IDAHOBIT Day: Ararat Rural City stands with LGBTQIA+ community

Ararat Rural City Council is encouraging residents to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community this Sunday 17 May as Australia marks IDAHOBIT Day, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia.

IDAHOBIT is recognised nationally each year on 17 May to acknowledge the ongoing impacts of discrimination on LGBTQIA+ people, and to call for safer, more inclusive communities, workplaces, and schools. The date marks the anniversary of the World Health Organisation’s 1990 decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, a significant milestone in the global movement for equality.

Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said IDAHOBIT was an opportunity for the whole community to stand alongside LGBTQIA+ friends, family members, colleagues, and neighbours.

“Ararat is a welcoming place, and days like IDAHOBIT give us a chance to show that in a very visible, very practical way,” Mayor Sanders said. “When someone sees a rainbow sticker on a shop window, a badge on a school bag, or a simple message of support online, it can make them feel safer, respected, and part of our community.”

“Council is proud to stand with LGBTQIA+ people across our region, and I encourage everyone to get involved on Sunday, whether that is by learning more, starting a conversation at home or at work, or putting on something rainbow to show you are an ally,” he said. “These gestures might feel small, but together they help build a more inclusive Ararat, and that benefits all of us.”

Council is sharing information about IDAHOBIT through its digital channels and is encouraging community members, local businesses, schools, and sporting clubs to take part in the national campaign. Simple actions such as sharing messages of inclusion on social media, or displaying rainbow posters and stickers all contribute to making Ararat a place where everyone feels they belong.

Council will be flying a rainbow flag at our offices in Vincent Street, have an awareness campaign running on the digital billboard on the Western Highway and are lighting up the Ararat Town Hall in rainbow colours from dusk to dawn on the 17 May.

Residents can learn more about IDAHOBIT and find ideas for how to get involved by visiting the national IDAHOBIT website at idahobit.org.au.