and there is no charge for your first meeting.

In Manchester we meet in Wilbraham Saint Ninian's United Reformed Church in Chorlton, about 4 miles south of the city centre, and we offer a warm welcome to our services and meetings.

Our main service is held on Sunday afternoons at 4.30pm.

Our Sunday service is designed to be celebrative and to appeal to folk from a range of different church backgrounds as well as to those for whom spirituality is new.

We are a friendly church and after worship - which usually lasts just one hour - we invite everyone to join us for refreshments and fellowship.

In Manchester we meet in Wilbraham Saint Ninian's United Reformed Church in Chorlton, about 4 miles south of the city centre, and we offer a warm welcome to our services and meetings.

Our main service is held on Sunday afternoons at 4.30pm.

Our Sunday service is designed to be celebrative and to appeal to folk from a range of different church backgrounds as well as to those for whom spirituality is new.

We are a friendly church and after worship - which usually lasts just one hour - we invite everyone to join us for refreshments and fellowship.

The Crown Inn Public House,
40 Curzon Street,
Derby.
Derbyshire DE1 1LL.

Here you will find a warm friendly atmosphere with only background music, so talking is not drowned out. Being T friendly means that other events at the premises are open to us if required.

Our meeetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 8pm onward. There are changing facilities if needed, and car parking outside is free. If you are unsure about entering alone we are happy to come and walk in with you.

Partners are also most welcome at the meetings
The Renaissance group that meet here has over 100 members with 24 to 34 Tgirls (and the occasional F2M) at most meetings. The membership is a great mix of ages and TVs & TSs. If you haven't been to a meeting, do come along and meet us, you can be sure of a warm welcome

Renaissance is taken from the French for Re-Birth: our group was formed to help trans people to come out and be themselves in a safe environment and find support in their journey. The group started over 18 years ago with only 6 people at the first meeting.

The first meeting was organised by Suzanne Dee Gallagher at a friends beauty salon in a small town north of Preston, handy for both Preston and the Fylde coast. From the first meeting Renaissance has always welcomed both Transsexuals (TSs) and Transvestites (TVs).

The owner of the salon gave the group its name – Renaissance.

Meetings are currently held in Blackpool at the The Gynway.

Myself and my partner Petra provide both the Venue and Refreshments for group meetings. The group does not have a committee and remains very informal. Its been a successful formula with Renaissance now established as one of the main Trans venues in the North West.

There is a small admission charge on meeting nights to cover costs of the food, tea / coffee and of course the venue.

The meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, starting round 6pm.Overnight accommodation is available, recommend early booking [stayovers can of course be extended as required]