The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a new video in honor of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).
The video, entitled “The Power of Sharing,” was produced as part of the OHCHR-led Free & Equal campaign, which is aimed at raising awareness of homophobic and transphobic discrimination, and promoting respect for the rights of LGBT people. It focuses on the impact that each of us can have by sharing our own stories and by showing our support for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex friends, colleagues and family members.
“It’s quite easy to hate an idea, harder to hate a person,” said OHCHR’s Charles Radcliffe. “This video speaks to the power we all have within us – to share our own stories and to support our friends and family members in the face of prejudice. For everyone who can do so safely, IDAHOT provides a chance to start conversations and challenge the negative stereotypes that fuel homophobia and transphobia.”
“The Power of Sharing” was screened on IDAHOT in 2014, at events around the world. It is also hosted on the Free & Equal website along with a tagboard that aggregates comments, stories and photos posted on social media using the hashtag “IDAHOT.”
This year, IDAHOT is being marked by an increasing number of OHCHR and other UN field offices around the world. Several field presences have launched or are planning to launch national anti-homophobia and transphobia campaigns using materials generated by the Free & Equal campaign and in cooperation with UN and local partners, as well as national and municipal authorities.
