International Day Against Homophobia

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is celebrated May 17.

The international day against homophobia aims to coordinate international events to call respect for lesbians and gays world-wide. Unlike the LGBT Pride Day, which is meant to emphasise proudness of one's sexuality and refusal to be ashamed of it, IDAHO is held to highlight:

"... that in reality it is homophobia that is shameful and must be deconstructed in its social logic and fought against openly."

May 17 was chosen as the day of the event because homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17 1990.

In 2003 the Canadian organization Fondation Émergence instituted a similar event, the National Day Against Homophobia, on June 1; they have since changed it to May 17. Belgium followed suit in 2005. Costa Rica followed as well and 2008 will be the first year celebrating it there.

It should also be noted that on May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States of America to legalize same-sex marriage. German children born on 17 May (17.5.) were often teased for being gay because Paragraph 175 of the German Penal Code prohibited sexual intercourse between males.