Guidance Officer News – Let's Talk About IDAHOBIT Day 🌈
Annabel Moffatt
This year seems to be flying by in a whirlwind of fun activities and celebrations! But it sometimes feels as if there are so many special days dedicated to celebrating different groups of people that they're in danger of losing their meaning.
We focus on inclusion for all our children and families and celebrate the diversity in our school community every day. That includes our First Nations people, families with neurodiversity or disability, students with mental health needs, students in care, culturally and linguistically diverse families and, last but not least, our LGBTQIA+ community.
Our goal is to make sure all these unique people feel welcome at our school and feel that sense of belonging which is essential for good mental health. Belonging is the basic human need and right to be connected to and accepted by others.
What is IDAHOBIT Day?
The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is held annually on the May 17. IDAHOBIT was started on May 17th 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
Today, LGBTQIA+ people in Australia still experience disproportionate rates of bullying, harassment and discrimination. IDAHOBIT Day aims to help educate people about the challenges LGBTQIA+ people face and raise awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination.
In case you didn't already know, LGBTQIA+ is an umbrella term often used to refer to the community as a whole. It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual. The additional “+" stands for all of the other identities not encompassed in the short acronym.
If you are part of a LGBTQIA+ plus family please know that we welcome you and appreciate your unique contribution to our community. If you'd like to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community there are some great tips on the Ida hobbit website (https://www.idahobit.org.au/).
One simple idea to show you're an ally is to wear a rainbow. This signals to others that you'll respect the LGBTQIA+ identity. The rainbow could be a ribbon, a lanyard, a badge or anything else. You could also display a rainbow in your car window or in your home. This could be a fun little art project for your children - because who doesn't love rainbows!
We hope you and your child can feel free to be yourselves and express yourselves without fear of discrimination at school. We hope you will help us teach your child to be welcoming, respectful and inclusive to all the diverse people at our school and in our community.
If you have any concerns or need support, we recommend that you please talk to your child's teacher. They will be able to monitor your child, let you know how they're getting on at school or present them at a student support services meeting. You can also contact me or a Deputy Principal directly if you prefer to, for any reason.
Annabel Moffatt (She/Her) 🌈
Guidance Officer
akmof0@eq.edu.au