Celebrate and honor the beautiful diversity of LGBTIQ+ families across the globe with the 13th annual International Family Equality Day.
On May 5, LGBTIQ+ people and their families and friends will get together all across the globe to celebrate the thirteenth annual International Family Equality Day (IFED) – an awareness day that highlights family diversity and advocates for equality for everyone. This year’s motto, “We Are Family,” aims to honor all families regardless of how they are created. A family is a family because its members care for and respect each other.
Family is family – no matter what.
“We all belong to a family”, says IFED Co-President Benny Odongo (Kenya). “And while not all families are the same, what matters is that we are part of and contribute to one. Therefore, even if it can’t be written in official documents, even when the laws ignore or discriminate us, even if somebody says we shouldn’t exist, all families are families worthy and deserving of recognition and protection. This is the message we will be getting across with this year’s IFED.”
The demands are clear – equality!
This point is stressed as well by IFED Co-President Matcha Phorn-In (Thailand). According to her, it’s clear that it’s love that forms a family, that the definition of marriage as union between one man and one woman must be challenged, and that the right to parent children and co-adoption must be granted regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics.
“That’s what this year’s IFED motto is all about,” says Phorn-In. “With Thailand being right on its way to becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to pass a bill legalizing marriage for LGBTIQ+ couples, this year’s motto has an extra special meaning.”
We ARE family.
“All families, including LGBTQI+ families, deserve to be celebrated and protected,” shared Tonya Agnew (United States), IFED board member and Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Family Equality, the leading organization that works for LGBTQI+ families in the U.S. “Family is the ultimate uniter. Regardless of a person’s background or political views, each of us knows what it means to be part of a family. We all want to be loved, supported, and to feel like we belong. That is what is means to be a family. International Family Equality Day is an opportunity for LGBTQI+ families around the globe to be recognized and celebrated.”
Celebrate IFED! Advocate for change!
Since its beginnings in 2012, International Family Equality Day has grown into a world-wide movement. Last year, the event was commemorated in 258 cities in 78 countries – another record!
“It is truly humbling, and inspiring to see the IFED family grow the way it does”, says IFED-founder Maria von Känel. “To see all these people coming together, spreading joy, supporting one another, and standing up for what’s needed most in this world – love and respect for the human condition, which is diverse and colorful. I’m beyond excited to celebrate again this year and to watch all these brave, wonderful people setting an example by cherishing and supporting the ones they love. To me, that’s IFED and I invite people from around the globe to join the IFED family and help change the world!”
Be a part of IFED, be a part of change
There are countless ways to get involved with IFED. See highlights of events and activities from previous years here.
Check out the great and diverse collection of #IFED2024 posts and contributions under the following link: https://internationalfamilyequalityday.org/live/
IFED 2024 leaflet: https://internationalfamilyequalityday.org/
Media contacts:
Matcha Phorn-In (IFED Co-President, Thailand): +66 882607203
Benny Odongo (IFED Co-President, Kenya) +254 711131195
Tonya Agnew (IFED Board Member, United States) +1 7654904709
Maria von Känel (IFED Board-Member, Switzerland) +41 796110671
