Monday 17 May is a significant date in the ongoing fight for equality. On this day in 1990, the World Health Organisation declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Since being established in 2004, IDAHOBIT has grown to represent a day of awareness and reflection of the ongoing discrimination directed towards the LGBTI+ community. It’s a day of understanding and a commitment to continue changing behaviours that will support ending discrimination towards the LGBTI+ community.
IDAHOBIT is also a day of support and healing as we listen to the LGBTI+ community – to their lived experiences – which helps the broader community understand the impact of discrimination and why we must continue to do better.
Monash Health was fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to four wonderful guest speakers: Jun Soong, Scott Hili, Jason McMurray, and Blair Salmon, who shared their powerful stories and insights at Monash Health’s IDAHOBIT celebration event. For those of you who were unable to attend or would like to share the event with others, the recorded event can be watched here.
The speakers provided a sobering reminder that discrimination still exists and the devastating impact it can have. There is still an important journey ahead in fighting for equality and bringing about positive change. It’s also clear from the experiences of Jun, Scott, Jason, and Blair, that through understanding and acceptance of diversity and actively recognising that any form of discrimination is unacceptable, we will continue to make essential progress in ending discrimination and prejudice toward the LGBTI+ community.
Monash Health is committed to implementing and encouraging that essential progress. As an organisation, we strive to be a place of acceptance, understanding, and respect where everyone feels safe, that they belong, and can be their genuine selves.