WHAT IS IDAHOBIT?

IDAHOBIT stands for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia and in recent years, discrimination against intersex people.

The event marks the anniversary, 30 years ago, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). And it was only in May 2019 when The World Health Assembly, the WHO governing body that represents 194 member states, voted for new diagnostic guidelines that no longer describe people who are transgender or as having a “mental disorder”.

The new edition of the ICD, known as ICD-11, has made changes to reflect a modern understanding of sexual health and gender identity – notably, by replacing “transsexualism” with a new concept of “gender incongruence”, defined as a condition relating to sexual health rather than a mental and behavioural disorder.

The original “IDAHO” founders marked the day to raise awareness about the pain and suffering of lesbian and gay people around the world. It’s important to note that the latest version of the World Health Organisation’s ICD version 11 continues to describe intersex variations as “disorders of sex development”. You can read the IDAHOBIT statement by Intersex Human Rights Australia here.

Today, the event has evolved to include more people in the queer community including the intersex and asexual community. The day is about acknowledging and fighting the stigmatisation and discrimination of LGBTIQA+ people. This stigmatisation has been the product of laws, policies and attitudes that all combine to cause harm.

17 May is also about celebrating the progress that has been made in the past 30 years. And our challenge today is to not only continue to stand up for LGBTIQA+ people but to double our efforts in creating positive social and cultural change. We know a disproportionate number of the LGBTIQA+ community experience poorer mental health outcomes and a higher suicide risk than their peers, and that this is connected to ongoing inequality and discrimination. There is more work to be done.

Are you looking for something to do on 17 May? You can still get involved even if it’s from home!