International Day Against Homophobia, Trans, Inter and Biphobia: This is what you need to know about the day of action

International Day Against Homophobia, Trans, Inter and Biphobia: What you need to know

Since 2005, every year on 17th of May the Day against homo, trans, inter and biphobia committed. But that’s more than rainbow flags and street parades: this day of action is about using media campaigns and lobbying to support people whose sexual orientation or gender identity deviates from heteronormative society.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Interphobia and Biphobia: That is why the day of action takes place on May 17th

On May 17, 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from the diagnostic code for diseases. Yes, until then homosexuality was officially classified as a disease. No day is better suited to draw attention to homophobia, trans, inter and biphobia and hostility. Incidentally, transsexuality was classified as a “disease” until 2018. That was just five years ago.

The combination of numbers 17.05. but May 17 also stands for something else: the now repealed Section 175 of the German Criminal Code, which made homosexual acts between men a punishable offence. It was abolished in 1973 in the western federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany, and then for the entire Federal Republic of Germany after reunification.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Interphobia and Biphobia: This is what the EU says in 2023

The European Union uses the day of action to make it clear once and for all that it reaffirms and sustainably promotes the respect, protection and realization of the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

More than two billion people live in countries where consensual same-sex relationships are criminalized – in 11 countries such relationships are even punishable by death. Anyone who thinks that the LGBTQIA+ movement benefits from oh so many privileges is wrong: According to the Council of the European Union, sexual discrimination and exclusion are still the order of the day, and there is growing resistance to the existence and expansion of rights for the determine community.