Today is IDAHOBIT: the International Day Against LGBTIQA+SB (in recognition of First Nations Sister Girls and Brother Boys) Discrimination.
It is held every year on 17 May, marking the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases. We celebrate this milestone while uniting in international queer solidarity for the work that still needs to be done.
From @batesforbrisbane: “LGBTIQA+ people have been increasingly targeted by far-right groups, emboldened by conservative politicians. In Australia, 68% of LGBTIQA+ employees are not out in their workplaces due to discrimination, and 2 in 3 LGBTIQA+ youth experience abuse due to their identity. We are still subjected to conversion therapy practices, and risk exclusion from religious schools, hospitals and other workplaces. Intersex people experience medical procedures against their consent, and trans and gender diverse people cannot access the essential health care they need.
Our community is disproportionately suffering from the current housing and cost of living crises, and our Government has no intention of addressing it. We weren’t even counted in the national census to ensure accurate data is collected to design policy and allocate resources appropriate for our experience and needs.
As the Australian Greens Spokesperson for LGBTIQA+, I’m calling on all allies inside and outside of Parliament to rally and fight for queer justice. We must band together to build a world free from discrimination, and that starts at home. Get involved in local events, attend protests alongside your local LGBTIQA+ community, and call out hate speech, dog whistling and fake platitudes – particularly from people in positions of leadership.
We are strong when we are united and we embrace the diversity of our beautiful community.”