LONDON, May 17, 2008  –  The UK coordinator of International Day against Homophobia has attacked the government – and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in particular – for its lack of interest of the IDAHO campaign which highlights homophobia worldwide.

In over 50 countries worldwide campaigners are today remembering and commemorating gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people around the world who suffer human rights abuses because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“We have not heard a word to acknowledge the importance of this day by our own Foreign and Commonwealth Office,” Derek Lennard said this afternoon.

“Last year we were honoured by a joint statement by Ian Macartney and Meg Munn,”

“By contrast the Brown government has ignored the significance of this day, and the FCO didn’t even bother to sort out whether they were sending a representative to an IDAHO meeting in London on LGBT Rights at home and abroad.

“A report issued by ILGA has highlighted that 85 countries criminalise homosexuality.  The Foreign Office thinks it has a sophisticated strategy to address this issue.

“Yet their sloppy approach to IDAHO and to campaigners around the world today must call their commitment into question.”

Mr. Lennard pointed out that statements and reports about the human rights of LGBT people have been issued today by numerous and pivotal organisations and individuals.

In the UK, many events and campaigns have been organised to mark the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses.

■ Yesterday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch named the UK Home Office in its ‘Hall of Shame’ for the lack of human rights extended to gay men and women who sought sanctuary from oppressive countries.

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Posted: 17 May 2008 at 14:00 (UK time) updated Tuesday May 20