The City of Greater Bendigo is holding a flag raising event at 10am in the Bendigo Library Gardens, Hargreaves Street on Friday May 17, 2024 to mark the 2024 International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and everyone is welcome to attend.
City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager Andie West said IDAHOBIT Day marks the anniversary of when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the classification of diseases and related health problems in 1990.
"While we have come a long way to accept and embrace our LGBTQIA+ community members, there is still a long way to go to stamp out discrimination," Ms West said.
"LGBTIQA+ often need to deal with discrimination, stigma and exclusion on a daily basis and this can lead to poorer health, economic, social and mental health outcomes.
"The City has created its first LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Action Plan which aims to ensure the City's programs and services are inclusive of LGBTIQA+ people and that they feel supported, connected, visible and have a sense of belonging in Greater Bendigo.
"Highlighting and celebrating events such as IDAHOBIT aligns with the City's Greater Bendigo Council Plan (Mir wimbul) 2021-2025 which aims to create a safe, welcoming and fair community that values and engages with people of all ages, abilities, genders and sexualities.
"It also aligns with the Healthy Greater Bendigo 2021-2025 strategic document that aims to promote, improve and protect the health and wellbeing of Greater Bendigo's residents especially by providing access and inclusion for people who identify as LGBTIQA+.
"Everyone is welcome to attend the flag raising event and celebrate with our LGBTIQA+ community."
