Council to host 2023 IDAHOBIT Day event

The community is invited to bring their lunch along and join in the free activities, games, guest speakers and raising of the Rainbow flag from 12.30pm to 2.00pm on the day.

The event, which is supported by FREEZA and VicHealth funding, will be delivered in partnership with the community IDAHOBIT Day Working Group comprising of members from GOTAFE, Diversity Project (Uniting Care), The Bridge Youth Services, The Youth Foyer, Berry Street, Headspace, GV Pride, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, Victoria Police, Vincent Care, Primary Care Connect, Slade Consulting, CASA, and La Trobe University.

Council has taken the lead in hosting the annual event as a key initiative of the Greater Shepparton LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee Action Plan, to work with the community to continue to recognise and celebrate key cause days including pride days of celebration and significance such as IDAHOBIT. The LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee comprises of community representatives with lived experience and/or a passion to act as an advocacy and representative body to Council.   

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, acknowledged the great partnership between the LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee and Council.

“Council is pleased to be hosting this event for the first time which is a result of the great working relationship Council has with the LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee. We look forward to continuing to work closely with them on more projects and events in the future,” he said.

LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee Councillor Representative and Chair, Cr Sam Spinks, said the event held an important meaning for many in the community.

“IDAHOBIT is the anniversary of May 17, 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases. The purpose of IDAHOBIT is to celebrate the progress made since then, while also raising awareness for the discrimination that LGBTIQA+ people still face,” she said.

“I encourage community members to come along to the Queens Gardens on Monday 17 May and join in the IDAHOBIT Day activities. The event can be enjoyed by everyone,” Cr Spinks said.

Greater Shepparton 2023 IDAHOBIT Day event

When: Wednesday 17 May, 2023

Where: Queens Gardens, Shepparton

Time: 12.30pm – 2.00pm

For more information, visit the event page on Council’s Facebook page