International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia message from the LGBTQ Network
David Williams, Senior Tutor in Business and Chair of the University of Bedfordshire Staff LGBTQ Network, shares reflections on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia #IDAHOBIT2022, which is recognised yearly on the 17 May.
This international event was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTQI+ people internationally.
The date of 17 May was specifically chosen to commemorate the day on which the World Health Organisation decided to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder (1990). IDAHOBIT is particularly celebrated in Europe and Latin America, commemorated with public events, parades and online sessions. Cuba has held street parades and Chile hosted Equality marches.
Although there has been some progress in the 21st Century for LGBTQI+ people worldwide, there remains a variance globally. Even in 2021, some countries are becoming more repressive, making IDAHOBIT ever more important.
Since 1990, 30 countries have passed laws allowing equal marriage and more than 40 countries have outlawed homophobic hate crimes but the fight for equality is far from over.
Around the world, members of sexual and gender minorities and intersex people face stigma, discrimination and persecutions and nowhere is there yet full acceptance and protection for all LGBTQI+ people.
At the University of Bedfordshire, I am honoured to Chair the University Staff LGBTQI+ Network. We are striving to be a safe organisation, where everyone can be their true self, whoever that self may be.
We seek to lead by example, to support staff and students, together with the communities and organisations we partner with. We will challenge poor behaviour and have the required ‘uncomfortable conversations’; we will seek to educate people and live by our values. Having dates in the calendar such as 17 May for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia present us with an opportunity to reflect on progress but more importantly to highlight the work that still needs to be done. Together we will ‘Resist, Support and Heal’.
For details of the Staff, LGBTQ+ network click here
Twitter: @LGBTQ_Beds