IDAHOBIT – what a day…

Nowadays nearly everyone, even traditional straight people, knows what Gay Pride (in Germany: Christopher Street Day) means, as it is a loud colourful event that is hard to miss. Some members of the community are even asking whether the political message is still being perceived at all and whether Gay Pride has not become a kind of carnival. (This statement refers exclusively to Germany: we are aware that Gay Pride events in many other countries are associated with great difficulties and dangers.)

IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia) is a quieter but not less important day for the LGBT+ community:

On 17th May 1991, the World Health Organisation (WHO) decided to remove homosexuality from the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) and confirmed officially that homosexuality is not a disease. For trans*identity, this decision was only made in 2018.

The IDAHOBIT aims to remember this important day, but also to warn: discrimination and violence against LGBT+ people still exist; in some countries, even in the European Union, it has even been increasing in the past few years. That is why the Munich activists have chosen to focus on the situation of LGBT+ in Eastern European countries this year.

Link to IDAHOBIT 2021 München on Facebook.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic only allows for very small or virtual events, making LGBT+ once again barely visible. Many of their concerns were ignored during the past year, and much-needed safe spaces got lost. All the more reason to draw attention to us and our human rights today!

This post contributed by the German (Munich!) team of Birgit & Franziska — Danke Team!