May 17th: Celebrate IDAHOBIT

The Calgary Gay History Project observes the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) every year. We like that it is a global moment of solidarity and visibility for queer communities. It connects the local to the international—the past to the present.

The IDAHOBIT 2025 theme, “The power of communities,” was announced during the ILGA World Conference 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.

“IDAHOBIT, observed annually on 17 May, commemorates the 1990 decision by the World Health Organization to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases. Since then, the day has served as a focal point for raising awareness of the violence and discrimination still faced by LGBTQIA+ people across the globe.

“The power of communities” reflects the diversity and richness within LGBTQIA+ communities, from the grassroots to the global, celebrating our varied and intersecting backgrounds, identities, and experiences. The theme for 2025 highlights the strength and resilience that emerges from our collective solidarity, recognizing the contributions of human rights defenders, LGBTQIA+ civil society groups, allies, and millions of people in our communities who support human rights and collective liberation.

IDAHOBIT is not a centralized campaign; rather, it is a shared moment for communities and allies driving change around the world to take action in ways that resonate with their specific contexts and reflect their realities and priorities. Every initiative—big or small—counts and can make an impact, amplifying the movement’s reach and contributing to a world free from discrimination and violence.” – May17.org.

We still have work to do to bring full equality and dignity to our communities in Calgary, but we should also pause on Saturday to consider how far we have come since 1990, and consider as well the challenge of queer existence in other parts of the world.

{KA}