(Summary at the bottom)

 

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is an annual awareness day that started in 2005. This specific date, May 17th, was chosen because, back in 1990, the World Health Organization decided to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. This declassification meant that homosexuality stopped being referred to as a mental disorder by medical professionals on a global scale from that point forward, marking an important step towards fighting against discrimination towards LGBTQIA+ people.

This day is not only a day of solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community around the world, but also a day to bring awareness to the issues that exist regarding the lack of rights, violence and discrimination that the community is still facing nowadays. IDAHOBIT is a global movement, so it is also encouraged to take action in any way that is realistic and possible for you.

This year’s theme is “At the Heart of Democracy.” According to may17.org, it was originally chosen because “it serves as a powerful reminder that the soil of truly democratic societies must be rich in meaningful equity and justice for all, fostering the flourishing of the entire community.”

Promoting democracy, equity, equality and justice is extremely important, now more than ever, when discrimination and hate towards the LGBTQIA+ community is currently on the rise globally. Particularly, transphobia and systemic discrimination towards trans people have been getting alarmingly more frequent in multiple countries. For example, there’s been an unprecedented rollback of transgender rights in the United States. As of 2026, 48 anti-trans bills have passed, which include blocking trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition and the right to publicly exist. You can find more information about that here: https://translegislation.com 

 

How You Can Support IDAHOBIT and LGBTQIA+ Rights and Equity

- Share information and educational resources about this day

- Donate to organizations and charities that support LGBTQIA+ people

 

⁛ The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org)

⁛ GLAAD (https://glaad.org)

⁛ Stonewall UK (https://www.stonewall.org.uk)

⁛ Human Rights Campaign (HRC) (https://www.hrc.org)

⁛ ILGA World (https://ilga.org)

⁛ Trans Lifeline (https://translifeline.org)

 

- Participate in local events or organize your own initiatives

- Stand against discrimination and hate in your community

- Amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and experiences

 

Summary:

 

- IDAHOBIT, which takes place every May 17th, aims to raise awareness about the discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide.

- It marks the date when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases on the same day back in 1990.

- This year’s theme, “At the Heart of Democracy,” highlights the importance of equity, justice and equality in democracy.

- LGBTQIA+ people, especially trans individuals, continue facing discrimination and right revoking acts in many countries.

- People can support IDAHOBIT by spreading awareness, supporting LGBTQIA+ organizations, attending events and speaking up against discrimination.

 

Together, we can all do our part to create a safer and more equal world for LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

 

With love,

The Inclusivity Group