The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was founded in 2004 to bring awareness to and fight discrimination against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and is recognized by people and organizations in over 130 countries around the world. The date was chosen to honour May 17th, 1990, when the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The international IDAHOBIT committee announced that this year's theme is “At the heart of democracy”. This theme reminds us that in any truly democratic society, 2SLGBTQ+ people must be able to meaningfully access justice, equality, and inclusion. In their announcement, the committee writes:
“No matter where we live, who we are, or the faiths that drive us, most people want to nurture neighbourhoods and communities where every life can flourish. But today, reactionary governments worldwide are poisoning our gardens with the invasive weeds of their authoritarian policies and exclusionary legislations. Time and again, LGBTQIA+ people have resisted these pests, rolled up their sleeves together with all the good people caring about their communities, and sowed the seeds of change. On IDAHOBIT 2026, and every day, you are invited to join in — at the heart of democracy: together, we can prepare the ground for a better future for everyone.”