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LGBT+ Progress Flag

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-phobia & Transphobia

14 May 2020

What is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-phobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)?

30 years ago - on 17 May 1990 - the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the classification of diseases and related health problems.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-phobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) celebrates LGBTIQ people globally, and acts to raise awareness for the work still needed.

LGBT+ rights in Europe 2020

On Thursday 14 May 2020 ILGA Europe launched the new version of the LGBT+ rights across Europe map.

There is a significant stagnation and retraction of some rights with some countries falling from previous years and some not advancing. There is an international concern about the position and challenges faced by LGBT+ people.

The Fundamental Rights Agency has published a report of a pan EU survey (including UK).

LGBT+ Progress Flag LGBT+ Progress Flag

In 2018, Daniel Quasar a graphic designer, dramatically redesigned the flag. In addition to the black and brown stripes, he also added stripes of pink, light blue and white from the transgender (trans) flag. This new flag called the Progress Pride Flag was designed to also represent the LGBT+ communities of colour, people living with AIDS, people no longer living and the trans community. The main section is left as the six-stripe flag, and the chevron on the left with the new colours was designed to represent the ongoing march towards progress.

Progress and Challenges for LGBT+ Equality in the UK

Gender identity

UCU is trans inclusive and continuously works to defend trans rights and work towards equality for our trans and non-binary members. UCU policy calls for there to be reform of the gender recognition act that helps address issues and concerns that trans people have in getting their gender fully recognised.

Gender identity: awareness and actions for equality, May 20 [199kb]
Gender identity: awareness and actions for equality, May 20 [156kb]

Importance of LGBT+/queer studies

There have been some debates about the status of LGBT+/queer studies. UCU position is that LGBT+/queer studies should be much more highly valued as they provide space for the visibility and understanding of minority people who in many other spaces are invisible and / or silenced. UCU has organised five LGBT+ research conferences promoting LGBT+ research. It is a policy position that UCU will continue to promote and defend LGBT+/queer studies.

Covid-19 and the response to it

UCU LGBT+ committee members have identified some specific issues faced by LGBT+ during the coronavirus pandemic and the response to it. These issues interconnect with those faced by other equality groups too. This document identifies some of the issues and provides some links that may be helpful for LGBT+ members.

Covid-19 and LGBT+ issues [187kb]

Watch our series of short films exploring LGBT+ issues

Last updated: 15 May 2020