• This day was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex persons and all other persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identity or expressions, and sex characteristics.
• Why 17 May? This was the date in 1990 that the World Health Organization decided to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.
• This year’s theme is Together always: United in Diversity.

On the occasion of IDAHOT, we spoke with Purity, a Ugandan transactivist living in Sweden. Purity is a trans woman and founder of Refugee Trans Initiative in Kenya, a board member of Trans Gender Europe (TGEU), Rainbow Refugees Sweden and Miss Trans Global representing Uganda.

She told us her powerful story of overcoming obstacles to become who she is. Her testimony is an inspiration to all of us and remind us of why it is so important to promote and strengthen equal rights for the LGBTIQ+ community, worldwide.

In collaboration with Regnbågsfonden, the Embassy of the Netherlands will host a closed event in June to support the equal rights of the LGBTIQ+ community.