IDAHOBIT
IDAHOBIT in Brighton
17/05/08 19:10
Rainbow Chorus was honoured to be
invited to perform again at this year's commemoration of the
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and
Transphobia event in Brighton, after appearing at the inaugural
Brighton day back in 2006.
The event, intended to celebrate human rights and to draw attention to those countries still persecuting gay people with punishment or execution took place near the Volks Electric Railway Station as it did last year. Here we are just before the start on a rainy May evening ...
Michelle Bridgeman introduced the event after which we performed Chumbawumba's "Homophobia" - a song we've performed several times but it could not be more appropriate than at this event!
Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for SE England gave a passionate and loud (the loudspeaker was just behind us in a waterproof bin liner!) speech against all kinds of sexual discrimination. Ms Bridgeman then spoke again on 'Trans Inclusion' (help available from the Gender Trust) and then we were on again for "Simple Gifts" followed by "Go down, Moses". It was quite hard to perform well in the drizzle and cold but we did our best.
Next was a speech by Derek Lennard the IDAHO National Coordinator who gave an introduction to a minute's noise as a protest to those unable to speak our against their discrimination.
Then we were joined by the City of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus (not forgetting the dog!) in a joint version of "Somewhere" during which the sky lanterns were set off.
We were able to stay long enough to listen to Melvin Hartley, Chief Executive of Broken Rainbow talk about the problems of same-sex domestic violence where he gave us some though provoking statistics.
However, as we had to get to the Udderbelly for the sound checks, warm-ups and such like with Tina C. we unfortunately had to make an exit when we would have liked to have remained to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" with the CBGMC and everyone else. Apologies to all ...
An important event and well attended considering the weather and we'd like to thank the organisers for inviting us again to this special event in Brighton's calendar.
The event, intended to celebrate human rights and to draw attention to those countries still persecuting gay people with punishment or execution took place near the Volks Electric Railway Station as it did last year. Here we are just before the start on a rainy May evening ...
Michelle Bridgeman introduced the event after which we performed Chumbawumba's "Homophobia" - a song we've performed several times but it could not be more appropriate than at this event!
Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for SE England gave a passionate and loud (the loudspeaker was just behind us in a waterproof bin liner!) speech against all kinds of sexual discrimination. Ms Bridgeman then spoke again on 'Trans Inclusion' (help available from the Gender Trust) and then we were on again for "Simple Gifts" followed by "Go down, Moses". It was quite hard to perform well in the drizzle and cold but we did our best.
Next was a speech by Derek Lennard the IDAHO National Coordinator who gave an introduction to a minute's noise as a protest to those unable to speak our against their discrimination.
Then we were joined by the City of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus (not forgetting the dog!) in a joint version of "Somewhere" during which the sky lanterns were set off.
We were able to stay long enough to listen to Melvin Hartley, Chief Executive of Broken Rainbow talk about the problems of same-sex domestic violence where he gave us some though provoking statistics.
However, as we had to get to the Udderbelly for the sound checks, warm-ups and such like with Tina C. we unfortunately had to make an exit when we would have liked to have remained to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" with the CBGMC and everyone else. Apologies to all ...
An important event and well attended considering the weather and we'd like to thank the organisers for inviting us again to this special event in Brighton's calendar.
Brighton IDAHO
17/05/07 20:30
Rainbow Chorus was again invited
to perform at this year's commemoration of the International Day
Against Homophobia event in Brighton, after appearing at the
inaugural Brighton day in 2006.
The event, intended to celebrate human rights and to draw attention to those countries still persecuting gay people with punishment or execution took place near the Volks Electric Railway Station. There was a sky candle release, speeches by Dr Desmond Turner MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Nigel Tart from NUT LGBT wing and Jeff Grift from the Public and Civil Service Union LGBT wing and of course, us!
From the original press release:
The Brighton gay community is drawing attention to the victims of international homophobia with a seafront event. The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is held every year on 17th May to commemorate the day in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation's list of mental illnesses. IDAHO is now marked internationally as a celebration of the human rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people throughout the world, and to draw attention to the 77 countries that still punish gay people with imprisonment or execution. IDAHO will be 3 years old in 2007, and the British gay community is planning several events to mark the day across the country. Brighton & Hove Council have voted to officially recognise IDAHO and will be flying the rainbow flag from the Town Hall. The event will include a performance by the Rainbow Chorus choir, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, a minute's 'noise' in partnership with the Public and Commercial Services Union to remember the international victims of homophobic violence, a speech by local MP Dr Desmond Turner, and the release of 77 visually stunning sky lanterns to represent the 77 countries that still persecute gay people with imprisonment and execution. Sky lanterns or "Khoom Fay" have been used in Thailand for hundreds of years where they are believed to convey wishes to heaven. Nick Antjoule of IDAHOBIT says: "Hatred and intolerance towards people of different sexual orientations, gender identities or race is an issue for our whole community. Only by challenging it at work, in schools, in the street and overseas will we overcome it. I hope this event will lead to greater international cooperation and sharing of the expertise we have built up in Brighton." Cliff James of Brighton IDAHOBIT says: "Every single person has an inalienable human right to their own sexuality, whether gay, straight or bisexual. But we are living in a world where men and women are still abused, imprisoned or killed by state agents because they happen to be gay. "IDAHO is a celebration of a person's right to love and be loved by who they choose. It's an opportunity to turn a spotlight on those who persecute others because of their sexuality. There is a war of ideas going on right now between those who believe in love and tolerance, and those who believe in hatred and prejudice. "IDAHO is a chance for all of us, whatever our sexuality, to declare which side we are on. Simply by coming to the IDAHO event on Brighton seafront on May 17th, people can make a declaration in defence of tolerance."
There were some impassioned speeches and the lantern lighting was lovely, being blessed as we were by the first warm and clear day in weeks. There are some photographs on our Gallery page .
The event, intended to celebrate human rights and to draw attention to those countries still persecuting gay people with punishment or execution took place near the Volks Electric Railway Station. There was a sky candle release, speeches by Dr Desmond Turner MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Nigel Tart from NUT LGBT wing and Jeff Grift from the Public and Civil Service Union LGBT wing and of course, us!
From the original press release:
The Brighton gay community is drawing attention to the victims of international homophobia with a seafront event. The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is held every year on 17th May to commemorate the day in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation's list of mental illnesses. IDAHO is now marked internationally as a celebration of the human rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people throughout the world, and to draw attention to the 77 countries that still punish gay people with imprisonment or execution. IDAHO will be 3 years old in 2007, and the British gay community is planning several events to mark the day across the country. Brighton & Hove Council have voted to officially recognise IDAHO and will be flying the rainbow flag from the Town Hall. The event will include a performance by the Rainbow Chorus choir, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, a minute's 'noise' in partnership with the Public and Commercial Services Union to remember the international victims of homophobic violence, a speech by local MP Dr Desmond Turner, and the release of 77 visually stunning sky lanterns to represent the 77 countries that still persecute gay people with imprisonment and execution. Sky lanterns or "Khoom Fay" have been used in Thailand for hundreds of years where they are believed to convey wishes to heaven. Nick Antjoule of IDAHOBIT says: "Hatred and intolerance towards people of different sexual orientations, gender identities or race is an issue for our whole community. Only by challenging it at work, in schools, in the street and overseas will we overcome it. I hope this event will lead to greater international cooperation and sharing of the expertise we have built up in Brighton." Cliff James of Brighton IDAHOBIT says: "Every single person has an inalienable human right to their own sexuality, whether gay, straight or bisexual. But we are living in a world where men and women are still abused, imprisoned or killed by state agents because they happen to be gay. "IDAHO is a celebration of a person's right to love and be loved by who they choose. It's an opportunity to turn a spotlight on those who persecute others because of their sexuality. There is a war of ideas going on right now between those who believe in love and tolerance, and those who believe in hatred and prejudice. "IDAHO is a chance for all of us, whatever our sexuality, to declare which side we are on. Simply by coming to the IDAHO event on Brighton seafront on May 17th, people can make a declaration in defence of tolerance."
There were some impassioned speeches and the lantern lighting was lovely, being blessed as we were by the first warm and clear day in weeks. There are some photographs on our Gallery page .