International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) was launched in 2004 to celebrate LGBTIQ people globally, and this year we are celebrating IDAHOBIT day this Friday May 17. The aim of IDAHOBIT Day is to recognise discrimination and create a culture where everyone feels safe, whilst combating some alarming Australian statistics:
- 75% of LGBTIQ youth experience some form of discrimination.
- 61% of LGBTIQ youth experience verbal abuse.
- 19% of LGBTIQ youth experience physical bullying.
- 36.2% of Trans Australians, and 24.4% of LGB people experience depression. This compares to 6.8% of the general population in Australia.
The strongest, safest and most prosperous societies are those that value diversity and strive to address all forms of discrimination against all people, including on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The CSU Library strives to create a safe and welcoming space for all our students and staff, and in the spirit of IDAHOBIT Day would like to share some of our online resources that both celebrate the LGBTIQ community, and discuss the importance of change to reach equality for all:
- The story of sexual identity: Narrative perspectives on the Gay and Lesbian life course – This eBook presents a rich examination of lives in context, and restores voices to it’s subjects.
- Backlash or a positive response?: Public opinion of LGB issues after Obergefell v. Hodges – This article discusses how same sex marriage remains controversial, how this court decision influenced public opinion, and the impact of marriage equality on future LGBT activism.
- Journal of Homosexuality – An internationally acclaimed, peer-reviewed publication, publishing a wide variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scholarship to foster a thorough understanding of the complexities, nuances, and the multifaceted aspects of sexuality and gender.
- Boy I Am: Exploring Female-to-Male Transgender experiences – This ground-breaking film opens up a dialogue between the lesbian, feminist, and transgender communities while also promoting an understanding of transgender issues for general audiences.
- The Greenwood Encyclopedia of LGBT Issues Worldwide – this eResource has an ambitious scope with the goal of offering the most up-to-date international overview of key issues in the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals.
If you’d like to get involved this IDAHOBIT Day, check out the Social and Events page in the student portal, and the Get Active page on the IDAHOBIT website. Some lucky campuses will notice rainbow footpaths appearing, so keep an eye out for those! As always, please contact us at the Library if you have trouble accessing any of these resources, or would like to find more information on this topic. The CSU Library wishes everyone a happy and safe IDAHOBIT day!