IDAHO -- stand up against homophobia and transphobia!

Yepp, 17 of May is the IDAHO -- nah, not that one, it's a different one. Symbolic date? Exactly. May 17 was chosen as the day of the event because homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization on May 17, 1990. Since then, there are several examples of the diversity of approaches and actions that organisations engage in. One thing is common: those who participate think that it is an opportunity to raise your voice, send a message and fight for human rights -- a never-ending struggle? Arising from prejudice and ignorance, homophobia and transphobia can affect LGBTQ people’s lives in many ways. Every day, members of the LGBTQ community face disapproving comments, verbal attacks, hate speech, and physical violence, simply because their gender identity and/or sexual orientation is not what is accepted by the mainstream society. What's more in case of Hungary -- declarations of homophobia and transphobia can be heard even in the Parliament. And at this rate, Budapest Police’s practice of banning the pride march every year will soon become a Hungarian national tradition... nice.

Let's see how we celebrated IDAHO in Budapest! Organized by a couple of NGOs (including Budapest Pride, Amnesty International Hungary, Háttér Support Society for LGBT People, Labrisz Lesbian Association, the Hungarian LGBT Alliance and TransVanilla Transgender Association) the event took place at Deák tér from 4 pm and there were numerous programs. You can read the official press realease partly written by me (link here), you know I am one of the organizers of the Budapest Pride. What you could choose: support the Budapest Pride March with a video message, make sidewalk art with us, sign the Baltic Pride petition of the Amnesty International or join a discussion about transphobia held in Café Vis Major. The key is to say NO somehow.

I could not attend the discussion, but I spent two hours at Deák tér by interviewing strangers what they think about the pride march in general, if they plan to attend this year's etc. We recorded a number of speakers for this video of support. Besides one extreme homophobe guy, all the answers were relevant and instructive ...and I have to tell you my favorite one: I asked a middle-aged women who took her kids why she thought it was important to attend the event -- and what she replied was soooo encouraging -- she said that she wanted her children to be raised in a society in which same-sex couples were just as usual as hetero ones. Lovely!

CEU NGO Fair

So, the Central European University is about to organize its 8th annual NGO Fair. The aim is to provide a platform for NGOs to present their organization. It is also an opportunity for those interested to join either by financial support or volunteer work. 

We are also participating in this event. As representatives of the Budapest Pride we are planning to give a short presentation about us: who we are, what we do (programs we organize), how you can help etc... Whoever is interested: from 11am to 2pm @ CEU (Nador utca)

Women's Group of AI

And the day has come -- we founded the women's group of Amnesty International Hungary. Hurrraaahh! But, giving a name caused a problem:

• violence against women: too long
• women: too broad
• women rights: not exactly our profile
• women for women: already used...
• together for women: sounds awful

Not to mention the language, should it be in Hungarian or should we agree on an English one to follow the international trends? We still have time to decide... 

However, we could finally meet each other in person. Great start, everyone is enthusiastic, we already mentioned hundreds of projects to work on: monitor press, gather international news and make translations, arrange material for future university lectures and organize some cultural events -- yep, it's me:). All in all, no need to rush, we will see, but I am engaged. 

Introducing Amnesty International

The secondary reason why I started this blog is because I want to share my experience. I just jumped onto a new path -- non governmental institutions have long been things that I viewed from far, I never thought that one day I would work for free, but for good at the same time. Things have changed or I have changed or most probably: both -- I applied for various jobs at TASZ and Helsinki Committee, already joined the organizer team of the Pride and also, I am one of the 5 founders of a new group belonging to Amnesty International. Now, I'm going to introduce that one.

The group's main profile is violence against women, but we are not planning to become an emergency service, rather a support service (in terms of legal assistance for example). What is good in this "job" is that I know what I'm doing is important, helpful, and I can also use my art manager qualifications: I already highlighted some of my ideas about events I want to organize. As long as we follow and keep the basic rules and principles of Amnesty, the group has a relatively large autonomy, we can do whatever we want, arrange meetings, hold film screenings, open exhibitions etc. Awesome. I'm enthusiastic enough to make this good.

Actually, I was lucky enough: I never lived through any source of violence, nor did I ever had an aggressive partner, but I do think that without any personal experience I am capable of doing it well. I believe we (the group) can demonstrate the topics through various programs authentically and comprehensively. Fortunately, the office employs hundreds of activists, they are going to be helpful for the work we are doing.