Victoria rallies against hate

Community groups around Victoria will mark International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on May 17 with a statewide campaign.
A website has been set up for people to document their opposition to homophobia and is open for anyone in the community to upload a picture and make a stand.
The campaign is being led by the Anti-Violence Project of Victoria (AVP) which tackles anti-GLBTI violence.
AVP has invited 420 organisations and community groups, including schools and local government, across the state to participate.
The campaign is being backed by Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers and City of Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle has also given his support.
Organisers will set up a photo kiosk in Bourke St Mall on May 17 and will ask the general public to take photos with an IDAHO badge or to sign up against homophobia. The photos will be uploaded onto the website.
The AVP is joining forces with other organisations including The ALSO Foundation, the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, the Victorian AIDS Council, JOY94.9 and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to make a stand against homophobia.
AVP spokesperson Greg Adkins urged the wider straight community to get involved with the day, saying homophobia is an issue that should be tackled in the same way as other violence and hate crimes.
-œThis [day] is positioning homophobia as just one of the very important challenges we face with violence in all its forms.
-œIt’s much the same when someone’s pissed coming out of a nightclub and they start mouthing off at someone walking past -” not enough people are stepping up and saying -˜hang on… that’s really not appropriate’.

info: To have your say, visit stophomophobiatoday.com. See next week’s Star for more details.