BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Rainbow flags fly for diversity day

  • Published
    17 May 2017
Share page
About sharing
Screen grab of tweet by @canadadownunderImage source, Twitter/@canadadownunder
ByLamia Estatie
BBC News

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) has been marked worldwide to celebrate sexual and gender diversity.

Tens of thousands of Twitter users celebrate on 17 May, using the hashtag #IDAHOT, to share messages of solidarity and support.

Since 2004, the IDAHOT has been commemorated, external to "draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally".

From Sydney, external across the globe to London, external and Paris, external, the rainbow flag was raised to honour the LGBTI community. Last month, people from around the world told the BBC what the rainbow flag means to them - including unity, safety and love.

Link to tweet by @SadiqKhanImage source, Twitter/@SaqidKhan
Screen grab of tweet by @Anne_HidalgoImage source, Twitter/@Anne_Hidalgo

Showing its solidarity, the European Commission tweeted, external an image of the EU flag with rainbow stars.

Screen grab of tweet by @EU_CommissionImage source, Twitter/@EU_Commission

The German football team Borussia Dortmund also shared, external a flag raised at its stadium, tweeting: "Borussia unites."

After the football team's bus was attacked April, fans of a rival team in Monaco opened up their homes to Dortmund fans.

You may also like:

Trump supporters defensive amid Comey claims

Protest message projected on Trump hotel in Washington DC

The Avril Lavigne conspiracy theory returns

Screen grab of tweet by @BVBImage source, Twitter/@BVB

And a French association for the fight against HIV/AIDS shared, external an image of a pedestrian crossing in south west France that was given a rainbow treatment.

The UK's Royal Mail also tweeted, external a Rainbow Postbox.

Screen grab of tweet by @assoAIDESImage source, Twitter/@assoAIDES
Screen grab of tweet by @royalmailnewsImage source, Twitter/@royalmailnews

While police in Victoria, Australia tweeted, external an image of an officer whose "Police" vest logo - traditionally white - was in rainbow colours instead.

Screen grab of tweet by @VictoriaPoliceImage source, Twitter/@VictoriaPolice

By the UGC and Social News team

Top stories

  • Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, UN commission of inquiry says

    • Published
      1 hour ago
  • Jeremy Bowen: UN genocide report a blunt indictment of Israel's actions in Gaza

    • Published
      1 hour ago
  • Live. 

    Israel escalates bombardment as defence minister says 'Gaza is burning'

    • 4260 viewing4.3k viewing

More to explore

  • Jeremy Bowen: UN genocide report a blunt indictment of Israel's actions in Gaza

    A distraught-looking woman wearing black stands amid rubble and wreckage. There are crowds in the distance moving down a road. A young girl looks on, also looking sombre.
  • Trump's state visit is mired with potential pitfalls despite careful planning

    A treated image showing Sir Keir and King Charles as smaller figures walking and to the right a larger image of President Trump smiling
  • Hillsborough Law - what is it and how did we get here?

    Liverpool's supporters hold banners reading messages paying a tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster at the start of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 13, 2025.
  • The chaotic lives of a couple who killed their baby daughter

    Constance Marten and Mark Gordon
  • 'Crisis for PM grows' and Owen Cooper wins Emmy at 15

    The headline for the Guardian reads: "Crisis for PM grows as aide quits over lewd remarks about Abbott".
  • These teens turned their rooms into tech-free zones. This was the result

    A teenage boy stands infront of door with the sign 'tech free zone' attached. He looks unhappy and is pointing downwards with his thumb.
  • Mark Ronson on being a night person - and Lady Gaga trashing his car

    Portrait of Mark Ronson, wearing a brown jacket, green shirt and dark glasses in front of an orange backdrop
  • Belarus and Russia's show of firepower appears to be a message to Europe

    A Belarusian serviceman stands holding a rifle. There are a Belarusian and a Russian flag in the background
  • They were shot dead for protesting against corruption in Nepal

    A woman sits holding a picture of her loved one. She is dressed in a bright pink top and pale pink trousers
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    These teens turned their rooms into tech-free zones. This was the result

  2. 2

    State pension likely to rise by 4.7% in April

  3. 3

    Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, UN commission of inquiry says

  4. 4

    'Crisis for PM grows' and Owen Cooper wins Emmy at 15

  5. 5

    Ready for an autumn declutter? Four ways to get started

  6. 6

    Trump says he will sue New York Times for $15bn

  7. 7

    Trump's state visit is mired with potential pitfalls despite careful planning

  8. 8

    Triathlete ready to face life with no limbs after sepsis

  9. 9

    Jeremy Bowen: UN genocide report a blunt indictment of Israel's actions in Gaza

  10. 10

    Mason: Reform UK amplifies jitters for Labour and Conservatives

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Rob and Rylan embark on their own passage to India

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Rob & Rylan's Passage to India
  • What drives young women to risk it all in the MMA cage?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Girl Fight
  • The life of Gordon Welchman, a WW2 codebreaking hero

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Bletchley Park: Codebreaking's Forgotten Genius
  • A night of frighteningly great film music

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    BBC Proms
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.