IDAHOBIT
It was 1st known as IDAHO in 2004 which stands for International Day Against Homophobia. Then in 2009 it was re-branded to International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. In 2012, it has once again transformed, this time to IDAHOBIT; International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. I was happy as Biphobia are usually an overlooked matter with most feeling that Bisexuals are ‘safe’ and that they could easily move around ‘undetected’. Deep inside my heart however, I hope in the future they will reconsider to re-brand it to IDAHOSOGI : International Day Against Hatred and Oppression of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Y^^Y
A video by Gabrielle Chong Yong Wei is 1 of the 1st from a Malaysian that I’ve viewed online. It chronicled her journey in life as a queer individual and her confidence in the Malaysian Society’s accommodating, acceptance and tolerant behaviour towards the LGBTIQPA community.
Sexualiti Merdeka then launched a It Gets Better in Malaysia event before uploading the video series (I shared it in alphabetical order) on Youtube :
It Gets Better in Malaysia: Joe Pang “Live The True Love Within”
It Gets Better in Malaysia: Kavidha “Equality & Justice For All”
It Gets Better in Malaysia: Pang Khee Teik “What’s So Wrong With Love?”
It Gets Better in Malaysia: Peter Ong “Loving Yourself Will Lead To More Love”
Unfortunately due to Azwan Ismail’s mounting coverage and death threats, his video had to be taken down to preserve his safety. The rest of the 10 videos were not uploaded for the same reason, to preserve the safety of the many other individuals who are also valuable activists to the community. It was a sad day indeed for all to witnessed so much hatred and threats of violence while ‘authorities’ kept fanning the bigots while folded their arms and did nothing for the ones being threatened. BFM 89.9 Podcast : The Incident Room broadcasted a discussion about It Gets Better with Human Rights Lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Documentary Film Maker Norhayati Kaprawi and Seksualiti Merdeka’s Co – Founder Pang Khee Teik. Amidst the wave of hatred and in conjunction with 2011’s IDAHOT, SM campaigned for 29 ways towards an LGBTIQ friendly Malaysia (and the World) through this event.
I am thankful for all these individuals who came together to make a difference for you and I. To get their stories out and comfort another soul is not an easy task here. To let the LGBTIQPA community and their family know that there is nothing wrong with you; that you should love yourself and be who you are. So let’s not have their efforts and struggles be forgotten and carry on marching in life!
My fellow Malaysians, I hope that you would be as moved and as inspired as me by them. I appeal to you to send me your life story about your struggle / your triumph in the face of LGBTIQPA-phobia and discrimination OR your acceptance and the love shown to you by the people around you when you came out / were outed to them to be published here. If you’re an LGBTIQPA-Ally, I would also love to hear from you on your journey alongside strangers or love ones in the face of discrimination and phobias. You can use pseudonyms and change the names of characters and locations if it is easier for you to share your story.
Let’s do our bit to lessen the LGBTIQPA-phobias and discriminations in Malaysia and the World one step at a time!
pinkpurpledollar 