Blog: Perspectives

May 17th marks 30 years since the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the classification of diseases and related health problems. In 2004, May 17 was named the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). IDAHOBIT is a celebration for LGBTIQ people everywhere.

IDAHOBIT is a day to reflect on the progress made in the recognition and protection of the human rights of LGBTIQ people, to zoom in on remaining challenges, and raise awareness about the levels of discrimination, harassment and violence LGBTIQ communities around the world continue to face every day, even in countries with explicit legislative and policy protections in place.

Within a month of opening the fund for applications, we received over 1500 appeals for help, most to cover alleviation efforts of rising food and shelter insecurity among LGBTIQ communities. Three rounds of grants have been issued to a total of 90 organizations including (list incomplete for security reasons):

Past public health emergencies have proven that vulnerable communities are made more vulnerable in times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Challenges in accessing justice, health, education, employment, and other essential services have become magnified, leaving many individuals deprived of essential needs and the means to survive.

Grace Poore talks to her friend of 33 years, Dipti Ghosh, about the first queer march in Washington in 1987, about pandemics from past years, South Asian queer girls virtual happy hour, missing her coffee shop and listening to live music on Instagram.

Asia program project coordinator Ging Cristobal speaks to Nada Chiyajit from Thailand who is interviewed in her room in the United Kingdom where she is taking her masteral degree.