(Photo Credits: IDAHOTB Committee / CC0)
Today—May 17, 2020—marks the 30th International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT). IDAHOBIT was founded in 2005 and this particular date was chosen to commemorate the declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1990. IDAHOBIT is now being celebrated annually in 132 countries ever since 2016.
Love is not a crime.
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 17, 2020
Discrimination is not an option.
Love is love.
On #IDAHOBIT and every day, let's use education's power to challenge intolerance & hate.https://t.co/pfcGvnf4Wy #LGBTI #IDAHOTB pic.twitter.com/DJInIZexQr
The observance aims to “coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide” and this year’s theme is breaking the silence.
🏳️🌈 On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, the UK reaffirms its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT people around the world.
— Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) May 17, 2020
Human rights are universal and should be applied equally to ALL. #IDAHOBIT | #IDAHOBIT2020 pic.twitter.com/JwTqPlBBYb
As we all know, over 100 PRIDE events have been cancelled or postponed this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, face-to-face events of all kinds are banned this year due to the COVID-19 crisis and while celebrating is a little tricky because of these trying times, it doesn’t mean it’s not doable. What’s more is that during this coronavirus pandemic, “LGBTQI people are among those at heightened risk,” says UNFPA. For example, stay-at-home restrictions increase LGBT youth and adults’—specifically those who are “confined in hostile environments with unsupportive family members or co-habitants”—exposure to “violence, anxiety, fear and depression,” explains UNFPA. Then of course there’s an issue about how gay men in the US continue to be unable to donate blood despite new coronavirus rules among many others.
This #IDAHOBIT we want to remind you that in over 70 countries, #LGBT+ people are still routinely denied their basic human rights.
— Kaleidoscope Trust (@Kaleidoscope_T) May 17, 2020
We can and must stand alongside those still fighting anti-LGBT+ governments. None of us are free until all of us are free. pic.twitter.com/okkj75Dw9h
This is why now, more than ever, it is important to break our silence and speak about the issues that matter to the LGBT community. Take a look below at the ways in which we can observe IDAHOBIT at the comforts of our home:
- we can blog about why IDAHOBIT matters to us personally
- the internet knows no boundaries which is how we can participate in various online events and discussions on social media wherever we are in the world whether we came from Mexico, Canada, Vietnam or Uganda, there are events happening somewhere. In Azerbaijan, for example, Rengareng Azerbaycan (Colorful Azerbaijan) is asking its supporters to “draw a rainbow on a piece of paper, hang it on window, take a picture of it and share on social media.”
- Read about IDAHOBIT and read about other LGBTQ+ people’s stories and share it online.
- Donate on various organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ causes. Check here and here.
Gay couple Dawid and Jakub are fighting prejudice – and #coronavirus – with rainbow masks in Poland. #IDAHOBIT #IDAHOBIT2020 pic.twitter.com/8Xv2RdGl5G
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) May 17, 2020
We'll keep saying it until *everyone* knows:
— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) May 17, 2020
Trans rights = human rights.
Trans rights = human rights.
Trans rights = human rights.
Trans rights = human rights.
Trans rights = human rights.
Trans rights = human rights.
#IDAHOBIT
Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, guys!
I feel like whoever came up with this acronym missed the fact it looks like I Da Ho bit(ch). Also how is it the 30th annual when it started in 2005? Time travel? Ancient aliens?
“I da Hobit.”
“Yes you are, Bilbo.”
So staying in Mommy’s basement and twittering is going to impress others and stop all the phobias? Best address agoraphobia first. Being a lapdog of the commissars at the WHO isn’t going to do anything but show what paper tigers are truly involved
I am not a fan of the conflation of gay and trans, they are nothing alike. Gay is natural, trans is about changing who YOU ARE, and that is NOT ANYTHING LIKE BEING GAY. And the idea of having such an event in Idaho is pretty ridiculous. I mean leave middle America alone for God’s sake. Seems to me to be just looking for conflict. “Hate speech” is just a tool to control free speech. I support ALL forms of speech, ESPECIALLY that which I do not agree with. IN a time when the internet is blocking, removing, censoring political… Read more »
IDAHOBIT marks that pivotal moment when LGBT individuals were given mental health equality with the rest of society. The level of their mental health was no longer considered a function of their sexuality. They were to be considered no more stable or daffy than anyone else.
It seems that folks like to throw the word phobia behind words without truly knowing what said word actually means.
pho·bi·a (fō′bē-ə)
n.
1. A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous.
2. A strong fear, or aversion.
Is that like always feeling like you’re the victim? Or always feeling like absolutely no one supports you? Or always feeling like everyone persecutes you? Or always feeling like absolutely everyone has a bias against you?