Today, groups around the world are celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (I.D.A.H.O). Started in 2005 in Paris, the annual May 17 celebration has the acronym “IDAHO”. But this is the first year that the day is being celebrated in Idaho.
A group called Act Up I.D.A.H.O. is organizing events in Boise. Thursday night, about 40 people gathered for a vigil to remember LGBT people who have died. Councilwoman Maryanne Jordan was one of the speakers. Jordan read a proclamation from Mayor Dave Bieter, adding Boise to the list of international cities recognizing I.D.A.H.O.
Darlene Burke attended the event at the Anne Frank Memorial. Burke has lived in Boise for seven years, and feels safe in the city. But she says events like the vigil show LBGT people still have a long way to go.
“Not everybody accepts and not everybody understands completely," Burke says. "I think that anywhere you go there will be some small pocket of hatred somewhere. Just because of the misunderstanding and the non-acceptance.”
But Burke says that since Boise passed a non-discrimination ordinance last year, the community has become even safer.
Besides Boise, Sandpoint, Ketchum and Moscow have passed non-discrimination ordinances. These laws protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Copyright 2013 Boise State Public Radio
