The struggle isn’t just about being straight or gay or transgender – it’s a human struggle. That’s always really been my kind of starting point: If you’re out there and you’re odd, come over to my house.

Boy George

While there has been a growing movement among the LGBTQ+ community to be heard, to be legitimized, and to be accepted as the diverse and wonderful human beings they are, there is nothing new about their struggle.

Across cultures and generations, these orientations have existed, and the fear and lack of understanding of their community have made it difficult to live proud and as an equal part of the world.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia exists to raise awareness of the realities of the LGBTQ+ community’s lives and to help erase these phobias through understanding.

On the occasion of IDAHOT 2020, we are sharing some of the main findings on the situation of the implementation of CM/Rec(2010)5 in Member States. The full findings on the implementation progress will be available shortly.

SOGI-based violence

• 67% have taken measures to ensure effective investigation into alleged SOGI-based hate crimes
• 52% have taken measures to ensure that victims and witnesses of SOGI-based hate crimes are encouraged to report
• 57% have taken measures to combat all forms of SOGI-related hate speech

Couples and families

• 55% have taken measures to protect the right of transgender persons to marry
• 36% have taken measures to ensure same legal status, rights and obligations to both same-sex and different-sex couples
• 60% have taken measures to ensure non-discriminatory decisions regarding parental responsibility and adoption of a child
• 40% have taken measures to ensure non-discriminatory access to assisted reproductive treatment

Education

• 67% have taken measures to ensure the right to education in an environment free from SOGI-based violence
• 45% have taken measures to include SOGI-related information in school curricula
• 48% have taken measures of school equality policies, trainings and teaching aids

Rights of transgender persons

• 40% have taken measures for the coverage of gender reassignment procedures costs by public or private social insurance systems
• 38% have adopted quick, transparent and accessible procedures for legal gender recognition
• 55% have taken measures to protect the right of transgender persons to marry

Discrimination on multiple grounds

• 67% have taken measures to ensure protection against discrimination on multiple grounds (including SOGI)
• 52% have taken measures to identify, protect and/or support vulnerable groups affected by multiple discrimination

Asylum seekers and refugees

• 74% have taken measures to allow access to refugee status and asylum based on a well-founded fear of SOGI-based persecution
• 74% have taken measures preventing that asylum seekers are sent to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity
• 40% have taken measures to protect LGBT asylum seekers deprived of their liberty from any form of violence.

History of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

The world can be a scary place for members of the LGBTQ+ community, even in those countries where they aren’t actively criminalized and prosecuted. In America, the fear and misunderstanding of this community lead to violent hate crimes based on ignorance and bigotry, with individuals being murdered, marginalized, and otherwise subject to the worst kinds of treatment.

You can imagine how bad it can be in other parts of the world like China, Russia, and the Middle East where those who are part of this community are not just actively prosecuted, but afforded no protections or even basic human rights.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was established to help bring these people together and to make a display of solidarity around the world while working to face these issues and enact social change around the world.

Every day members of this community fight the good fight in the face of intimidation and work hard to bring about equality and the freedom to love without boundaries.