Welcome to the IDAHOBIT 2025 Communications Kit!
We’re thrilled that you want to take part in this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT). This kit provides ready-to-use resources, messaging ideas, and action suggestions to help you mark 17 May in ways that work for your context.
This kit is designed for immediate action: take what resonates with you, adapt it to your local needs, and join the global IDAHOBIT mobilisation. Together, our collective actions demonstrate the power of our communities worldwide.
NOTE
Events around 17 May go by different names and acronyms, and that’s okay. Everyone is free to frame the day in a way that reflects their context and priorities. The Committee who started working around the date back in 2004 currently uses IDAHOBIT, and will therefore use the hashtags #IDAHOBIT and #IDAHOBIT2025
The initiative
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) takes place every year on 17 May, a date chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.
IDAHOBIT connects local actions with global solidarity, creating a powerful moment when our communities’ voices rise together across borders to:
- Reaffirm our collective commitment to the rights, dignity, safety, and freedom of LGBTQIA+ people worldwide.
- Draw attention to the ongoing discrimination and violence faced by our communities.
- Mobilise action at all levels, from grassroots groups to international institutions.
For over two decades, the initiative has played a crucial role in:
- Promoting 17 May as a key LGBTQIA+ mobilisation moment.
- Documenting and amplifying actions happening worldwide.
- Providing free visual resources to support organisers.
Everyone can mark this day in ways that reflect their realities. Every action, big or small, contributes to the collective power of this global moment.
The theme this year
Our global focus for 2025, “The Power of Communities,” honours the strength, resilience, and hope we find when we come together.
Why this theme?
In a world where LGBTQIA+ people continue to face systemic violence and exclusion:
- 64 UN member States still criminalise consensual same-sex sexual acts.
- At least 61 restrict people’s right to freedom of expression on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics issues.
- Legal gender recognition based on self-determination is only available in 18 countries at the State level.
- Only 9 UN member States restrict unnecessary medical interventions on intersex minors at the State level.
Communities are lifelines. They offer protection, mutual support, collective care, and spaces to heal and build resistance.
Throughout history, when communities unite, they have the power to change narratives, challenge injustice, and create lasting change not just for LGBTQIA+ people but for everyone.
By celebrating the power of communities, we honour the countless grassroots efforts and collective actions that have shaped our movements and continue to sustain them today.
Get involved
IDAHOBIT offers everyone an opportunity to act, regardless of who you are or what resources you have available. Here are some general ways to participate:
- Share the illustration: Post the IDAHOBIT 2025 visual on your social media with #IDAHOBIT2025
- Register your action: Add your initiative to may17.org to be part of the global list
- Use the templates: Create promotional materials using our Canva designs
- Issue statements: Express support and highlight the importance of LGBTQIA+ rights
- Host or attend events: Organise or join discussions, gatherings, or online activities
- Raise awareness: Share information about LGBTQIA+ experiences and challenges
- Show visible support: Display rainbow flags or other symbols of solidarity
- Support LGBTQIA+ organisations: Offer resources, skills, or amplification
For detailed suggestions tailored to specific groups, including LGBTQIA+ organisations, allied movements, governments, businesses, educational institutions, healthcare providers, media outlets, sports associations, and individuals, visit our Get involved page.
Our website contains comprehensive, context-specific ideas that can help you create meaningful engagement with IDAHOBIT based on your particular role and resources.
History
The IDAHO Committee, as it was originally called, was created in 2004 by the founders of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT). Since then, the day has been a crucial platform for us to come together, each in our own way, to amplify calls for change. The day has been used as an opportunity to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people, as well as others with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.
The day of 17 May was specifically chosen to commemorate IDAHOBIT, as it marks the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. This decision was a major milestone in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
For over 20 years, IDAHOBIT’s main objectives have been to:
- Promote the day as a key global LGBTQIA+ mobilisation moment.
- Document and report global actions taking place around the day.
- Provide visual resources so that groups can focus on organising and supporting their communities.
Previous themes
2025. The power of communities2024. No one left behind: equality, freedom, and justice for all2023. Together always: united in diversity2022. Our Bodies, our lives, our rights2021. Together: Resisting, supporting, healing!2020. Breaking the silence2019. Justice and protection for all2018. Alliances for solidarity2017. Love makes a family2016. Mental health and well being2015. Respect diversity, support love2014. Freedom of expression2013. The Global Rainbow Flashmob2012. Fighting Homophobia in and through Education (As I Am Campaign)2011. Religions, Homophobia, Transphobia (Global Kiss-In; Cures That Kill)2009. Against Transphobia and for the Respect of Gender Identity2008. No more Lesbophobia2007. No to Homophobia, Yes to Education2006. For a Universal Decriminalisation of Homosexuality
Name of the day
Even if every year a “global focus issue” is promoted, IDAHOBIT is an international day that does not belong to anyone. Everyone is free to frame the day in a way that reflects their context and priorities.
For example, in Latin America, “lesbophobia” is often included. In Brazil, the day is recognised as the National Day Against LGBTQIA+ Phobia. In some regions, intersex communities add “intersexphobia” to the name, while in others they do not. Similarly, asexual movements may explicitly mention “acephobia”.
Our role is to document global events and provide resources. Groups are free to name and frame the day in the way that suits their needs.
We acknowledge that the acronym and name of the day do not capture the full scope of our communities. This is why the tagline “a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversities” was added alongside the acronym.
NOTE
We provide visual resources for free and none of them is copyrighted. The IDAHOBIT Advisory Group and ILGA World do not assume any responsibility for the use of these assets, as those may not necessarily reflect our views. Neither IDAHOBIT Advisory Group nor ILGA World endorse or take any responsibility for the content or organisation of these actions.