Recognizing May 17 as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, & Biphobia(IDAHOT), the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights is calling on all young activists to speak up for LGBTQI rights!
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia is celebrated annually on May 17. In 2015, mobilization was reported in 130 countries worldwide, generating almost 2,000 actions and involving over 1,200 associations and countless individuals. Over the years, IDAHOT has received attention and recognition from a large range of institutions, including UN agencies, numerous states, and local authorities across the world.
The 2016 IDAHOT global focus theme is Mental Health and Well Being. This theme calls attention to the various ways LGBTQI identities are pathologized and deemed mental disorders, as well as to the negative mental health effects that stigma, self-stigma, violence, and discrimination have on LGBTQI people. However, the theme of well being allows for LGBTQI people to also share their stories of love, hope, community, and well being that are found even in the face of oppression.
The YCSRR is pleased to take up this theme, with a focus on young LGBTQI people, and open the call for submissions for our IDAHOT 2016 Watchdog!
Submit Your Art and Writing:
The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR) is calling on all young people under 30 years old to submit original artwork (posters, infographics, pictures, postcards, videos, etc.) and original writing (articles, stories, poetry) on the theme of “LGBTQI Young People, Mental Health and Well Being” for the IDAHOT 2016 Watchdog publication!
Selected artistic submissions will also be featured on the YCSRR website and used during the YCSRR social media campaign during IDAHOT. While we strongly encourage participants to submit work on the theme of Mental Health and Well Being (subtopics listed below), any work about the experiences of young LGBTQI people is welcome.
Suggested submission subtopics include (but are not limited to):
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/mental health at the United Nations;
- The pathologization of transgender identities as mental disorders;
- Conversion “therapies” that seek to “cure” LGBTQI people
- Overcoming self-stigma, family stigma, and societal stigma
- Homophobic/transphobic/biphobic bullying and violence and their effect on mental health
- LGBTQI youth communities, well being, and self care
- Mental health and LGBTQI people, broadly
Each participant can submit up to three images or videos. The format of image files must be JPG. Videos should not exceed a length of three minutes and must meet the requirements found here: http://vimeo.com/help/compression.
Each participant can submit up to three original pieces of writing. Writing is welcome in English, French, Spanish, and Russian, and should be submitted as a Word document (.doc format).
Submissions should not exceed 1 page single-spaced (approximately 600 words).
Submission Requirements:
- All content must be original with all necessary copyright permissions. Content with copyright
violations (including but not limited to background music used without permission or
copyrighted images appearing in photograph/video) will not be considered. - Entries submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
- All entries must align with the YCSRR Principles and Values. Entries with homophobic or
otherwise discriminatory content will not be considered, without exception. - Submissions from both professional and non-professionals are welcome.
- All content submitted must be created entirely by a person or group of people under 30
years old, without exception. - Please include your full name, country of citizenship/residence and date of birth with your
submission.
Deadline for Submissions:
Please send your submissions to watchdog@youthcoalition.org with “IDAHOT Submission” in
the subject line no later than Monday, April 25, 2016.
The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR) is an international organization of young people (ages 18-29 years) committed to promoting adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive rights at the national, regional and international levels. We are students, researchers, lawyers, health care professionals, educators, development workers, and most importantly: we are all dedicated activists.
The post Call for Submissions: IDAHOT 2016 Watchdog appeared first on Young Feminist Wire.