Embracing the rainbow for IDAHOBIT Day
Moonee Valley City Council will acknowledge IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia) on Sunday 17 May by flying rainbow flags from prominent locations and intersections across the municipality.
Council will join with organisations across to the globe to observe the day that aims to raise awareness for LGBTQIA+ rights and combat discrimination.
Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr Dr Rose Iser, said as a key community leader, we are committed to promoting inclusion, safety, and human rights through visible and meaningful actions.
“Celebrating IDAHOBIT demonstrates our commitment to a fairer, more inclusive community,” Cr Iser said.
“It’s a small but meaningful gesture to affirm gender diversity and support those who are marginalised because of gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or attractions.
“We want everyone in Moonee Valley to be safe and be themselves.
“It’s shocking to reflect on the way sexual diversity has been treated in the past, especially when you recall that IDAHOBIT marks the day in 1990 that the World Health Organisation decided to remove homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases.
“This reminds us of the importance of standing up for inclusion and equality today, and into the future.”
Rainbow flags will be flown at the Clocktower Centre, Civic Centre and the Moonee Valley Transfer Station as well as from flagpoles at the Bulla Rd / Keilor Rd / Moonee Ponds Junction Bus Terminal.
The Rainbow Valley queer youth group will be doing a short film screening to celebrate IDAHOBIT, along with several school activations to raise awareness of the importance of IDAHOBIT day.
There will also be IDAHOBIT themed displays in all Council library branches, with relevant collection items available for loan and free film screening of Housekeeping for Beginners at 6pm on Wednesday, 20 May at the Flemington Library.
For more information about IDAHOBIT, please visit www.idahobit.org.au
ENDS
Media enquiries
Louise McFarlane, Media Lead
Mobile: 0484 010 461
Email: media@mvcc.vic.gov.au