International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
2013 IDAHoT Halifax Rally
The 2013 rally will be held on Thursday, May 16th at 6 p.m. at Halifax Grand Parade. The theme for 2013′s rally: Our Bodies, Our Health, Our Rights
Presenters will include:
- MC – Lisa Buchanan, Vice-Chair of NSRAP
- The Raging Grannies
- Kate Shewan addressing trans* rights & SRS
- Lucas Thorne-Humphrey on the gay blood ban
- Gabe Saulnier from the Wabanaki Two Spirit Alliance on the impact of homophobia and transphobia on First Nations communities.
- Jessica Durling – a trans* youth who educated her high school on trans* rights
- Members of the Nova Scotia GSA Network
- Tracey Oakley from Amnesty International will guide our human chain!
The rally will end with a human chain in downtown Halifax showing solidarity, connection and triumph over homophobia and transphobia. Sign language interpretation will be available. RSVP via Facebook.
Want a copy of the poster?
You can download it in PDF format: IDAHoT 2013 Poster
2013 IDAHoT Events Across NS
Various communities across the province marked IDAHoT:
- May 15, 6:30 p.m.: The Valley Youth Project has a drop-in for youth (25 and under) to make some IDAHoT swag. Check out the blog post.
- May 17, Noon: prideHealth and the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia present a panel on the health impacts of homophobia/transphobia. More information available via the poster.
- May 17, Noon: PC Rainbow Community Walk in New Glasgow (details).
- May 17, Noon: Pride flag raising in Kentville (source).
- May 17, 5 p.m.: Wolfville IDAHoT rally and flag raising. View the Facebook event for details.
- May 19, 2 p.m.: Sydney will host a march and BBQ. Details courtesy of the Facebook event.
Every year since 2006, NSRAP has participated in events to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia; an annual day of action.
In 2009, we participated in the first annual rally in Grand Parade in front of Halifax City Hall. In 2008, we partnered with the Youth Project and Halifax Pride to launch a public service announcement denouncing homophobic bullying, produced entirely by youth. We also traveled to Pictou County to protest their municipal council’s ban on flying the Rainbow Pride Flag. Along with local activists, we wrapped the County offices in a giant Pride Flag.
In 2009 and 2010, the Halifax rallies returned to Grand Parade Square. Following a violent homophobic attack in Cape Breton in 2010, NSRAP members traveled to Sydney to take part in their demonstration and to stand in solidarity with their community. In 2011, the rally focused on “From Local to Global” with tips on how we can all help counter homophobia and transphobia in our own communities and those abroad.