International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia 2022
Today, Tuesday 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and the theme this year is Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights.
The day was created in 2004 to raise awareness of the violence and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, including all people who have diverse gender identities or gender expressions.
On 17 May 1990, the World Health Organisation finally declassified homosexuality as a mental illness, however LGBTQIA+ people across the world continue to face hate, discrimination and violence.
As part of UHDB’s core value of openness, the Trust is working hard to make our hospitals more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ colleagues and patients.
One of the ways we are doing this is through the NHS Rainbow Badges Scheme. If you are visiting one of our hospitals and you see a member of staff wearing a Rainbow Badge, they have signed a pledge to be a LGBTQIA+ ally.
We also have a Pride Staff Network, who are creating real change for LGBTQIA+ patients and colleagues across our sites.
Dan Walton-Ashmore, UHDB Pride Network Lead, has said: “IDAHOBIT day is a day we can all reflect on the journey the LGBTQIA+ community have been on and are still on.
“UHDB has a proud history of supporting staff and patients be their whole selves. We actively encourage staff to join our network either as a member of the community or ally, we also actively encourage our patients to share their experiences through our rainbow badge survey.”
If you are a member of staff and would like to find out more, or join the Pride Staff Network, visit Net-i and search 'Pride Network'.
To complete the patient or staff survey for the Rainbow Badges NHS Scheme, visit the UHDB website >