May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia

(lifted from a Friendster Bulletin)

Fifteen years ago, on 17th May 1990, the World
Health Organisation (WHO), the authoritative body
on the health matters of the globe, declared that
homosexuality is not a disease by removing it from
the official WHO list of mental disorders.

This validated what the gays /lesbians knew for
centuries, that we are not sick, just because our
sexual orientation was different to the
heterosexuals. Most importantly,it helped gay and
lesbians to overcome medical homophobia which
was prevalent for many centuries. It's needless to
say the importance of this date(17th May) to the
gays, lesbians living all across the world.

Plans are now afoot to lobby the United Nations to
declare May 17th as the "International Day
Against Homophobia-(IDAHO). A petition
supporting this initiative has been launched by
interested activists with the support coming from
leading LGBT organizations in the world.

At Companions on a journey, we support this
initiative of IDAHO and have officially endorsed the
petition.

If you are interested of this initiative or want to sign
the petition please visit
www.petitiononline.com/idaho

For more information on the petition and to know
how you could support the initiative please
visit:www.idahomophobia.org

HOPE FOR A WORLD WITHOUT HOMOPHOBIA -
GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT IDAHO.

In Solidarity,
Sherman De Rose
Executive Director
Companions on a journey.