International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
On May 17th, 1990, the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. This means that, starting that day, homosexuality was no longer recognised as a disease, as something to be treated or cured. Starting on May 17th, 2005, the LGBTQIA+ community annually celebrates the process made around the world while also raising awareness for discrimination still happening against the LGBTQIA+ community.
In 2005, this day was known as IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia). In the years that followed, the name and purpose of the day were updated multiple times, to be more inclusive of everyone in the community.
- 2005: The day was known as IDAHO;
- 2011:: The name was updated to IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia), to be inclusive of the issues and discrimination trans people experience;
- 2018: The name was updated to IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, and Transphobia), to be more inclusive of biphobia and intersexphobia as well;
- 2022: IDAHOBIT grew to be referred to as Day Against LGBTQIA+ discrimination to include anyone who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Why is IDAHOBIT needed?
We have come a long way in recent years. Examples of growth around the world include misgendering being ruled a human rights violation in Canada and Brazil criminalising homophobia and transphobia. However, LGBTQIA+ people still face discrimination and inequality in public and places of work. This discrimination and inequality is often protected by the government. So, IDAHOBIT is still needed to remove this inequality and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people.