Local businesses in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges are joining thousands of organisations, schools and individuals across the country in a display of colour to celebrate this month’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

“We are encouraging local businesses to decorate their shop windows in rainbow colours in the leadup to IDAHOBIT to show solidarity and to celebrate the LGBTIQA+ community,” says Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s Rhani Dean-Talbett.  “We can provide rainbow flags to participating businesses so please get in touch with us if you would like one.”

IDAHOBIT is celebrated each year around the world to raise awareness of the discrimination LGBTIQA+ members of our community continue to face.

An official flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Kyneton Town Hall on Monday 17 May at 12pm with flags also being raised at Council buildings in Woodend and Gisborne.

“After being forced to hold last year’s flag-raising ceremony online,” says Rhani, “We are thrilled to be able to mark this important day together in person and we encourage all community members to join us.”

Hosted in conjunction with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the event which has been held locally for the past five years, is an important event on our organisations’ collective calendars.

Local businesses who would like a rainbow flag to display should contact the Health Promotion Team on 5421 1666 / healthpromotion@scchc.org.au.