To mark International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHOT) tomorrow, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in collaboration with Tiffany's Show Pattaya and the Thai Transgender Alliance is holding a seminar on military recruitment among people with diverse sexual preferences.
The event will be held from 8.30am to 12.30pm at Bangkok City Hall.
Created in 2004 by a Paris-based commission, IDAHOT was initiated to raise awareness among media, policymakers, governmental leaders, social movements and the public.
May 17 was chosen as the date for the annual event, stemming from the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation classified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
As of today, IDAHOT has received international recognition from various countries and such major political institutions as the European Parliament, as well as numerous local agencies. The United Nations also marks this day with specific events.
Global in scope with it being celebrated in more than 100 countries, its reputation and influential stance has reached far, even to regions as diverse as Iran, Cameroon and Albania.
It is not merely a global campaign that's held annually, but rather a movement that aims to fight for the voice and righteousness of the people.
In almost 80 countries around the world, same sex couples are imprisoned because of their sexuality, a denial of their human rights.
This often results in life-long entrapment or death penalties.
Coupled with the confinement are legal discriminations against their gender identity, and attitudes of homophobia and transphobia still exist in society _ denying a basic human right and voice to millions of people globally.
