May 17 is the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
On May 17, we recognize the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), first declared in 2003. IDAHOBIT was created tobring awareness to the violence and discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people around the world.
This year’s theme is “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all”. Throughout the world, that promise remains unfulfilled. This theme is a call for solidarity and for unity. A call to work to end injustice in all its forms and for all people.
Creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace is always a work in progress, but even small steps can make a big difference in having members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community feel valued and safe in their workplace. Simple steps such as including your pronouns in your email signature or checking a new employee’s pronouns creates an accepting workplace with little to no effort.
The JLP begins every workshop with introductions. Participants and facilitators are encouraged to indicate their pronouns alongside their name when they introduce themselves. In addition, facilitator guides not only emphasize the importance of respecting a person’s pronouns, but also advises facilitators on how to handle a pronoun slip-up during a workshop with grace and sensitivity.
The Joint Learning Program’s in-person workshops and virtual discussions invite deeper dives into social, personal, and structural stigma and discrimination, the subtle forms they can take in the workplace, and how we can be aware of and combat these types of discrimination.
Photo: Alexander Grey on Unsplash