Around the world, tens of thousands of people created a social media storm and have been #BreakingTheSilence on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Because of physical distancing, the Day was greeted with a storm on social media. On Twitter alone, a 24hour- count in the GMT time-zone revealed a stunning 14,000+ tweets and 28,000+ retweets[1], not to mention Facebook or Instagram! With countless individual and collective expressions of support, online conferences, concerts, cooking classes, drag shows or bingos, there was no limit to what creative activists imagined.
Webinars advocating for the respect of Human Rights of all sexual and gender minorities and Intersex people were understandably a very important part of the celebrations, from Nigeria or Zimbabwe to Honduras or Sri Lanka.
Several very important reports were released on the Day to underline the legal, political and social state of the world for sexual and gender minorities, and especially the impact of COVID19.
But not everything happened online. With due respect of safety measures, activists from Thailand to Chiapas, Mexico, gathered in public places to proudly demonstrate that sexual and gender minorities will not be silenced, in times when the COVID19 pandemic is being used in many places to roll back Human Rights for sexual and gender minorities. Read more via May17.org
Tonight we shine a 🌈light for LGBTI rights.
— European Commission 🇪🇺 #UnitedAgainstCoronavirus (@EU_Commission) May 16, 2020
Ahead of #IDAHOT, our Brussels headquarters are lighting up in celebration of our diversity and values.
Europe will always stand up for your fundamental rights and freedoms. 🇪🇺 🌈#EU4LGBTI #IDAHOT2020 pic.twitter.com/gjvUWHpCaB
Tonight, the Government of #Kosova has been lit up in rainbow colors. Discrimination has no place in our society, and no one should be judged nor fear for their safety because of who they are. #IDAHOT pic.twitter.com/RVio8jjvCy
— Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) May 17, 2020
To commemorate IDAHOT this year in line with this year’s theme ‘breaking the silence’ we would like to embrace the rainbow 🌈. Let’s break the silence online by sharing pictures of us with our flags🌈
— #Repeal162 because #LoveIsHuman (@NGLHRC) May 16, 2020
mention us on your posts with the flag🌈 we will retweet!#idahot pic.twitter.com/caOa2y5Qea
Pleased to bring the voice of 🇪🇺institutions in today Tirana Pride 🖥 parade🏳️🌈2020, with more than 💯 participants. Solidarity and support from🇪🇺 to LGBT community which is still facing in 🇦🇱 discrimination and various levels of social, economic and political exclusion..#IDAHOT pic.twitter.com/kWvsoPjhXa
— Luigi Soreca🇪🇺 (@LSorecaEU) May 15, 2020