Colour and creativity for IDAHOBIT

LGBTIQ communities around the world celebrated International Day Against Homophobia, Biophobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) with colour and creativity on Sunday 17 May — 30 years to the day the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.

Sexuality and gender identity or intersex status aren’t always visible and homophobia, biophobia, interphobia and transphobia can occur both online and face-to-face, often prevent those identifying as such from embracing who they are.

Our national statistics are alarming — 75 per cent of Australia’s LGBTIQ youth experience some form of discrimination, 61 per cent experience verbal abuse and 36.2 per cent of Trans Australians experience depression.

IDAHOBIT will be a little different this year due to restrictions placed in light of COVID-19, but it will still be celebrated by schools and communities seeking to create a broader understanding of the difficulties LGBTIQ people face every day.

IDAHOBIT aims to encourage workplaces and community organisations to create a culture in which everyone, including all LGBTIQ people, feels safe and included.