Dear members, supporters and friends,

On 17 May 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders. This action served to end more than a century of medical homophobia. The decision of the WHO constitutes a historic date and powerful symbol for members of the LGBT community and we feel that it is only normal that IDAHO be recognized and observed as every other International Day (i.e. International Women’s Day, International Human Rights Day etc).

Fifteen years ago, the International Lesbian and Gay Association was deeply involved in the process of getting the WHO to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. ILGA is therefore strongly committed to commemorating this event by celebrating this first international day against homophobia. The Bulgarian Gay Organization GEMINI works in close partnership with ILGA and is member of the association since more than 10 years.

In January 2005 BGO Gemini initiated the national campaign for recognition of 17 May as a National Day Against Homophobia in the Bulgarian calendar. The Campaign is part of a Global initiative of human rights NGOs from all around the world which BGO Gemini joined from the very beginning.

BGO Gemini calls upon the Bulgarian authorities, state agencies and institutions, national and local media, business and non-profit organizations and individuals to support the Campaign for recognition of 17 May as a Day Against Homophobia in the national calendar. So far the Campaign is supported on international and national level by the European Union, Parties from the European Parliament, national media, institutions, business companies and non-profit NGOs.

We call upon YOUR support to make 17 May 2005 a Day Against Homophobia! Show your support by signing, in the name of your organization or group, a petition in favor of IDAHO at: www.petitiononline.com/idaho.

More importantly, help us to make the International Day Against Homophobia a reality on the ground by organizing a party, a protest, or any other act that would raise the visibility of IDAHO in your community.

For more information, please see the website at www.idahomophobia.org and in Bulgarian www.bgogemini.org/petition

Your support will be even stronger if you join the organized Equality walk on 17 May at 12:00 am in front of the National Palace of Culture (Sofia). It is not necessary for you to be with homosexual or bisexual orientation or transgender, it is important that you believe, that we are all EQUAL. With this Equality walk we will show that we do exist and we don’t want to be threatened as invisible!

We thank you for your support and for not giving up!

Bulgarian Gay Organisation Gemini