On May 17 every year, we commemorate and celebrate the fight against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. Though we endeavour to fight this battle year-round, it is on May 17 that we join organizations and nations across the world in recommitting to inclusivity and diversity within our membership and our greater communities.
This day marks the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. This monumental shift in perception acknowledged the right of LGBTQ2S+ to exist without oppressive codification and predefinition.
It is important to acknowledge that members of the LGBTQ2S+ community around the world continue to face many barriers to this day. Though the WHO’s decision was intended to improve medical access, community members continue to struggle to obtain appropriate healthcare, one of many obstacles they face in achieving equity.
This is why AUPE commits to continue advocating for gender and sexually diverse people, today and every day. We will continue to support those that are within our membership, and those that are not, as they confront harsh realities in their struggle for inclusion.