NSW’s leading LGBTQ health organisation, ACON, has provided a range of grants to support community events and initiatives being held across NSW that will mark IDAHOBIT – International day against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia and discrimination against intersex people.
IDAHOBIT takes place every year on 17 May – to mark the day in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases. The day aims to raise awareness of LGBTIQ+ rights, and the discrimination that many sexuality people throughout the world continue to experience.
In 2021, the global theme of “Together: Resisting, Supporting, Healing”, recognising the recent challenges that the world has faced since 2020.
In acknowledging the significance of IDAHOBIT, ACON has provided support to local community initiatives with a small grants scheme to help increase awareness of, and engagement with, this important day. This year, emphasis was placed on supporting community events in rural and regional NSW, and Greater Western Sydney.
Sixteen grants of up to $1000 each have been awarded to community groups and organisations throughout the state, seven of which are in regional NSW and 9 that are in Greater Western Sydney. Among the activities being held are a luncheon with local businesses, themed panel discussions, a multicultural costume workshop, religious celebrations, and other events aiming to foster awareness and celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity. (See next page for a full list of grant recipients)
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says IDAHOBIT events are vital in ensuring visibility and community connection for sexuality and gender diverse communities in both metropolitan and regional areas.
“ACON’s recent scoping study, Advancing LGBTQ+ Safety and Inclusion, confirmed a range of daily challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people living in Greater Western Sydney including high levels of racism, discrimination, violence and harassment and a lack of inclusive health and community services. In response, ACON is proud to work with local communities to increase LGBTQ visibility and bring attention to important issues via our grants program,” Parkhill said.
“The grants committee was pleased to see applications from a variety of emerging and existing LGBTQ+ community groups as well as established service providers who are all focused on engaging local communities and fostering community leadership and action.”
“This year’s theme highlights the struggles everyone in our communities around the world has faced over the past, extremely tough year. While the coronavirus pandemic is far from over and will continue to have an impact on social activism and the fight for everyone across Australia and around the world to be free and safe to be themselves, we can still come together to inspire, support and love one another.
“ACON is proud to work with our partners in celebrating the rich diversity of our vibrant communities in NSW,” Parkhill said. “In celebrating IDAHOBIT, we are given a chance to reflect on the importance of speaking up for equality and diversity, giving our communities’ a voice and creating safe spaces where inclusion is celebrated.”
