LGBT rights activists around the world are preparing to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) on 17 May and contribute to a greater understanding of the discrimination faced by the LGBTI community.

National and international-level events will drive debates and sport will help the movement through awareness-raising interventions.

The day of action, created after the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder, is an annual landmark to draw attention to violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people and offers everyone an opportunity to get involved.

Football on IDAHOT
Building on successes of previous campaigns, Fare and Football v Homophobia have partnered up to promote LGBTI rights in football.

In the campaign’s second year, a record number of grants will be distributed to European groups to run activities celebrating diversity in the game.

In football, the day furthers the efforts of the International Month Against Homophobia in Football (FvH) and provides another chance in the year for sports and human rights activists to make a stand.

Be inspired and take action!
Multi-event approaches have helped the movement grow in football in recent years. Football matches and tournaments are among the most popular activities both on IDAHOT and FvH. These popular interventions require almost no funding and are easy settings to bring people of different backgrounds together, promote friendly exchanges, raise awareness of issues and create opportunities for LGBT people.

In 2015, the majority of IDAHOT interventions combined tournaments and matches with discussions, workshops or routable events adding depth to these gatherings and starting debates on critical and current issues.

The Catalonian sports club Panteres Grogues organised a roundtable on LGBT-phobia in Spanish sports in collaboration with FC Barcelona. The club strengthened its support by releasing a video with some of the strongest elements of the team, including Dani Alves and Andrés Iniesta, raising awareness of homophobia.

In Cameroon, where homosexuality is punishable by up to five years in prison, ADEFHO event focused on discussing how to create a safe for LGBT people in football.

Conferences and international events help further the IDAHOT's focus on education address the issues around LGBT-phobia in a larger scale, helping build coalitions and share best practice.

Using Social Media
In February 2016, as part of FvH, groups in Bosnia & Herzegovina, France, Macedonia, Serbia and Spain kicked-off anti-homophobia campaigns on social and traditional media to reach broader audiences in a faster and more engaging way.

Social media has became an important platform of civic engagement and activism and their power to increase global awareness and spread ideas have been key tools for campaigners, including LGBTI fans groups, to reach the wider public. Colourful displays annually take the stadiums to promote a welcoming environment for all in football.

If you are organising a sporting event on IDAHOT and you wish to add to our lis of events, send the details to info@farenet.org.