Stand up against discrimination this IDAHOBIT Day
Tuesday, 20 May 2025
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ECU is proud to support IDAHOBIT (17 May)
Saturday 17 May is IDAHOBIT – the International Day Against LGBTIQA+ Discrimination. It’s a day to celebrate how far we’ve come in the fight for equality, while recognising the discrimination many LGBTIQA+ people still face.
ECU is proud to stand with our LGBTIQA+ students and staff, and we’re inviting you to join us in creating a more inclusive community – one rainbow at a time.
Why it matters
IDAHOBIT marks the anniversary of when homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation’s list of diseases in 1990. But more than 30 years on, LGBTIQA+ people – especially young people – still experience high rates of abuse and exclusion.
The name IDAHOBIT stood for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia, but in 2022, it changed to be referenced to as the Day Against LGBTIQA+ Discrimination to include all sexual and gender identities.
The recent nature of the LGBTIQA+ human rights movement means that stigma and discrimination are still prevalent across the world. This is also true in Australia, where:
- 68% of LGBTIQA+ employees are not out to everyone at work
- 2 in 3 LGBTIQA+ youth experience abuse due to their identity
- 35% of LGBTIQA+ Australians have experienced verbal abuse in the past 12 months
That’s why visibility, support and allyship still matter – especially on days like IDAHOBIT.
You can learn more about the history of IDAHOBIT by visiting the webpage.
What’s happening at ECU
Even though IDAHOBIT falls on Saturday this year, we’re celebrating early on campus so everyone can take part.
Rainbow Morning Tea
The ECU Student Guild is hosting a fabulous event on the Joondalup campus to mark the occasion.
Join us on Thursday 15 May, 10.00am – 1.00pm at the grassed area next to the Library for rainbow cake, free food, jewellery making, painting, games and photo ops! Everyone is welcome – bring your sparkle and your best rainbow outfit!
You can check out the event details here.
Looking for more ways to get involved?
- Wear rainbow to show your support for the LGBTIQA+ community.
- Start a conversation with friends about why IDAHOBIT exists.
- Check out the impact of IDAHOBIT Day on the website
- Learn more about allyship at minus18.org.au
Whether you’re a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community or a strong ally, your support helps make ECU safer and more welcoming for everyone.
Let’s stand together. Hate has no home at ECU.