What is homophobia?

Homophobia is the fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. It can also mean hatred, hostility, or disapproval of homosexual people, sexual behavior, or cultures, and is generally used to insinuate bigotry. The term homophobic means "prejudiced against homosexual people," and a person who is homophobic is a homophobe (from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia).

Homophobia can be blatant – bashings or murders; protests or discriminating legalisation.

Homophobia can also be more subtle – a smirk as you walk past with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner; or not being served in a business because someone believes you are gay or lesbian.


What is IDAHO?

On 17 May 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders.

The fight for the recognition of equal rights for lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender people did not end there though. And it continues today, across the globe, in a great variety of ways.

Today around 80 countries in the world still criminalise homosexuality and condemn consensual same sex acts with imprisonment. In nine countries (Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen), consensual same sex acts still carry the death penalty.

Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity is still not recognised formally by the member states of the United Nations (even though human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Committee have repeatedly condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity).

Members of South Australia’s GLBTTIQ community first celebrated IDAHO in 2006. And it is gaining momentum.

So this May 17, reflect on how far the GLBTTIQ community in Australia (and the world) has come, remember the victories, don’t forget the work to be done … and celebrate!
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