International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination

16/05/2025

Diversity

The International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination, also known as IDAHOBIT, is held annually on 17 May. 17 May 1990 was the date on which the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases. The purpose of the day is to celebrate progress made and to raise awareness of the discrimination that many LGBTQIA+ people continue to face.

AWEI’s 2025 Employee Survey reported that LGBTQIA+ people are less likely to be out at work than in 2022. IDAHOBIT also reports that 2 in 3 LGBTQIA+ youth have experienced abuse due to their identity and 35% of LGBTQIA+ Australians have experienced verbal abuse in the past 12 months.

The Bar Association is committed to supporting a Bar that reflects and is inclusive of the diverse composition of Australia’s society, which includes people from the LGBTQIA+ communities. The Bar Association’s LGBTQIA+ Principles on Inclusiveness are available here.