IDAHOBIT 2025 and Rainbow Windows Competition

Last updated on 17 April 2025

This news piece has been produced in collaboration with Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health.

Local businesses and community members are being encouraged to decorate their shopfront, home window or foyer in rainbows in recognition of IDAHOBIT.

Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health has once again partnered with Macedon Ranges Shire Council to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) which is marked globally each year on 17 May.

Created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people, and all of those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics, this year's theme is ‘The Power of Communities’.

Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s Rhani Dean-Talbett explains that the IDAHOBIT rainbow windows competition helps to raise awareness about how the community can come together to address discrimination and rights violations still experienced by LGBTIQA+ people on a day-to-day basis.

"By embodying the theme and entering the rainbow windows competition, the community can demonstrate their creativity and support for LGBTIQA+ people. Last year’s competition was highly contested, and we hope this year will be too!”

Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Acting Director Community, Amy Holmes, said Council was proud to again partner with Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health and other local organisations to support the LGBTIQA+ community through IDAHOBIT initiatives.

“IDAHOBIT is always a colourful, poignant opportunity to show our support and we encourage others to join us in standing up against discrimination not just on this day, but every day,” Ms Holmes said.

Prizes are available for the most creative entries. To register your business or window, visit Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s website.

There will also be a free online workshop for local businesses, community groups and residents to help support them to be rainbow inclusive ready in the lead up to IDAHOBIT. Taking place on Wednesday 7 May, 6pm to 7:30pm, registrations for the IDAHOBIT Rainbow Inclusion Workshop can also be made by visiting the link above.

To speak to someone about the window competition or the online workshop, call 5421 1666 or email [email protected]

A range of other events are planned in the Macedon Ranges in the lead-up to IDAHOBIT, including a flag-raising ceremony on Friday 16 May at 12pm – visit Council's IDAHOBIT page for more information.