With apologies for cross-posting:

May 15, 2014, Kathmandu. The International Day Against Homophobia and
Transphobia is a global day of celebration of freedom, diversity, and
acceptance. It calls on everyone to uphold human rights for all,
regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression
(SOGIE).

This year, the celebration focuses on freedom of expression, on how
restrictions on it affect the lives of everyone, including the lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

On this occasion, AMARC joins forces with the International Freedom of
Expression network, IFEX, to recall the importance of preserving the
diversity of voices and opinions, ensure a fair representation of gender
and minorities on the airwaves and enforce inclusion and acceptance for
all.

Highlighting the importance of sharing stories of violence and
discrimination targeted at LGBT people across the world, Maica Lagman from
the Rainbow Rights Project and President of AMARC Asia-Pacific mentioned
that many countries lacked legislation to protect their rights and in some
countries, existing laws and practices are used to harass, abuse, and
detain them.

“Instances of violence and discrimination often happen within the family
and the community. This is where community radio can play an important
role — by opening the airwaves to the LGBT community, it can facilitate
informed discussions and promote understanding, which will hopefully break
the harmful stereotypes and contribute to positive social change,"  she
further said.

In the  Bangalore Declaration 2010, AMARC members reaffirmed its
solidarity with the LGBT people and asserted their right "to live with
dignity and without fear of persecution". Since then, it has integrated
SOGIE issues in its workshops and trainings.

AMARC’s members are encouraged to produce and broadcast in local languages
depending on their requirements. Members are also requested to share their
programs with AMARC for further distribution within the network.

Please do the following to send your programs: Send your mp3 files to
[log in to unmask] through https://www.wetransfer.com. WeTransfer is
a platform for web-based transfer of heavier files directly through
Internet by bypassing email and FTP systems. In case of any difficulty,
please write to us.

Thanking you in advance for your participation in this important campaign.

For more information on IDAHOT, please visit www.dayagainsthomophobia.org.

-END-

Through service to its members, networking and project implementation, the
World Association of Community Radios (AMARC) brings together more than 4
000 community radios, federations and community radio partners in more
than 130 countries. The main impact of AMARC since its foundation in 1983
has been to accompany and support the establishment of a global community
radio sector. AMARC does lobbying and advocacy for the right to
communication internationally, nationally and at the local and
neighborhood levels, and defends and promotes the interests of the
community radio movement through solidarity, networking and cooperation.
For more information, please contact Suman Basnet, Regional Coordinator
for Asia-Pacific, [log in to unmask] or visit
http://ap.amarc.org/.