By Dan Littauer, Executive Editor 21.5.11

Foreign Office gave unprecedented support for LGBT human rights worldwide

“To mark the IDAHO, the International Day Against Homphobia and Transphobia, the British Foreign Office issued an unprecedented message of support for LGBT rights and called for the prevention of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Dan Littauer, Executive Editor of Gay Middle East.COM.

His view was echoed by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell:

“I commend the Foreign Office for its active endorsement and promotion of IDAHO and for its commitment to LGBT human rights worldwide. This year was its best contribution ever.

“This is the most comprehensive effort in support global LGBT rights by the British Foreign Office - or perhaps by any Foreign Office – that I have ever seen,” added Mr Littaeur.

“Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne recorded a video message of support, and the Foreign Office website hosted, for the first time, two guest contributions from LGBT organisations, one by Gay Middle East and the other by Pride London. Foreign Office diplomatic staff from Beirut to Tokyo wrote on the issue from the perspective of the country in which they are posted.”

“We were particularly pleased to be invited to contribute, as it sends a strong message of support to LGBT communities worldwide and particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.”

“It demonstrates the readiness of the Foreign Office to help and encourage LGBT NGOs, activists and communities across the world to speak out against discrimination and homophobia in their countries,” concluded Dan Littauer.

 

Foreign Office IDAHO actions:

•             Foreign Office supports International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (inc. Minister’s video): http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=596524482

•             Minister’s video YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tn9eC1dm_W0

Social media – lots of tweeting (particularly from @FCOHumanRights) and Facebooking across our various channels, using hashtags #IDAHO and #LGBT. Good amount of retweets and likes.

 

Blogs 

•             Guest blog from Pride London: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/bate/entry/lgbt_across_the_world_today

•             Guest blog from Gay Middle East: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/bate/entry/will_the_arab_spring_result1

•             Paul Arkwright (Ambassador to the Netherlands, The Hague): http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/arkwright/entry/marking_international_day_against_homophobia 

•             Christopher Wright, the Second Secretary for Political, Press and Public Affairs (guest entry on Ambassador to Philippines Stephen Lillie's blog): http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/lillie/entry/international_day_against_homophobia_and

•             Tom Burn (Media and Communication Director, Tokyo): http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/burn/entry/idaho_s_not_a_place

•             Greg Dorey (Ambassador to Hungary, Budapest): http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/dorey/entry/international_day_against_homophobia_and

•             Frances Guy (Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon, Beirut): http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/guy/entry/international_day_against_homophobia_idaho 

 

Additional content

•             British Ambassador to Lebanon Frances Guy met with the Lebanese NGO ‘Helem’, including embedded video: http://ukinlebanon.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/working-with-lebanon2/002-IDAHO

•             UK in Nepal supports International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia: http://ukinnepal.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=597058682