Our IDAHOT 2016 event was a huge success. Dharma & Martia together with Amnesty International – Stockholm Chapter HBTQ group made history on May 17th by bringing together many organizations, activists as well as politicians.
The event started by Make Out! Make Change! in Sergels Torg when many gathered and showed their solidarity with LGBTQI persons around the world by kissing a same-sex parrner or any combination of sexual orientation and gender identities in suppory for love.
The event was closely supervised by Amnesty International, the police as well as RFSL Stockholm to ensure security of participants. To ensure everyone can have the possibility to have someone to share effection with, a match up station was planned for those who did not come along with thier same-sex partner.
The crowd then walked hand-in-hand towards RFSL house where the seminars, talks, mingle, dance and an art exhibition was planned.
Nadia Zabehi, Dharma & Martia coordinator, holding rainbow flag while moderating the event and providing live webcast. Photo: Charlie Olofsson, Amnesty Press.
The event at RFSL house was very well received by a large number of audiance. The session started by the opening speech provided by Andrés Esteche, President of RFSL Stockholm, followed by remarks by Magnus Kolsjö Vice President of RFSL national. In their remarks, the event and its importance was emphasized.
Following the opening speech, US Ambassedor to Sweden, Ms. Azita Raji made some heart warming remarks on how United States is committed to support LGBTQI rights domestically and internationally.
The event was full of valuable discussions and debates by the presenters as well as the audiance. Many organizations supported this event by either presenting a talk or seminar or by participation. Among them, Lesbik Kraft, Transammans, Amnesty Choir, LGBTQI asylum seekers from Uganda and Iran, ot name a few.
The event was closed by a fantastic dance performance and mingle.
Watch the video of the Make Out! Make Change below.
https://hallpressen-tt.solidtango.com/video/kyssar-tog-over-sergels-torg?t=92
