By Antonio Souza
This Wednesday, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia, a date reinforcing the need to criminalize prejudice against the LGBTQIA+ population.
Celebrated since 2010, the date is an important milestone for the valorization of the community on the world stage.
In general terms, the International Day Against Homophobia aims to bring a debate for the development of the criminalization of prejudice.
Homophobia is still present in society, and the fight against this prejudice has been on the agenda in several places worldwide.
WHAT IS HOMOPHOBIA?
Homophobia is the hatred and repulsion towards people considered homosexual- people of the same sexual orientation.
It is observed as a critical behavior in the perception that only heterosexual sexual orientation is acceptable, while every non-heterosexual type is negative.
This term was first used in the 1970s in the United States but became widespread in the 1990s.
The word is formed from the Greek “homo”, equal, similar, and “phobia”, fear, aversion, and lack of tolerance.
WHY IS MAY 17 THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA?
The date is celebrated on May 17 in honor of the day that the term “homosexualism” became disregarded when referring to the LGBT population.
Terms with “ism” at the end indicate some kind of disease, and removing the term was an important step to inhibit discrimination.
Homosexualism was excluded from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health-Related Problems (ICD) on May 17, 1990.
With information from Exame
News world, English news world, society, homophobia
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Read More from The Rio Times