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May 17 commemorates a landmark decision in 1992 by the World Health Organization.
Ottawa (17 May 2010) - May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
The day was chosen to commemorate the long overdue removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1992. Prior to that, homosexuality was officially considered a mental illness.
The landmark decision by WHO put an end to more than a century of homophobia in the medical field.
This year the date coincides with the the day that “Toby’s Bill”, an Act to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting gender identity, is being reintroduced in the legislature.
Under the code, every person has the right to equal treatment without discrimination because of sex, which includes gender identity. However, the ode does not explicitly recognize gender identity as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
A reception at Queen's Park was hosted by the Rainbow Health Network and Trans Health Lobby Group.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is pleased to join with its Ontario Component, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), in urging all members and the public to support this bill and to lobby MPPs to ensure that it becomes law.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More information:
Homophobia day website