The Gannawarra recognises IDAHOBIT Day

The Gannawarra recognises IDAHOBIT Day

Published on 13 May 2024

Gannawarra Shire Council is partnering with various organisations to mark the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex discrimination, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), occurring on Friday, 17 May.

IDAHOBIT Day marks the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s removal of homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, as well as celebrates LGBTIQA+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination.

“IDAHOBIT Day enables key organisations, including Council, to recognise our LGBTIQA+ community and highlight that more work needs to be done to promote inclusiveness across our communities,” Mayor Ross Stanton said.

“As an organisation, we are committed to supporting our LGBTIQA+ community and working in partnership to ensure that our residents feel safe, are healthy, have equal human rights and can live wholly and freely in our communities.”

The Pride in Future: Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ strategy 2022-2032 acknowledges that LGBTIQA+ Victorians make up 5 per cent of the population and face higher levels of discrimination, stigma, and exclusion, which can lead to poorer health, economic, social, and mental health outcomes.

The Victorian strategy calls on all citizens to play their part in ensuring that LGBTIQA+ Victorians experience the benefits of full participation in economic, educational, political, community and social areas at all stages of life, through the following four priority areas:

Local events and initiatives occurring within the Gannawarra to mark IDAHOBIT Day include:

A headspace-organised event in conjunction with Northern District Community Health at Kerang Technical High School, which includes a whole school mural of the LGBTIQA+ progress flag and individual progress flags built from lego; and Encouraging schools, businesses, organisations and clubs to display a Rainbow Flag sticker on their window, which highlights that these locations are a safe and supportive environment for LGBTIQA+ individuals. For more information and to order stickers, email [email protected] A progressive Rainbow Wall Message Board circulating throughout the day across partnering organisations to enable the celebration of a collective message of leadership and inclusion.

IDAHOBIT Day across Gannawarra is supported by Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service and Victoria Police.

“Council works with these agencies under a strategic partnership known as GLAM (Gannawarra Local Agency Meeting) to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for all Gannawarra residents,” Mayor Stanton said.

“IDAHOBIT Day provides the opportunity to increase understanding that everyone in our community is entitled to feel safe, included, and able to be themselves in their own community.”

ABOVE: Deputy Mayor, Cr Charlie Gillingham (back row, fourth from right) and Northern District Community Health staff during 2023 IDAHOBIT Day celebrations.