Awareness
Celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on May 17, 2024. This day is often referred to and known by the acronym IDAHOBIT. It was founded in 2004 and was created to bring visibility and awareness to the discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people, and those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. May 17 was chosen as the date to celebrate IDAHOBIT because it commemorates the date in which the World Health Organization decided in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Since its inception IDAHOBIT has continued to achieve growing recognition from international, national, state, and local authorities all over the world. Many United Nations Agencies also recognize the day with special events. Currently over 130 countries around the world celebrate this day, even in 37 of the countries where same sex acts are illegal. The day is meant to have a significant annual global impact to garner visibility and support from local, national, and international leaders and agents of change to help stop the violence and discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was initially started and run by the IDAHO Committee. It is now overseen by a variety of different regional and thematic networks whose aim is to advocate for the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. This allows for thousands of initiatives, both on a small scale and on a large scale, to take place all over the world.
Since many different organizations and entities celebrate this day, the name of the day varies. The name of the day is not trademarked; therefore, allowing the day to be communicated in a way that reflects the distinct focuses of the organizations and entities involved in celebrating IDAHOBIT. Both celebrations and advocacy in many different forms will take place on May 14 with millions of people involved around the world.
Each year an issue that is globally focused is selected for promotion on May 14. The theme for each year is decided by a variety of stakeholders around the world. Although the annual theme is never a centralized campaign, it is intended to serve as an opportunity for reflection and a call to action. The 2024 theme this year is “together always: united in diversity.” Join us this May 14 by celebrating and honouring International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
Written by: Laura H.
