Acknowledging IDAHO

Friday is IDAHO – the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. In Australia we will be acknowledging the day against bi-phobia, intersex-phobia and trans*-phobia (IDAHOBIT). IDAHOBIT was started in 2004 to commemorate the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1990.

It began life as a National Day Against Homophobia in Quebec in 2004, and days were also held in Belgium, France and the UK that year. The first international day was the following year. Since then it has spread across the world, and the The NSW GLRL has been participating in IDAHOBIT by holding events on this day for a number of years.

This year we will be joining a number of community organisations, led by the Community Brave Foundation, at Martin Place in front of Seven’s Sunrise studio. We will be trying to gain some televised visibility as well as gathering signatures for our petition to establish an independent police oversight body following incidents at this year’s Mardi Gras. We will all be there from 6.30am onwards, so please come up and say hello and ask any questions you might have.

The GLRL will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we’re planning something very exciting. For this GLRL committee, our 25th celebration events are our opportunity to acknowledge all the work that has been put in by community members over such a long period of time, and to thank everyone that made all the changes happen over the last 25 years; changes that mean many of us can all live much easier lives today than our predecessors 25 years ago.

While society may not be perfect, particularly for community members who live out of the city, or have socially conservative families, at the very least we by and large have protections within the law.

We’re after volunteers for works as diverse as shaking a bucket and waving a petition under people’s noses, to helping us plan and execute a major event, and everything in between.  It’s a great opportunity to gain new skills, or show off the ones you already have.

If you would like to join us in thanking the courageous gays and lesbians – and their supporters – for their incredible work and achievements since 1985, please get in touch at [email protected]