The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is held each year on 17 May. It commemorates the World Health Organisation’s decision in 1990 to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases.
IDAHOBIT fosters a global moment for collective action, awareness, solidarity, and visibility, bringing together individuals, organisations, and governments under a shared global theme to highlight issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people around the world. The theme for this year’s IDAHOBIT is ‘The Power of Communities’.
Look out for the Pride flag flying over Sussex House from 15-19 May in celebration of IDAHOBIT.
David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion, said: ‘This year has seen a number of developments in the political and legal landscape in the UK and around the world. Our LGBTQ+ staff and students are valued members of the university community, and we will continue to work for a supportive and inclusive environment on our campus for everyone.’
What’s on
In honour of IDAHOBIT, the LGBTQ+ Staff Network is planning a queer history walk followed by a drag show. These will take place on 30 May in Brighton. Find out more and book your place.
Support for staff and students
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Staff members who identify as LGBTQ+ can join our LGBTQ+ Staff Network by contacting lgbt-staff@sussex.ac.uk. The LGBTQ+ Staff Network arranges events and activities through the year, and provides an informal network of LGBTQ+ staff. Many of their events are open to all staff, and some events are also open to students. To find out more, see the Staff Networks page.
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Our Trans and Non-binary Staff Network is a confidential and fully inclusive group open to all Sussex staff who identify as trans and/or non-binary. You can join the mailing list by contacting transnonbinarystaff@sussex.ac.uk. The mailing list is monitored and accessed solely by the Chair of the Trans and Non-binary Staff Network.
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Students who identify as LGBTQ+ can join the Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Society and contact the Students’ Union officers for support.
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Students who identify as trans and/or non-binary, or who are intersex, can contact the Students’ Union Trans and Non-binary Group by emailing transnonbinary@sussexstudent.com. They can also get involved with Transcend, a SU-affiliated Campaign and Network aimed at uplifting the lives of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students at the University of Sussex and beyond: transcend.sussex@sussexstudent.com
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The University of Sussex is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of its community. If you or someone else has experienced behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination, you can let us know using Report and Support.
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The university’s Wellbeing Support Guide contains a dedicated section signposting to a variety of LGBTQ+-specific resources.
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Students can find resources and support at the Student Centre and on the Sexuality and Gender Support and Information web pages.
LGBTQ+ e-learning
Staff may wish to explore relevant e-learnings around IDAHOBIT. In addition to the mandatory Diversity in the Workplace e-learning, the university also provides courses in Trans and Non-Binary Awareness and a guide for managers on Supporting Trans and Non-Binary People at Work.