Impact - Hampshire County Council’s Post

Today we recognize two important moments — International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (#IDAHTB+) and the twentieth anniversary of the first same-sex marriage in the United States. Over the last twenty years, we’ve seen a lot of progress in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights and advancement. Still, it’s more important than ever that we continue to advocate for a country where every LGBTQ+ young person and adult can thrive without fear of discrimination or violence for being who they are. Our 2024 U.S. National Survey revealed that 60% of LGBTQ+ young people reported that they have felt discriminated against in the past year due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Let's be clear: no LGBTQ+ young person should have to experience homophobia, transphobia, or biphobia for existing freely and openly in public. We are grateful to those elders who paved the way, whose marriages were recognized by law, and whose advocacy changed the cultural narrative around acceptance. #IDAHTB+ is a key day to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and uplift LGBTQ+ voices 📢 At The Trevor Project, we remain dedicated to building a world where LGBTQ+ young people are safe, seen, heard, celebrated, and embraced. May today be a reminder to hold tight to unity and honor our identities 🌈 #TheTrevorProject

NORC research confirms that LGBTQ+ youth report higher rates of cyberbullying and technology-facilitated abuse, but senior research scientist Michelle M Johns, PhD, MPH says that’s not the whole story. “Solely focusing on victimization misses an important part of the story—resilience,” she writes on https://lnkd.in/eqPPX5xE. See how resilience frameworks can change how we interpret LGBTQ+ survey data and respond to technology-facilitated abuse: https://lnkd.in/eTY28qEs

Stand Together Against Discrimination: International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia Today, on May 17th, we observe the International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). This significant day commemorates the 1990 decision by the World Health Organization (WHO) to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. It serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and the urgent need to address the discrimination and violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community. On this day, let’s pledge to stand against all forms of transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia. By working together, we can build a world where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live authentically and without fear of discrimination or violence. Let’s honor the bravery of those who continue to fight for their rights and remember that each of us has a role to play in this ongoing battle for equality. Stand up, speak out, and make a difference today and every day. #IDAHOTB #LGBTQRights #EqualityForAll #StandAgainstHate #LoveIsLove #InclusionMatters #StopTheHate #DiversityandInclusion #HumanRights #LGBTQCommunity #SupportTransLives #FightTransphobia #FightHomophobia #FightBiphobia #PrideMonth #EqualRights #TogetherWeRise #AllLoveIsEqual

No form of discrimination is acceptable. There is no justification for denying any person’s human rights based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. On the International Day to End Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (17 May) and ahead of Pride Month in June, UNAIDS and UNAIDS India are calling on governments everywhere to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Learn more about positive strides toward #RightsEqualsHealth in Asia Pacific: https://lnkd.in/gdqVurwq

Day 8 #16daysofactivism What Will It Take? Centring Trans Expertise. #NoExcuse Preventing and responding to sexual, domestic and family violence must include trans expertise. Trans people, particularly trans women and trans feminine people, experience disproportionate rates of violence because of compounding systems of oppression including cisnormativity, heteronormativity and misogyny. LGBTQ+ people, Brotherboys and Sistergirls deserve well-resourced and specialised services responding to their experiences of sexual, domestic and family violence.  Transfemme is a website designed to promote healthier dating and relationships between trans women and cisgender men. Developed by the Zoe Belle Gender Collective (ZBGC), this world leading resource and expertise is needed now more than ever as we see trans people weaponised for perceived political gain. A life free from violence is possible, and that includes trans lives. https://hubs.li/Q02ZX0MG0

For many families with LGBTQ kids, the dark times are now. More than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills were considered in state legislatures in 2023, and 84 passed. (The term “LGBTQ” refers to lesbian, gay, and other people with minority sexual orientations and gender identities.) These bills restrict discussions of LGBTQ people or history in schools, limit legal protections for queer and transgender youth, and prohibit transgender health care for minors and even adults. The sheer volume of these bills, and the sentiment behind them, is doing harm. An estimated 71 percent of LGBTQ youths—including 86 percent of transgender and nonbinary kids—say that laws concerning LGBTQ people have had a negative impact on their mental health. Keep reading here: https://lnkd.in/gg9GK_qV #ProtectLGBTQKids #EndDiscrimination #FamilySupport #MentalHealthMatters #TransRights #LGBTQYouth #ParentingJourney #SafeSpaces #AcceptanceMatters #ChooseLove #CommunitySupport #EmpowerParents #MentalHealthAwareness #EqualityForAll #SupportiveFamilies #SafeHaven #SpreadLove #StandUpForEquality #BuildingHope #TeenMentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth

On Saturday, SafeHouse Denver, Inc. closed out Pride Month with a Special Edition Brunch & Learn, shining a light on the critical topic of domestic violence within LGBTQ+ communities. Existing research shows LGBTQ+ individuals experience domestic violence at similar or higher rates than straight, cisgender individuals. We discussed the additional barriers LGBTQ+ survivors face when seeking support and resources to heal, such as: 🌈 Lack of inclusive services: 61.6% of LGBTQ+ survivors who sought shelter were denied access. 🌈 Lack of Training: Concerns about facing prejudice from service providers and law enforcement who may lack proper training in handling DV cases involving LGBTQ+ survivors, leading to inappropriate or inadequate responses. (Police are 10 to 15 times as likely to make a dual arrest in cases of same-sex intimate partner violence than in heterosexual ones.) 🌈 Privacy Concerns: Fear of being outed or having their sexual orientation or gender identity disclosed without consent can deter survivors from seeking help. 🌈 Inadequate legal protections: In some areas, legal protections against domestic violence may not fully extend to LGBTQ+ individuals, or they may face bias within the legal system. We also spoke about how, as a community, we can gain the skills to ensure that we are supporting all survivors of domestic violence and the steps SafeHouse Denver takes to proudly support ALL survivors, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or any other factor. SafeHouse Denver's mission is to create a future free from domestic violence, and believes in providing safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed support for everyone who needs it. Thank you to everyone who attended this event and stood in solidarity with survivors. Together, we can create lasting change and build a community of hope, inclusivity, and resilience. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #SupportSurvivors #SafeHouseDenver #EndDomesticViolence #InclusiveSupport

A new research project led by Professor Adam Bourne, Director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, will explore perpetration of sexual violence among LGBTQ+ people. The project is funded by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), a government initiative that is part of Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. “A growing body of research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and other sexuality and gender diverse people experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence across their lives,” says Professor Bourne. The project aims to generate actionable knowledge to respond to sexual violence against LGBTQ+ people. It will also inform the development of effective prevention initiatives and interventions for people who use sexual violence against LGBTQ+ people. Professor Bourne says the findings have the potential to improve health, social and justice outcomes. “We hope this research will inform the development of new theoretical or explanatory frameworks that account for LGBTQ+ people’s experiences.” Find out more: https://bit.ly/3N95sid #LaTrobePsychologyAndPublicHealth #ARCSHS #LaTrobeUniversity 

IDAHOBIT stands for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia, and it’s dedicated to raising awareness about the discrimination and violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. It started as “International Day Against Homophobia” on the 17th of May 2005, and it’s become IDAHOBIT over the years. This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance by these groups in heteronormative spaces. (And in the case of biphobia and transphobia, sometimes even from within the LGBTQIA+ community, as well.) It provides a platform for advocacy, education, and solidarity, encouraging individuals and communities to stand together in support of LGBTQ+ rights and to challenge discrimination in all its forms. In the context of sexual and reproductive health, it is important to do this, because queer individuals are less likely to seek healthcare, and 1 in 4 LGBT people, including 40% of trans people, have witnessed or experienced discriminatory behaviour, according to a survey by Stonewall. One in six trans people and two per cent of cisgender LGB people have been refused care by a health care service because of being LGBT. Throughout IDAHOBIT, initiatives take place globally, highlighting the importance of fostering inclusivity, understanding, and respect for all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. It’s also a day to celebrate progress made towards LGBTQ+ rights while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done to achieve full equality and acceptance for everyone. #IDAHOBIT2024 #EndDiscrimination #LGBTQRights #StopHomophobia #StopBiphobia #StopInterphobia #StopTransphobia #LGBTQAwareness #InclusiveHealthcare #LGBTQVisibility

Day 4 of 16 days of activisim. Female genital mutilation (FGM) affects queer individuals, particularly in cultures where gender norms are rigidly enforced. Queer people often face heightened risks of FGM due to societal pressures to conform to traditional gender roles or familial expectations. It is crucial that we promote inclusive advocacy that recognizes the intersectionality of gender and sexual orientation in the fight against FGM. By amplifying queer voices and experiences, we can better address the unique vulnerabilities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring that efforts to end FGM are comprehensive and equitable for all affected communities. #16days #NoExcuse #EqualVoices