International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is celebrated May 17.

The international day against homophobia aims to coordinate international events to call respect for lesbians and gays world-wide. Unlike the LGBT Pride Day, which is meant to emphasise proudness of one's sexuality and refusal to be ashamed of it, IDAHO is held to highlight:
“ "... that in reality it is homophobia that is shameful and must be deconstructed in its social logic and fought against openly."[1] ”

May 17 was chosen as the day of the event because homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1992.[2]

In 2003 the Canadian organization Fondation Émergence instituted a similar event, the National Day Against Homophobia, on June 1; they have since changed it to May 17. Belgium followed suit in 2005, and Costa Rica did similarly in 2008.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_Against_Homophobia