International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia 2024
May 17th, is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Created in 2004, it’s purpose was to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people, and all of those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.The date of May 17 was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. This year’s theme is "No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all" which is even more important as we continue to see attempts here in the UK and beyond to divide the LGBTQ+ community.
One of the purposes of IDAHOBIT is to raise awareness around the issues facing LGBTQ+ people around the world. ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, has a whole host of resources about the state of LGBTQ+ rights around the world. They have also recently updated their Rainbow Europe Map for 2024 to show the human rights situation across Europe. While the UK has improved slightly, moving from 17th to 16th in the last year, there remain significant areas for improvement, with the report expressing concern about the growing toxic and hostile environment that LGBTQ+ and particularly trans people face in the UK, attributing much of the hate to politicians and the media.
Sadly, this means we still live in a world where we may need to report an LGBTQ+ hate crime. If you need to do so or need support following one, Stonewall have released an app, Zoteria, to make it easier to do. This is in partnership with galop, who in addition to providing support if needed, also have a number of helpful guides and resources available on their website.
We know that we are stronger when we stand together as a community, and OMG is here for all the members of our wonderful LGBTQ+ rainbow. For more information, follow any of the links below, or get in touch with us at leadership@outmaking.games
Jasmin Fox - Out Making Games
