International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia

The annual International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) is remembered on 17th May in over 120 countries worldwide. IDAHOT is the largest LGBTI solidarity action in the world where activists get together in order to raise awareness on the many restrictions gender and sexual minorities face on a daily basis: violence, intimidation, discrimination and murder.

Since the previous IDAHOT in May 2013, an unprecedented amount of anti-LGBT fervor has taken place globally. This year’s theme “Free Expression” shaped one of the largest ever event, highlighting  the fundamental importance of protecting free expression in advancing all human rights. Also across the UK several events took place, organised by different associations, activists, groups of students and experts.
 

Currently, 40% of the world’s population lives in one of the 81 countries where homosexuality is criminalised -  ten carry the death penalty and over 1,100 murders take place because of transgender discrimination. These are of course countless cases of unreported, silenced and censored cases of Homophobia and transphobia.
 

While the global view of human sexuality is growing, much is still to be overcome.