Bubble soccer, a sea of rainbow hearts, family picnics, movie screenings and other exciting community events across NSW are just some of the ways that people and communities in NSW will be marking this year’s International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).

IDAHOT takes place every year on May 17, the day in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases. The day aims to raise awareness of LGBTI* rights, and the violence and discrimination that many LGBTI people throughout the world continue to experience.

ACON, NSW’s leading HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI health organisation has provided a series of small grants to community groups and organisations to help them create an activity or event that focuses attention on the impact that homophobia, transphobia and biphobia has on the mental health and well-being of LGBTI people.

“We were excited to see a diverse range of strong applications for IDAHOT events this year. The grants committee was pleased to see a number of events aimed at some of our more vulnerable community members – such as transgender people, young people, and people who are culturally and linguistically diverse.” says ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill.

The initiative has fostered a range of events in various locations in Sydney and across NSW including Surry Hills, Redfern, Penrith, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle, Dubbo, Northern Rivers, Armidale and Bathurst.

“These events bring together LGBTI people and communities to celebrate diversity and undertake activities that are aimed at promoting good mental health and well-being in their local community, through events such as bubble soccer in Wagga Wagga, an IDAHOT fair with stalls and performances in Western Sydney and an artistic commemoration of the struggle against local homophobia, transphobia and isolation in the Northern Rivers.”

“It’s vital to have visibility for LGBTI communities in both metro and regional areas as LGBTI people need to know they have safe places to be themselves and to feel celebrated for their identities,” Mr Parkhill added.

IDAHOT is celebrated in over 130 countries It unites millions of people in support of the recognition of human rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

For more information about IDAHOT, visit: http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/

For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications Officer
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042