Global Day Celebrates Sexual and Gender Diversity Worldwide Despite Backlash

This year in LGBTQIA+ people’s rights sees glimmers of hope amidst a wave of international setbacks, including America’s attack on diversity. May 17 is the international day to take part in the resistance.

Among the setbacks: 64 UN member States continue to criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts. At least 61 countries have restrictions on freedom of expression related to sexual and gender diversity issues. While laws protecting individuals from hate crimes based on sexual orientation exist in 63 UN member States, only 41 do so based on gender identity, 11 on gender expression, and 8 on sex characteristics.

The last few months, in particular, have been riddled with escalating threats to LGBTQIA+ people. Mali criminalized consensual same-sex sexual acts for the first time, and Trinidad and Tobago reversed its decriminalization ruling. In the United Kingdom, the Supreme Court has restricted the definition of “woman” for the Equality Act. Hungary has amended its Constitution to ban LGBTQIA+ gatherings, claim that “a human is either male or female”, and remove protections on gender identity. Across the United States, bills and executive orders contribute to making life impossible for trans and intersex people under the false pretense of “defending women” but actually failing to do so. In Argentina, the government has amended the National Gender Identity Law by executive order, prohibiting access to gender affirming care for persons under the age of 18. In Peru, the National Congress passed a law that establishes a prison sentence for ‘anyone who exposes youth to content on sexual diversity’.

Across the world, LGBTQIA+ communities – and especially women, trans, and intersex folks among them –  are facing an unprecedented wave of attacks by anti-gender and anti-rights movements. Some political actors are complicit – stripping and depriving people of their agency over their bodies, identities, and loves. and legislating them out of public life, out of healthcare, and out of recognition altogether. Across the world, social justice movements continue to call out this backsliding, which is increasingly undermining democracy as a whole.

Nevertheless, there has been progress, often as a result of communities coming together, organizing, resisting, holding each other through all the hardships and brutal repression, and creating positive change. During the last year, Dominica and Namibia decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual acts. Marriage equality became a reality in Thailand and Liechtenstein. The last-standing “LGBT-free zone” in Poland finally fell.

To date, 17 UN member States have implemented bans on so-called ‘conversion therapies’ at the national level, while 9 have introduced nationwide restrictions on unnecessary interventions for intersex youth. Additionally, 18 UN member States allow for legal gender recognition without restrictive preconditions at the national level, and 37 have legalised marriage equality.

Numerous initiatives are taking place worldwide in May to celebrate sexual and gender diversities as part of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT). It is expected that events in more than 60 countries and territories worldwide will be registered on the may17.org website.

Celebrated annually on May 17, the day marks the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Since its inception in 2004, the IDAHOBIT has served as a vital platform to raise awareness about the discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. 

Amidst progress and pushback, this year’s IDAHOBIT is more important than ever. Its theme, “The power of communities”, highlights the vital role that connection, solidarity, and shared purpose play in driving change — both for individuals and diverse social justice movements.

It also celebrates the ongoing efforts of LGBTQIA+ human rights defenders, organisations and community members, as well as feminist, sexual and reproductive health rights and more allies, towards a more just world for everyone.

IDAHOBIT is a vital day to share information about the discrimination, violence, and exclusion LGBTQIA+ people face, and how communities are working to overcome it. Everyone must get involved in building a more equal and just world for everyone.

Visibility isn’t enough. Rights are being taken away, and silence is complicity. This IDAHOBIT,  stand with LGBTQIA+ communities. Speak out, show up, and fight back.

For more information, resources, and tips on how to celebrate the day, please visit may17.org.