Let's all oppose homophobia and transphobia

May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The day was chosen to commemorate the long overdue removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1992. Prior to that, homosexuality was officially considered a mental illness.

The landmark decision by WHO put an end to more than a century of homophobia in the medical field.

This year the date coincides with the the day that “Toby’s Bill”, an Act to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting gender identity, is being reintroduced in the legislature.

Under the code, every person has the right to equal treatment without discrimination because of sex, which includes gender identity. However, the code does not explicitly recognize gender identity as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
- NUPGE