This year’s theme, At the Heart of Democracy is a timely reminder that democracy cannot be reduced to just institutions or elections. Democracy is participation, accountability, freedom, and justice. It is about whose voices are heard, whose rights are protected, and whose humanity is recognised.
Yet, democracy is under threat worldwide. We are seeing coordinated efforts by anti-rights groups to undermine our freedoms, roll back protections, and spread harmful narratives about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy. Increasing disillusionment and apathy towards democracy, and the rise of disinformation and polarising rhetoric is not accidental; it is strategic. Attacks on LGBTQI+ rights are being used as a political tool to weaken broader movements for justice, inclusion, and equality.
So, this year’s theme shows us that one of the defining challenges of this moment is not simply political opposition; it is narrative opposition. Anti-rights narratives often rely on fear, disinformation and misinformation, and false binaries. They position equality as controversial, inclusion as threatening, or rights as something finite that must be negotiated. Harmful language shapes perception, perception shapes culture and culture defines politics.
And these attacks rarely happen in isolation.
Women, young people, and marginalised groups are often targeted through the same playbook: fear, disinformation, and manufactured division. Protecting LGBTQI+ rights is not a niche issue, it is about safeguarding the democratic principle that all people deserve dignity, equality, and the freedom to make decisions about their own lives.
Deliberate harmful narratives are shaping public debate — but they can be challenged
Too often, conversations about democracy are framed narrowly, reduced to voting systems or political representation. You cannot meaningfully participate in society if your identity is criminalised, your healthcare is inaccessible, or your body is politicised. Democracy requires the conditions for people to live freely, safely, and with agency. These are the stories we must tell, and the narratives we must shape. This means speaking not only about what we oppose, or protecting the status quo, but talking about the future we are building – one where everyone can live openly, access healthcare without discrimination, and belong in their communities.
Research consistently shows that the way we frame issues can shift understanding, build empathy, and strengthen public support for justice. Facts matter — but values matter too. Messages grounded in our values, in fairness, dignity, freedom, safety, and community are often more powerful than reactive debates that repeat harmful talking points, or abstract appeals to institutions alone.
This means moving beyond defensive communication. It means refusing to let half-formed opposition narratives define the terms of the conversation. And it means speaking confidently about who and what we stand for.
So, this year on, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) our message is clear:
A society where everyone can access healthcare without discrimination is stronger, communities where people can live openly and safely are healthier and democracy works best when everyone can participate, belong, and exercise their freedom.
These are not fringe values, they are democratic ones.
Why this matters beyond May 17
IDAHOBIT offers an important moment for reflection and solidarity, but the work does not end when the day is over. The narratives shaping public attitudes toward LGBTQI+ rights are present year-round. So too are the efforts to spread disinformation and erode trust in rights-based approaches.
That is why our Words to Win work will continue beyond IDAHOBIT. Our communications are our tool, where we balance accessible narratives on issues with political clarity. It is about sharing approaches that help us avoid reinforcing harmful framing while responding to opposition narratives more effectively. And it is about equipping our movement with language that resonates — language that connects rights to shared values, broadens support, and keeps communities at the centre.
This IDAHOBIT, we are reminded that democracy is strongest when it includes everyone and that reclaiming the narrative means telling the full story rooted in freedom, dignity, justice, the right to bodily autonomy and the belief that every person should have the power and safety to exercise these rights.
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