The University is flying the rainbow flag from Friday 15^th May to Monday 18^th May outside the Old Fire Station to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). The day itself actually falls every year on the 17^th May.

The day marks the date when, in 1992, the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illness. 

The internationally-recognised day highlights the continuing oppression around the globe against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered (LGBT) people.

From 2015, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) will become the  International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). which for the first time recognises the invisibility of bisexual people. It will be celebrated with events taking place all over the world on 17^th May.

The focus for 2015 will be LGBT Youth, stressing the importance and the right for people to grow up in safe and welcoming environments. It will provide an opportunity to collectively amplify the message that what young people really need to be protected from is Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

The University, the Students’ Union, and the LGBT Staff Network fully support the objectives of IDAHOBIT.

This year the University and the Student Union are also looking to continue to support the annual Peel Park Pink Picnic which takes place on the last Sunday of July and we will continue to have a Salford city wide float in the Pride Parade in Manchester on the August Bank Holiday weekend working with our partners across the City of Salford and led by the Salford LGBT Youth Group. Last year we won the ‘Best Community Float’ award in the Manchester Pride Parade and hope to do the same again this year!  Volunteers to help with the float will be needed over summer, so if you can help get in contact with Arron.

For more information please contact Salford LGBT Network at lgbt@salford.ac.uk or Arron at a.pile@salford.ac.uk. Arron is based in Student Life and can provide advice, support and guidance for LGBT staff and students, particularly students who are or maybe thinking of transitioning gender.