A petition calling for UN Resolution to decriminalise homosexuality worldwide goes online today. Coordinated by the international anti-homophobia group International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), the petition has already got the support – and signatures – of hundreds of well-known personalities ranging from former Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu to Hollywood star Meryl Streep and pop legend David Bowie. IDAHO's UK coordinator Derek Lennard revealed today that politicians already signed-up are Michel Cashman, the president of the European Parliament's ‘intergroup' on gay and lesbian rights, and Bertrand Delanoë, the openly gay mayor of Paris. And leading the diplomats is Thomas Hammarberg, the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. “Once enough people have signed the petition, the wording and the timing of the resolution will be decided in consultation with the International Lesbian and Gay Association,” Mr. Leonard said. “It is planned to present the petition to the United Nations Council of Human Rights – and the hope is that South Africa will present the petition,” he added. IDAHO is the ‘brainchild' of Frenchman Louis-Georges Tin and the first ‘anti-homophobia day' was held on 17 May 2005. Belgium was the first country to recognise IDAHO, and this year the ad hoc group received the backing of the European Parliament. Mr. Tin has purposely kept the idea of IDAHO simple. There is no bureaucracy, just national coordinators in a host of countries worldwide. The petition is online at the IDAHO website – click the link below. Ref: UK Gay News (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 17th November 2006 - 12:00pm