We are celebrating International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May. Our focus is continuing to raise awareness of and promote inclusion across our services and sites for members of our LGBTQIA+ community.
IDAHOBIT is a day of significance for the LGBTQIA+ community as 32 years ago, on 17 May 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. It is important to celebrate LGBTQIA+ people globally and raise awareness of the work still needed to combat discrimination.
As part of our Equity and Inclusion Plan, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment that embraces everyone’s skills, perspectives, and experiences. We all have a role to play in contributing to a culture of inclusiveness.
The language used to describe different LGBTQIA+ people is diverse and is constantly evolving. Using a person’s correct pronoun is an important step and supports our aim, as a health service, to provide a safe, understanding and respectful environment for those who identify as LGBTQIA+.
A pronoun is a way people refer to themselves and each other. Some people use the pronoun ‘he/him’ or ‘she/her’, while others may prefer a gender-neutral pronoun like ‘they/them’, or in some instances, this may be context-specific. Correct use increases the awareness of gender diversity across our sites, allows our employees to show respect for each other and for our patients. This is an important step in building trust with our LGBTQIA+ community.
An LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Language Guide is available for Victoria public sector employees and outlines how to use language that is inclusive and respectful when referring to LGBTIQ people.
All Monash Health employees and Consumer Advisors will be able to order a name badge with their pronoun in the coming months, should they choose.
Keep your eyes out for more information on how to order your pronoun name badge on iProc.
Join us to celebrate IDAHOBIT
Join us at the Employee Forum at 2pm via Webex as we celebrate IDAHOBIT and acknowledge the positive contribution our LGBTQIA+ community makes to Monash Health.