Secretary-General’s Message for the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia 2026

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, we affirm a simple truth: being who you are should never be a crime.

Over recent decades, tremendous progress has been made in advancing equal rights for LGBTIQ+ people. 

Yet around the world, we see concerted efforts to roll back their human rights – restricting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, stoking hate, targeting human rights defenders, and slashing funds for essential services. For the first time in years, the number of countries criminalizing consensual same-sex relations has increased.

When rights are under attack, LGBTIQ+ people are often among the first to suffer – scapegoated and exposed to greater risks to their safety, health and well-being.

This year’s theme, “At the Heart of Democracy”, is a powerful reminder that each and every person must be able to live free from fear, and participate equally in society.

The United Nations is proud to stand with all members of the human family, without discrimination of any kind. Together, let’s choose safety, dignity, and equality for all.