International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia: May 17

The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, IDAHOTB is observed on May 17 every year. The day is marked to increase awareness about LGBT rights violations. Also, it aims to stimulate interest in LGBT rights work world-wide.

What is Transphobia, Homophobia and Biphobia?

• Homophobia: It is dislike against gay people
• Transphobia: It is the dislike against the transgender people
• Biphobia: It is the dislike against the bisexual people

IDAHOTB

• It was originally called the International Day against Homophobia.
• It was first observed in 2005.
• Louis-Georges Tin is the founder of International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
• The Declaration of Montreal was adopted in 2006. It demanded the United Nations to recognise IDAHOTB.

Why was May 17 chosen?

It was on May 17, 1990, homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of World Health Organisation. International Classification of Diseases is a classification of health care system. It provides diagnostic codes to classify a disease. This includes symptoms, signs, abnormal findings, external causes.

Goals

The day aims to increase awareness against discrimination, violence and repression of LGBT communities worldwide.

Around the world

• Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legally recognise same-sex marriage.
• IDAHOTB has been recognised in very few countries such as Spain, European Union Parliament, Portugal, Belgium, Mexico, UK, Netherlands, Venezuela, Luxembourg, Croatia, Costa Rica.

Current Scenario

• Around sixty-nine countries criminalise bisexual individuals, gay, lesbians.
• In more than twenty-six countries, the transgender individuals are subjected to punishments. Also, they are at the risk of violence.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021