The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) will highlight how religion openly and covertly oppresses homosexuals and transsexuals the world over, writes Oliver Clasper

“Across the world, in many social and cultural contexts, homophobic and transphobic violence is being propagated by people who use religious arguments to justify their positions.” Thus reads the official statement from the body representing the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. And on its sixth anniversary Hong Kong will commemorate those from LGBT communities the world over who have been murdered, abused, incarcerated and discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender preference – particularly by those of unremitting faith. Nigel Collett, Secretary of the LGBT umbrella group Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting (TCJM) and one of the main event organisers, puts it more succinctly: “Our intention is not to criticise religion, but to highlight what it has done to people of gay persuasion.”

Unlike the annual Gay Pride marches that take place globally in a more celebratory spirit, IDAHO will be a slightly more sober affair. It is a day to commemorate all the victims of homophobia and transphobia, and, where possible, to highlight government legislation that  – at least in Hong Kong’s case  –  is still discriminatory. Consisting of speeches by prominent members of the tongzhi (homosexual) community, as well as a minute’s silence, a ‘kiss-in,’ a candlelit vigil, and a ceremonial ‘die-in,’ May 17 is also a crucial opportunity for the myriad LGBT groups to come together as one. Unity in diversity, and strength in numbers is the most prominent message ahead of this year’s event at Chater Garden, and one expounded most passionately by Betty Grisoni, co-founder of the city’s foremost lesbian organisation Les Peches: “What we’re trying to achieve with IDAHO is bring in more focus than we have done in the past. We want to try to incorporate more LGBT groups into the event. To enlarge the capacity, enlarge awareness and include more organisations.”

As transphobia has been included on the agenda for the first time this year, many within the community vehemently believe that through IDAHO Hongkongers can finally start to step up the effort to coax in the transsexual groups. Medeleine Mok, Amnesty International’s LGBT Coordinator for Hong Kong, concurs: “People haven’t paid that much attention to the trans issue. It’s been distorted into something else. It has been misinterpreted.” She goes on to say that “transgender people in Hong Kong feel even more pressure to come out and represent themselves. That’s the point. They are a little more reluctant to stand up in front of a lot of people.” Grisoni also agrees, touching on the key issue that transphobia still exists within the gay community itself, an issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later: “Transgender groups haven’t been that included in previous years – especially in Hong Kong. I think there’s a big lack of education. They fight for different rights – especially as some of them are not homosexuals per se. And the thing is, there’s transphobia within our community as well. We’re trying to fight this.”

Politically speaking, the city’s various LGBT groups are continuing their fight to see better representation for their cause in the corridors of power. A resounding success last year saw the Domestic Violence Order (DVO) include gays and lesbians – after years of resolute campaigning. Next on the agenda will be to end discrimination on grounds of sexual identity in the areas of employment and housing benefits.  But according to Collett “the advice is that it is going to take decades. We haven’t really begun, so to launch off a damp squib would be a huge mistake.”

The key players from TCJM and the various other groups are all in agreement when it comes to IDAHO’s role as a day for petitions and political pressure. Essentially, that it’s not. IDAHO 2010 will, first and foremost, be urging the religious factions, both here in Hong Kong and worldwide, to take a more rational stance against homophobia and transphobia. Most seem to agree that having faith and being gay are by no means mutually exclusive; one’s relationship with God being a wholly private one. “Religion is very personal. What you think, what you believe may not be the same for everyone – on a higher level you believe in the same God,” says Abby Lee, co-founder of Les Peches and Grisoni’s partner.

Without a doubt it’s going to be a long, hard road ahead. Concludes Mok: “Religion is still a very strong vehicle for spreading homophobia worldwide. And it is very difficult to communicate because we can’t deal with reason and logic.”

IDAHO HK will take place in Chater Garden from 7pm on Mon 17.