For May 17, we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), a global reminder of both how far we’ve come and how far we still must go. On this date in 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases, a moment made possible by decades of courageous activism by 2SLGBTQ+ communities around the world. While international movements pushed the WHO to act, advocacy in places like Brazil, India and South Africa played a critical role. In India, groups like AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) linked HIV advocacy with the fight to decriminalize homosexuality. In South Africa, Simon Nkoli’s leadership with the Gay and Lesbian Organization of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) tied HIV activism to broader constitutional protections for LGBTQ+ rights.
But the fight for dignity and recognition didn’t begin or end there. In 1969, the Stonewall riots in New York City and the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada ignited a wave of organizing among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. This moment shaped decades of resistance, laying the groundwork for both community empowerment and the emergence of Canada’s HIV response.
The history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activism in Canada has profoundly shaped the social landscape in which gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM) live today. It also transformed the very systems that govern how HIV prevention and care are delivered. From the early days of the AIDS crisis, queer and trans people were on the frontlines, forming care networks, demanding policy change and refusing to be erased.
Ontario’s HIV advocacy history is rich with leaders and organizations who confronted injustice and built life-affirming alternatives. Groups like the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), AIDS Action Now! and Casey House stood firm against not just the virus but the stigma that surrounded it. Advocates such as David Kelley, Tim McCaskell, Rick Bébout and Maureen Fitzgerald reframed healthcare as a human right, challenging systems of exclusion and creating space for lasting change.
These movements emerged in the face of deep social injustice including homophobia, heterosexism, racism, colonialism, economic inequality and discrimination against those living with HIV. Gay and trans communities responded not only with resilience but with innovation. From grassroots education to legal advocacy, from peer-based models of care to intersectional research practices, these communities have consistently led the way.
And while we have made progress, the work is far from done. Homophobia remains a structural risk factor for HIV. Research consistently shows that it undermines our ability to prevent infection and provide care. It increases stigma, discourages testing and fuels isolation. Homophobia, whether internalized, institutional or systemic, remains one of the most persistent and dangerous barriers to ending the HIV epidemic in Canada.
The word homophobia is rooted in fear, literally meaning “fear of sameness.” In practice, it represents the rejection of difference, the weaponization of identity and the normalization of exclusion. Confronting, reducing and eliminating homophobia and heterosexism is not optional. It is central to any meaningful public health response to HIV.
At the OHTN, we are committed to being part of that response. This is an opportunity to highlight how our work in research, data, community engagement, clinical care and policy can help spotlight key issues, identify trends and actively work toward solutions that close persistent gaps in our sector. Our work today must build on the legacies of those who came before us and remain grounded in the needs of the communities we serve.
Asya Gunduz’s work focuses on advancing this legacy by
• Marking important days of recognition for queer and trans people
• Supporting and co-developing initiatives that centre trans people living with and affected by HIV
• Contributing to system-level change through gender-affirming care collaborations like TWIRI and WHAI
• Facilitating research and building sector capacity to integrate trans-inclusive practices
In the spirit of IDAHOBIT, we also invite you to read our colleague Murray Jose-Boerbridge’s reflection, A Point in Time: Navigating Activism and Advocacy, which reminds us that activism comes in many forms. From protest and policy to education and leadership, each of us holds a role in shaping the systems we work within.
As we mark IDAHOBIT, let us not only remember the past but recommit to action. Let us recognize that the future we imagine will only be possible if we continue to resist complacency, uplift voices that are too often silenced and lead boldly with equity at the center of everything we do.
Let us celebrate our survival, our power and our possibility.
Asya Gunduz
Garfield Durrant