Shire invites community to add to IDAHOBIT project

THE Surf Coast communuity can use art or written words to express their support for IDAHOBIT as part of a Surf Coast Shire rainbow tree project.

As part of the shire’s awareness-raising events calendar, community members are being invited to decorate paper leaves that will be used to create tree artworks for display at key locations across the shire, providing tangible and inspiring shows of allyship.

The trees were unveiled as part of a community event on Thursday last week that included the raising of the rainbow pride flag outside the shire’s Torquay office.

IDAHOBIT – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia – is celebrated on May 17 each year and marks the anniversary of World Health Organisation removal of homosexuality from its classification of diseases. Today, the day stands against LGBTQIA+ discrimination and celebrates advancement of LGBTQIA+ equality everywhere.

In the rainbow tree project, paper leaves have been sent to community organisations including community houses. People can also register to participate via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/IDAHOBIT

The shire’s council flies the rainbow flag in accordance with its flag policy and events calendar for the entire month of May in recognition of IDAHOBIT.

Shire mayor Mike Bodsworth ceremonially raised the flag yesterday in advance recognition of the day.

“The flag raising is always a joyous event and I am looking forward to being joined by community members dressed in rainbow colours as we show support for our rainbow community and stand against LGBTQIA+ discrimination,” Cr Bodworth said earlier this week.

“Unveiling of the rainbow trees following the flag ceremony will add an expressive dimension to our recognition of IDAHOBIT, and I encourage community members to add their voices by illustrating paper leaves.

“And while IDAHOBIT might be recognised one day of the year, we also recognise our commitment to standing against LGBTQIA+ discrimination year-round.”

The Minus18 Foundation reports that despite recent advances, in 2025 discrimination still exists, citing statistics including:

• Two in three LGBTQIA+ young people experience abuse due to their identity
• 35 per cent of LGBTQIA+ Australians have experienced verbal abuse in the past 12 months; and
• 68 per cent of LGBTQIA+ employees are not out to everyone at their workplaces.

For more information on the shire’s IDAHOBIT initiativies, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/IDAHOBIT