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It is important to make concrete efforts to counter homophobia. The human effort to do so is exactly what creates change and enables mentalities to evolve. The International Day Against Homophobia on May 17th is the perfect opportunity to make such efforts.
Participation
The Fight Homophobia campaign is the perfect occasion
to do your part to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender people and there are tons of ways you
can help:
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Participate on the Internet and in social media |
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set an example by making your Facebook page or website a homophobia-free zone;
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create a Facebook page, video or blog dedicated to the fight against homophobia;
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create your own campaign for the fight against homophobia. |
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Report and denounce |
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report acts of homophobia, bullying, harassment, threats and hateful, defamatory or blasphemous remarks to the appropriate authorities (see sections Filing a Complaint and Resources); -
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Participate in your workplace or at school |
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order campaign posters and brochures and circulate them in your workplace or at school;
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organize activities, discussions, conferences, invite public figures and request media participation;
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organize rainbow flag raising ceremonies. |
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Promote civic involvement |
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put forward articles to be broadcast in the media;
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encourage major players in civil society to highlight the International Day Against Homophobia and to participate in the campaign;
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ask administrative and government institutions to adopt a resolution in support of the International Day Against Homophobiaproposer des articles pour diffusion dans les médias; | |
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Raising the Rainbow Flag
Get involved in the nationwide plan to raise the Rainbow Flag on May 17 for the International Day Against Homophobia. Wherever there’s a flagpole, you can fly a Rainbow Flag.
The Rainbow Flag is the world’s most recognised symbol of LGBT diversity. Created by San Francisco based artist Gilbert Baker, the Rainbow Flag was first used in 1978 at Gay Pride in San Francisco.
The six colours represent various facets of LGBT communities: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for art, and violet for spirituality.
- Model letter to municipal board or bourough council to request the Rainbow Flag be raised and for a motion to proclaim the International Day Against Homophobia (Word)
- Model motion to proclaim the International Day Against Homophobia (Word)
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Here are some initiatives that people can take within their environment:
- Teachers and Instructors
Teachers and instructors can find on this website ways to participate. The Teaching Tools section offers various pedagogical tools with which teachers can create and organize classroom activities.
- Schools and School Boards
May 17 will be an exceptional moment to:
- prohibit discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-identified students, as well as students who are harassed due to perceptions of their gender identity or sexual orientation. More information (Word);
- organise activities at school and in the classroom. Fondation Émergence had also put forward a project for 2005 and 2006: Ten Minutes at Ten O'clock Against Homophobia;
- inviting a guest speaker, hanging posters, etc. See Taking action in schools.
- Parents
It's the right moment to let their children know that from now on slurs such as “fag(got)”, “dike”, “homo” and any other derogatory remarks toward gays and lesbians will no longer be tolerated at home and that they will have to eliminate these words once and for all from their vocabulary out of respect for gays and lesbians and their immediate families.
- Libraries
Clearly displaying books on homophobia.
- Employers
To set up programs against homophobia in the workplace.
- Trade unions
To organize awareness activities in the workplace.
- Community groups
To heighten awareness among their constituencies.
- Broadcasters
To present special reports and documentaries on the subject.
- Newspapers
To publish reports and in-depth articles on the subject.
- Radio station
To call upon artists and personalities to speak on the subject, and to play songs about tolerance.
- Internet diffusers
To take out or to refuse any homophobic content.
- Gays and lesbians who wish to do so
To “come out” of the closet.
- Legislators, governments, municipalities and school boards
To approve a motion in support of the International Day Against Homophobia, and to make a commitment to fight homophobia. Download the draft for proposed motion (Word).
- The general public
To make a symbolic gesture. |
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Activities and Initiatives |
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Keep us informed of your activities and your actions! |
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We will publicize them on our web site. |
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Simply fill out the form and return it to us at Fondation Émergence. |
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Form
(Word) |
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