- Categories:
- Cause
- Tags:
- AwarenessLGBTQ
- Where:
- International
- Date change rule:
- Every May 17
- Holiday emoji:
- 🌈
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) is observed every May 17 to raise global awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. Join the worldwide movement to combat discrimination, advocate for human rights, and foster a more inclusive society for all.
Want to sponsor International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia? Learn how
History of International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is an L.G.B.T.Q. awareness holiday that falls on May 17 every year. People in the L.G.B.T.Q. community face a lot of issues that the holiday helps bring to light. For many years, they have been denied legal protections and essential health care. They have also sometimes been forcefully subjected to go through medical treatment or needless surgery. They are denied basic civil and human rights.
The holiday was officially founded in 2004 by Louis-Georges Tin. The first event was held on May 17 in 2005 and was attended by about 24,000 people. The specific date May 17 was chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1990. A petition was launched in 2009 in cooperation with L.G.B.T. organizations to add transphobia to the name of the campaign. The petition was supported by more than 300 N.G.O.s from 75 countries. It was also supported by three Nobel Prize winners: Elfriede Jelinek, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, and Luc Montagnier. The first country in the world to officially remove transgender issues from its list of mental illnesses was France in 2009.
The founder of the holiday, Tin, acted as the event’s committee chairperson until he resigned in September 2013. Renowned Venezuelan trans rights activist, lawyer, and law professor Tamara Adrián succeeded him after his retirement. In 2015, Adrián became one of the first trans legislators in Latin America. In 2015, Biphobia was added to the name of the holiday campaign.
International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia timeline
Almost 13 years after the A.P.A. took the first step in recognizing the L.G.B.T. community, the World Health Organization declassifies homosexuality as a mental illness from the International Classification of Diseases (I.C.D.).
The day, known as the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), is conceived — after a year, it becomes an event celebrated in several countries.
In 2009, transphobia becomes an official part of the event, with many of the activities revolving around transphobia.
Bisexuality is added to the name of the event in order to acknowledge and face the issues that bisexual people encounter.
International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia FAQs
When is International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia?
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia will be observed on Monday, May 17, 2027. It serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality worldwide.
How many countries criminalize same-sex relations?
The number of countries criminalizing same-sex relations fluctuates, but remains significant in 2027. Millions of LGBTQ+ individuals face legal persecution and severe human rights violations globally, underscoring the day’s importance.
Why is May 17 significant for IDAHOTB?
The date May 17 was chosen for IDAHOTB to commemorate the World Health Organization’s landmark decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. This moment was a critical turning point in the global fight for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition.
What is the difference between homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia?
While all three terms describe prejudice, homophobia specifically refers to bias against gay and lesbian people, transphobia to bias against transgender people, and biphobia to bias against bisexual people. Each manifests differently but stems from a common root of intolerance against non-heterosexual and non-cisgender identities.
How to Observe International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia
Share the holiday
You can share the holiday with your friends and family. This can be online or with the people around you.
Learn more about the community
You can learn more about the issues that the L.G.B.T.Q. community faces. There is a lot of information available now.
Make a donation
Why not donate? A donation to an L.G.B.T.Q. organization will help in creating solutions to some of the issues that affect the community.
5 Important Facts About The L.G.B.T.Q. Community
L.G.B.T.Q. community members get harassed
About 52% to 87% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people have been verbally harassed at least once.
Some get chased
About 13% to 38% of L.G.B.T.Q. people have been chased or followed.
They get assaulted
More than 24% of people in the community have been physically assaulted.
They know their gender
Most L.G.B.T.Q. people are comfortable with their own biological sex and do not regard themselves as members of the opposite sex.
It can’t be cured
Homosexuality cannot be cured by psychotherapy as it is not a mental illness.
Why International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia is Important
It raises awareness
The L.G.B.T.Q. community faces issues such as discrimination and violence because of intolerance. This holiday helps to raise awareness about the issues faced by the L.G.B.T.Q. community.
It supports the people
The holiday helps to bring people together. People who can relate to each other can become part of each other’s support system.
It makes history
The events of the holiday help to set the pace. With this event in place, people can become more tolerant of differences, which can make things easier for future generations.
