Brighton & Hove City Council to fly inclusive Pride flags from Hove Town Hall and Brighton Town Hall to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia

Brighton & Hove City Council will be flying the inclusive Pride flags from Hove Town Hall and Brighton Town Hall on Saturday, 17 May to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

IDAHOBIT launched in 2004 to raise awareness of the violence and discrimination experienced globally by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people and those with diverse sexual orientations or gender identities.

The day brings together individuals, organisations and governments from around the world to celebrate diversity, unity and solidarity, while fostering collective action, awareness and visibility and challenging misinformation and bigotry.

IDAHOBIT is now celebrated in 155 countries on 17 May every year to commemorate the World Health Organisation’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

The theme for IDAHOBIT 2025, The Power of Communities, highlights the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community and the strength and resilience of our collective solidarity. It also recognises the important contributions of human rights defenders, civil society groups, allies and millions of LGBTQ+ community members who support human rights and collective liberation.

Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “We’re proud to be standing in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ communities in Brighton & Hove and around the world on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

“Brighton & Hove has a long and vibrant LGBTQ+ history dating back to the 19th century and a thriving LGBTQ+ community that is at the heart of our wonderfully diverse city.

“However, LGBTQ+ people around the world and here at home continue to face discrimination, hate and violence. We mustcome together to reject and challenge such division and do everything we can to protect vulnerable members of our communities.

“I know the recent Supreme Court gender ruling has caused anxiety and uncertainty for our trans, intersex and non-binary residents about their ability to access services and safely express themselves.

“LGBTQ+ people in Brighton & Hove, the UK and around the world must be able to live authentically with dignity, safety and respect.”

Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ communities and allies will come together on Saturday, 17 May for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia (IDAHOBIT).

This year’s event will take place at the stairs of the Brighton Unitarian Church from 12-1pm and feature music from Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and Rainbow Chorus, with speakers (TBC) including TNBI and intersectional activists from Queery and other key local charities.

Meg, Chair of Rainbow Chorus, which will open the event, said: “IDAHOBIT is more than a day of recognition, it’s a rallying point for communities to unite in the face of the rising hostility and roll back of hard-won rights.

“In times like these solidarity is essential. We need our allies to stand shoulder to shoulder with the trans and non binary and LGBTQ+ people to push back against the erosions of equality protections and to reaffirm that dignity, safety and justice are non negotiable.”