Courage Unfolds Act

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.

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 »

Order a copy of the video »