May 17: International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

On May 17, 2023, the Town of Sutton is once again marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia by raising the LGBTQ2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Two-Spirited) inclusive flag.

The celebration of this day originated in Quebec: Fondation Émergence created the first national day against homophobia in 2003. Since then, it has organized an annual awareness campaign and other organizations have taken up this day which is now celebrated in many countries. May 17 is a symbolic date for homosexuals, as it was on May 17, 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organization (WHO) list of mental illnesses.

Meaning of the colors of the LGBTQ2S+ flag

The six rainbow stripes symbolize life for red, comfort for orange, sunshine for yellow, nature for green, art for blue and spirituality for purple. The triangle, added in 2018 in response to changes in the LGBTQ community, features the pastels of the transgender flag and brown and black, the symbol of visible minorities.

For more information, go to the website of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia