Act 
Screen the video, hold a rally or a community event, petition your government to address violence and discrimination against LGBT people.
Using Courage Unfolds
Courage Unfolds, a film on LGBT human rights and the Yogyakarta Principles in Asia, can be a powerful tool to complement your activism and advocacy. Here are some ideas for holding a creative and engaging event using Courage Unfolds in your community:
Download these ideas as a PDF »
Download materials to make your own posters and announcements » (zip file)
Goals:
Why are you holding a screening? What are your objectives? Is this part of your larger campaign for LGBT rights? Some suggestions may be to:
- Educate the general public.
- Inspire younger LGBT people.
- Mobilize broader human rights community.
- Promote acceptance for LGBT people.
Audience & Partners:
Who can you show it to and with?
- LGBT community members
- Local human rights organizations
- Service providers, health care, and mental health professionals
- Women’s rights groups and National Women’s Commission
- Legislators, lawyers, bar council, judges, police
- Schools and universities, Ministry of Education
- Media: reporters, bloggers & talk shows
- Moderate and supportive religious leaders
- National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)
- Foreign embassies in your city
Planning:
What kind of event will you have? Suggestions for Screenings and Courage Unfolds Campaign Activities:
- Hold a community dialogue or have panel of local activists speaking about their experiences and activism.
- Partner with local LGBT or human rights activists to conduct workshops or trainings on how to better respond to LGBT concerns and needs.
- Promote the 29 Yogyakarta Principles by holding one high profile activity a week that corresponds to one Principle.
- Work with a media outlet to profile 29 LGBT people over a period of time and use this as an opportunity to raise awareness about the Yogyakarta Principles.
- Organize a human rights film festival with the Courage Unfolds video as the opening night event.
- Invite a public relations company to create public service announcements for a TV or radio station where 29 celebrities each highlight one Principle in their own words.
- Do a fundraiser where you auction 29 items or sell entry tickets for 29 units of your currency. Use funds for an LGBT related action or social issue.
- Recognize 29 allies (non LGBT people) for their public service or activism in support of LGBT people in a public awards gala event.
- Hold a rally.
- Organize a traveling photography exhibit with images by, for and about LGBT people and their lives.
- Show clips of the Courage Unfolds video on YouTube and embed a widget from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) website that offers people an opportunity to take action.
Location:
Where could you hold video screenings and Courage Unfolds Campaign activities? Is safety an issue? Are permits required?
- Community halls, public theaters, arts centers
- LGBT friendly consulates and embassies
- Large funding organizations
- UNDP, UNIFEM or other UN agency premises
- At LGBT supportive National Human Rights Commission offices
- NGO spaces
- Universities
Time:
When do you plan to hold your video screening? Is it a stand-alone activity or organized alongside national or international events? Is it timed to increase participation in your Courage Unfolds Campaign Actions?
Some significant days:
- International Day Against Homophobia (May 17)
- Pride (June – December)
- Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20)
- 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (Nov 29-Dec 10)
- World AIDS Day (December 1)
- Human Rights Day (December 10)
- International Day on Women Human Rights Defenders (29 November)
- International Women's Day (March 8)
Getting the word out:
How will you promote your Screening & Campaign Activities?
- Use your website and other websites to raise awareness and visibility of the Yogyakarta Principles.
- Use mobile phones or Twitter to publicize your event and mobilize a particular action.
- Develop posters, T-shirts, banners with a message to promote the Courage Unfolds Campaign and Yogyakarta Principles.
- Post emails, blogs and web articles.
- Write newspaper op-eds, press releases, and look for opportunities to give media interviews.
- Invite your National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) or Women’s Commission to attend and publicize the events.
Follow-up:
What do you want your friends/allies to do after watching the video?
- Speak out against the use of religion to commit or incite violence and hatred towards LGBT people.
- Promote the Yogyakarta Principles in schools and universities.
- Support a petition or letter-writing campaign to push government officials on a particular law or an LGBT-related concern.
- Report experiences of abuse to a hotline on hate crimes.
- Use the video as a conversation starter on social media or on listservs about the consequences of criminalizing homosexuality and jeopardizing the lives of LGBT people.
Share:
Tell us what you're planning and send photos, videos, and other info to courageunfolds@iglhrc.org.
Tell your friends through email, twitter and facebook »