Today We Stand Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination

I would like to wish everyone a happy IDAHOBIT Day. On this day every year we pause to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and to raise awareness about the discrimination the community still faces throughout the world.

As a proud bisexual individual myself I stand with my LGBTQIA+ peers against the discrimination our community still faces. Our community encounters many hurdles just for the freedom to be our authentic selves, from discriminatory laws banning same sex relationships to banning LGBTQIA+ books as well as the harmful stereotypes and misconceptions society still holds.

Though IDAHOBIT started as a day to stand against Homophobia and Transphobia it is now a day for the whole LGBTQIA+ community. It is a day to take a public stance against LGBTQIA+ discrimination in all it’s forms while also celebrating this amazing and diverse community.

 It has been found that autistics are more likely to be LGBTQIA+ than neurotypicals, however despite this, those of us from this intersectional community often face more hurdles than our neurotypical peers due to lack of awareness. This lack of awareness means we often face discrimination from both the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities and often don’t have access to neuro and queer affirming services and resources.

 This is why today I would like to encourage everyone to show your support for LGBTQIA+ autistics and the wider LGBTQIA+ community in your own way. Whether that be sharing LGBTQIA+ autistic stories with your friends and family, by donating to an LGBTQIA+ organisation or by attending an IDAHOBIT event in your community.

 Today let’s celebrate and support human diversity and show the world that LGBTQIA+ individuals are welcome in our communities.

 Happy IDAHOBIT Day

 Bryce Pace

Autism Advocate, Consultant, Speaker