Wednesday, 17 May 2023

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (09:54): Today is IDAHOBIT, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia. To every LGBTIQ+ Victorian and every LGBTIQ+ person around Australia and around the world, we see you, we respect you, we acknowledge you and we also confirm your rights – our rights – to safety, dignity, inclusion and the opportunity to participate in community life. To every ally who has stood firm, determined and with love to support us in recent times, through the small-minded, loud and hate-filled narratives of people who seek to deny our opportunities to participate in everyday life, thank you. To the councils who are raising flags today all over Victoria without exception, rainbow flags that will be flying in front of every local government office, thank you. To every family and community who is supporting LGBTIQ+ people with love, care and support, thank you. It is not easy standing in the face of constant discrimination, stigma and harassment. It is not easy to have lifelong experiences of being singled out, of being demonised, of being denied opportunities to participate. IDAHOBIT is an opportunity for us all to commit to standing against bigotry, discrimination and hatred.