The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organisation’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.
It is now celebrated in more than 130 countries (including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal) and thousands of initiatives, big and small, are reported across the world.
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is a moment that everyone can take advantage of to take action, on whatever issue and in whatever format that they wish.
Many different groups participate in IDAHOT day and as a consequence it receives many different denominations; some organisations add Lesbophobia or Intersexphobia as distinct focuses. Acronyms also vary, from the initial IDAHO to IDAHOTB or IDAHOBIT.
The Day is not one central trademarked brand and everyone is free to communicate it as they wish. However, lately some groups have translated the “I” to “intersexism”. Intersex organisations have been consulted with and their view is that this term is vague and misleading and have guided people to use the term “intersexphobia” instead. IDAHO day currently does not explicitly include Intersexphobia as there is no global consensus among the Intersex communities that this should be included.
Find out more: May17.org
