IDAHOBIT 2026

Today is IDAHOBIT – the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – a day to stand against discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is observed every May 17th – a day chosen to commemorate the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.

It’s also the day, in 2020, when I decided to come out and declare to the world that I was transgender – more specifically gender fluid. (I’ve tried to find any posts on social media that I may have made at the time, but only seem to find vague mentions!)

So, six years on, what’s changed, what’s different? Well, I’ve changed my name to Catie, I’m out in all parts of my life – there are still some issues with acceptance, but I try not to let those get to me; I can only be me, I can’t change people’s minds for them. Mostly, I live quite happily in my own skin.

I started on feminizing hormones two months ago. There aren’t many changes that I’ve noticed so far, but it’s still early. My wardrobe is 99% feminine now – I still identify as gender fluid, but generally present as trans femme. I’m not a woman, and I’m not trying to be one, but I’m not a man either.

The biggest change I’ve probably seen in the last six years is in the wider world. Trans people have gone from being largely accepted to being the new bogey(wo)men, responsible for all the bad things in western civilzation, we’re told. It’s just a good thing we don’t arrive on small boats, to be honest!

It’s a sad situation, but I have faith that people are much kinder, much more accepted than the media (and certain billionaire author funded groups) would have us believe. I have only ever received support and love from the women I know, both on- and offline, and I’m so grateful. There is hate out there, but I think it’s a lot less than the very loud minority would like us to believe.

I hope that days like today help to teach people that LGBTQIA+ people aren’t the enemy, and that we should all be allowed to be who we want to be, love who we want to love, dress how we want to dress.