International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) celebrates LGBTQIA+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination.
IDAHOBIT is held annually on 17 May to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people across 130 countries, including in 37 countries where homosexual acts are illegal and raises awareness for the work still needed.
Fire Prevention and Preparedness Team Assistant Jayde Messer said IDAHOBIT is an important day to recognise.
"I started with CFA in February 2020 as a trainee DSO in District 20," Jayde said. "I am now the Fire Prevention and Preparedness Team Assistant at Headquarters.
"I have loved all my time with CFA and am proud to work for such a dynamic organisation.
"IDAHOBIT Day is important to me as it is a prompt for allies to show their support, educate themselves on LGBTQIA+ issues and increase their understanding.
"Most importantly it's a time for LGBTQIA+ people to feel supported, appreciated and understood," she added. "As a proud bisexual woman from a small town who hasn't always had the strong support network I have now, it's comforting to know when my colleagues are more accepting of those who differ from them, whatever way that may be.
"I believe that when education increases, so does inclusion.
"So I would strongly encourage everyone to take part in CFA's inclusion course on LMS, research and keep up to date with legislative/social impacts on LGBTQIA+ people or ask an LGBTQIA+ person in your life about their experience and how you can be a better ally.
"Small acts of kindness make a large impact. It's really just about treating people with kindness and being respectable of how we all identify.
"Diversity helps create more welcoming and open work environments and encourages broader thinking, which we can always use in the emergency management space."
Members can access the LGBTIQ+ Inclusion learning module on the learning hub.
2021 Midsumma March
The Midsumma Pride March is an opportunity for all members to show their support for the LGBTIQ community. The 2021 march will be held on Sunday 23 May. Registrations for the march are now closed but members can show they support buy watching the parade from the sideline or virtually on the Midsumma Facebook page
Fire Prevention and Preparedness Team Assistant Jayde Messer
