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FriMay 17

International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia – May 17, 2024

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is a holiday observed around the world on May 17. The event is held every year to help raise awareness about L.G.B.T.Q. issues. It helps to share information about some of the issues faced by the community. These orientations are criminalized in many countries around the world. They are not allowed to have relationships and cannot be legally married. People in the community face a lot of prejudice and discrimination. They also face some hostility that can sometimes lead to violence. The holiday helps to remove some of the stigma surrounding these orientations.

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

1990
Homosexuality is Declassified

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.).

2004
The Day is Conceived

The day, known as the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), is conceived — after a year, it becomes an event celebrated in several countries.

2009
Transphobia is Added to the Name

In 2009, transphobia becomes an official part of the event, with many of the activities revolving around transphobia.

2015
Bisexuality Becomes Part of the Campaign

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

What is sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation refers to the sex, or gender, of people to whom someone is sexually attracted.

Is there a wrong sexual orientation?

There is no wrong type of sexual orientation. There are simply different types.

Who is a bisexual?

A person is considered to be bisexual when they are attracted to both sexes.

How to Observe International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia

  1. Share the holiday

    You can share the holiday with your friends and family. This can be online or with the people around you.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. 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.

  2. Some get chased

    About 13% to 38% of L.G.B.T.Q. people have been chased or followed.

  3. They get assaulted

    More than 24% of people in the community have been physically assaulted.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia dates

YearDateDay
2024May 17Friday
2025May 17Saturday
2026May 17Sunday
2027May 17Monday
2028May 17Wednesday

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