May 17 is IDAHOT Day and the theme is "Alliances for Solidarity."
Putting the focus of the Day on Solidarity and Alliances can create a valuable opportunity for all of us to reach out to our current partners to reinforce our bond, to reach out to new partners to raise awareness of our commonalities, and to engage in collective action around the Day.
This focus should also be a welcome reminder of the need for solidarity within the communities of sexual and gender minorities, as respect and inclusion for rights of one specific group cannot be solidly secured without respect and inclusion for all other groups throughout the Australian community.
On 17 May 1990, the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental health disorders and it is on this annivesary that IDAHOT Day is celebrated each year.
There are many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people who are currently contributing to Defence across all groups, branches and services.
Everyone should to feel safe and valued at work – with the opportunity to be themselves and achieve their full potential.
Since everyone has a sexual orientation and gender identity, inclusion helps everyone get the most out of their teams.
Our infographic below explains these diversity attributes in more detail:
