The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is recognized every year on 17 May. IDAHOBIT is a day to celebrate diversity and to raise awareness of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and other people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTIQ+ people). 

This year’s IDAHOBIT theme is “Together Always: United in Diversity.” This theme was chosen in consultation with LGBTIQ+ groups from around the world as an open invitation to unity, allyship and collective action. “Together Always: United in Diversity” allows for the celebration of human rights defenders, advances the struggle for LGBTIQ+ rights everywhere, and provides space for allies to join the movement.

Unfortunately, LGBTIQ+ persons still face discrimination, with LGBTIQ+ persons facing discrimination in education, in employment, in healthcare, in their communities and even within their families. Some countries even punish consensual same-sex acts and relationships with the death penalty, and transgender and gender-non-confirming persons continue to face particularly high levels of violence and discrimination around the world.

As UN-GLOBE coordinators of UNIDO, we stand with our LGBTIQ+ UNIDO colleagues and their families. In line with this year’s IDAHOBIT theme, we reaffirm that we are indeed together and united in our diversity.

IDAHOBIT is a day to remind all of us of our commitments, particularly as UN staff, to defend and uphold human rights, including for LGBTIQ+ persons, and that allyship is built around understanding, accepting and acting. And, of course, these actions should not be limited to 17 May, but should be commitments that we uphold and work towards throughout the year.

Let us use this day to build our knowledge and understanding of the legal and social barriers faced by LGBTIQ+ persons around the world. Let us accept and support LGBTIQ+ persons and particularly our colleagues, ensuring that all are treated equally. And let us speak out against discrimination and proactively ensure that our workplaces and social spaces are safe and inclusive. We all have a role to play!

We celebrate our LGBTIQ+ UN colleagues and community members, and commit our support and our voices to standing together for a more respectful, equal and just society, today and every day.