Equality Tasmania has welcomed an unreserved apology to the trans and gender diverse community from the Launceston Examiner for a false anti-trans letter published on Tuesday, March 7

The apology was published on today’s front page.

“The Examiner published a letter that caused distress to Tasmania’s transgender and gender-diverse communities,” the apology reads.

“The letter was published without any verification of the assertions it presented as facts. It also carried a headline that was hurtful and incorrect.”

The apology also acknowledges the recently-ousted editor, former Katherine Deves campaign manager Mark Westfield, had not offered an apology with the letter’s original retraction.

“A note published on March 8, 2023, explaining why the letter had been retracted, also fell short of the standards that we should meet as one of Tasmania’s leading newspapers. It offered an excuse when it should have offered an apology.”

“The Examiner accepts that the letter should not have appeared. We acknowledge that its publication, and comments in other forums that followed, caused hurt to members of our community who may already face the cruelty of vilification and harassment in their daily lives.”

“The Examiner therefore apologises unreservedly to the transgender and gender-diverse communities for the error. We let you down, and we are sorry.”

Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rose Boccalatte, thanked the Examiner team for publishing the apology.

“We thank the Examiner for fulsomely apologising for the fake, transphobic letter it published and for the hurt that letter caused,” Boccalatte said.

“At a time when many trans and gender diverse people feel overwhelmed by the noisy minority who vilify us and seek to roll back our rights, this apology comes as a welcome show of support and respect.”

“I can’t speak for every trans and gender diverse Tasmanian but I, for one, accept the apology and look forward to working with the Examiner to foster a more inclusive Tasmania for all LGBTIQA+ people.”

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

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TransFolk of WA have received $300,000 in funding to deliver support services for transgender, non-binary and gender diverse young people.

Announcing the funding the government highlighted that transgender, non-binary and gender diverse  young people are at greater risk of mental health issues, including self-harm and suicide, than their cis-gendered youth.

Youth Minister Dave Kelly made the announcement of the funding on Friday which was also International Youth Day.

The three-year funding will enable TransFolk of WA to expand its Youth Service Project for young people aged 13 to 25 years and their loved ones.

The Youth Service Project provides ongoing support and assistance for transgender, non-binary and gender diverse young people through weekly meetings, fortnightly workshops, online platforms and community connection.

TransFolk of WA’s work so far has identified a specific need for peer support and social opportunities for young people within their target audience.

The new funding will enable TransFolk of WA to continue and expand the project, as well as employ a youth project officer and a team leader.

“Transgender, non-binary and gender diverse young people need support to ensure their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

“This funding will enable TransFolk of WA to expand its work in informing, empowering and advocating for trans and gender diverse people to survive and thrive.” Minister Kelly said.

“Transgender, non-binary and gender diverse young people are an incredibly vulnerable cohort.

Kelly said the expansion of TransFolk of WA’s Youth Service Project will grow participation and engagement, promote inclusion, and build community connections and reduce the isolation felt by many transgender young people.

OIP Staff

Update: 4:58 17-08-2022 comment from Transfolk of WA added.  

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A Perth couple have shared their frustration that their child’s school is refusing their request to accept their child’s new name.

Andrew and Louise’s child Lynx is in the fifth grade at Quinns Baptist College in Perth northern suburbs. They’re supportive parents who are embracing their child’s non-binary gender and choice of a new name.

The religious-based school however is insisting on continuing to use Lynx’s former name, citing a school policy introduced late last year that rules out recognising non-binary or transgender students. The policy says it is based on the teachings of the Bible.

Speaking to online radio station Youth Jam on Thursday, Andrew told host Isaac Mulcrone that he couldn’t be prouder of Lynx, but the school’s stance was disappointing.

“This is creating a lot of stress within our family because essentially we just want our child to go to school and learn and be nurtured and treated respectfully, and it’s just not following through.” Andrew said.

“I can respect the belief system and that side of things, but if you look at it from a religious perspective there are periods throughout the Bible where people change their name.”

Andrew said the outcome of the school’s new policy is that a child who used to love going to school is now finding it a negative experience.

“They used to love going to school and that’s just disappearing, it’s really hard to get them to school if they just don’t want to be there because they are not treated right.”

The school’s ‘Gender Policy’, which has been seen by OUTinPerth, states that the school believes that the Bible teaches that God creates people as male or female, and gender is determined by the dominant physical characteristics present at birth.

The policy goes on to say that people’s ‘sexual identity’ or ‘gender identity’ can only be those assigned at birth. The policy says all students names and pronouns must correspond with their ‘sexual identity’ as described by the school.

Quinns Baptist College says students can only access facilities, single-sex curricular and extra-curricular activities under the ‘sexual identity’ they were given at birth, and must dress in a manner that reflects their birth sex.

Speaking to OUTinPerth, Louise shared that it was frustrating that the school had introduced the new policy just last year, long after they’d chosen them as an education provider.

“The school quoted their faith as the reason. Which I find somewhat questionable, as they previously had an option for preferred name on their enrolment form, and this “gender policy” was only dated 8/12/2021 – and did not exist when we enrolled the children originally.” Louise said.

The school has told the parents that they will accept shortened versions of the names on birth certificates, but refuse to address Lynx by their name.

“We are disappointed that a school who presented an inclusive front at the time of enrolment has shown their true colours to be very far from this. At this point, getting Lynx to go to school is getting harder, as they are tired of spending 6 hours per day being dead-named and misgendered.

“There are days where they have ended up coming with me to work to avoid facing it.” Louise said.

Louise shared that one of the reasons Lynx has an good understanding of the spectrum of gender within society is because they have older siblings who are transgender. They also used to attend Quinns Baptist College but Louise and Andrew decided to withdraw them from the school.

“We already removed the older two, due to the transphobia they experienced negatively impacting their mental health quite severely. We will now be investigating other options for Lynx. As a parent, my goal was for them to have a quality education – but not to the detriment of their mental well-being.”

The couple hope the school will reconsider their policy and return to approach they had previously.

“I would like the school to truly embody the faith they claim to have – to include and care for all children – whether they be LGBTQIA or cis – they all deserve the same love and respect.” Louise said.

“Given that the school previously didn’t have an issue with preferred names, as recently as last year when my older two did still attend – they used preferred names, I would like to see this policy revoked.”

Brian Greig from LGBTIQA+ rights group Just.Equal commented on the situation at Quinns Baptist College saying it was frustrating the the McGowan government was continuing to allow this type of discrimination to occur.

“This form of discrimination is entirely legal in Western Australia, because our state has the worst anti-LGBTI laws in the country, by which I mean the sweeping and broad exemptions to the Equal Opportunity Act, particularly for religious schools on the grounds of religious exemptions,” Greig said.

“This form of discrimination could not happen in some other jurisdictions. It highlights the need for the McGowan Government to reform this area of law. They’ve been in government now for more than six years, and we haven’t even seen draft legislation on a range of LGBTI issues which are long overdue.

“Western Australia has fallen far behind other states in this regard, and it’s a broken promise from Mark McGowan.” Greig said.

Back in 2015, when he was Opposition Leader, McGowan spoke out against a school in his electorate that threatened to expel a primary school aged girl who had a parent in a same-sex relationship.

Brian Greig says it’s disappointing that once he came to power the Premier didn’t take any action.

“He’s made that comment, that commitment, as Opposition Leader, but has done nothing about it as Premier.” Greig said.

Since being elected the McGowan Government has offered a range of reasons why it has not been able to take action.

“Labor has used to ongoing excuses over the last decade really not to do anything in this area,” Greig continued.

“The first is they would complain about not having the numbers in the Upper House. They’d say, there’s no point in pushing through this legislation which would get blocked by conservatives in the Upper House. They can no longer use that excuse because the government has comfortable numbers in both the lower and the upper house. So it’s now there’s no clear passage for any legislation they want to advance.

“The other excuse that Labor has been using over the last four or five years is that they have been hampered by the Morison Government, that they had to wait and see what the final outcome of Scott Morrison’s Religious Discrimination Bill would be before they could do anything at a state level. Morrison and the Morrison Religious Discrimination Bill are now gone. They’re off the table. So that excuse can no longer be put forward.

Just.Equal have called on the government to take action on a range of LGBTIQA+ related legislation.

“The McGowan Government has run out of excuses. It’s high time that we had law reform on a range of fronts not just on religious exemptions, but also on banning conversion practices, fixing up the situation for trans people including identity documents, banning non-consenting surgeries on people who are intersex, bringing in incitement to hatred and anti-vilification laws, and return the funding to Safe Schools.

“We’re now in a situation where WA is behind most other states on LGBTI law reform, and has been outpaced by the Liberal government in Tasmania on a range of fronts in this area, and it’s not acceptable.” Brian Greig said.

Graeme Watson

OUTinPerth reached out to Quinns Baptist College for comment but all our requests for comment were turned down.

Update 28/06/22: This article was amended to add additional quotes from Brian Greig.

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

The post Parents frustrated that Quinns Baptist College refuses student's new name appeared first on OUTinPerth.

LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Just.Equal Australia are calling on political leaders to debate issues that matter to trans people, including inclusive health care and reducing discrimination, instead of conducting culture wars at trans people’s expense.

Just.Equal spokesperson and trans advocate Sally Goldner AM has called on all parties and candidates to listen to trans, gender diverse and non-binary people and their families during the election campaign, before commenting on the issues that affect trans people.

The call follows comments by Prime Minister Scott Morrison regarding trans women competing in women’s sports and the reach of Senator Claire Chandler’s private member’s bill which seeks to exclude trans, gender diverse and intersex folks from sport.

Today the Prime Minister reiterated his support for the bill while welcoming Katherine Deves, the founder of Save Women’s Sport Australasia, to the Liberal campaign. Deves will be the Liberal candidate for the seat of Warringah which is currently held by Independent Zali Steggall.

The PM said he was glad to have personally selected Deves as a candidate, and said he shared her views.

“Trans people want the real issues we face to be debated”, Goldner said.

“These include day-to-day basic rights such as inclusive and equitable health care, identity documents that affirm who we are, a reduction in the discrimination and violence we disproportionally experience and funding of trans-led projects.”

“We reject the constant raising of ‘faux’ culture-war issues that fail to take our interests into account and at times show blatant disregard for our health, wellbeing and lives, often in ways that promote ridicule and hatred.”

“It’s time to recognise that there’s nothing brave about attacking trans people, but that courage instead lies in addressing the real problems we face.”

Goldner and her team have also urged trans people and their family and allies to question candidates of all parties in depth during the campaign.

“If trans and LGBTIQA+ issues are important to you, find out where candidates in both houses stand before casting your vote.”

Just.Equal have also conducted a national survey of LGBTIQA+ people and allies regarding priorities, and are set to release the results shortly.

OIP Staff, 12-04-22 Updated to include Prime Ministers comments on Katherine Deves.

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
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Australia’s peak trans health body AusPATH has launched the Australian Informed Consent Standards of Care for Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy on Trans Day of Visiblity.

These new national Standards of Care are intended to assist and enable clinicians across Australia to better meet the medical gender affirmation needs of their trans women, trans men and non-binary patients.

AusPATH President Dr Fiona Bisshop says in her 20 years of experience, many trans and gender diverse patients have been waiting years for healthcare due to a lack of understanding and confidence among GPs.

“Over the last few years, AusPATH has supported hundreds of GP colleagues across Australia to deliver the lifesaving intervention of gender affirming hormones,” Dr Bisshop says.

“This Standard of Care will ensure all doctors have access to the right localised information so they can feel competent and confident with their trans patients.”

The AusPATH team have set out to unapologetically centre the trans person seeking hormonal intervention and empower the clinician to facilitate this access.

“It was important that AusPATH produce this Standard of Care through collaboration and consensus building, for our members, the broader medical community and most importantly for those trans people seeking hormonal affirmation,” AusPATH Vice-President Teddy Cook adds.

“AusPATH affirms trans people’s right to self-determine their own futures, we hope these guidelines enable our doctors to be the trusted gender affirming clinician they want to be.”

These guidelines reflect the consensus of AusPATH’s active membership, representing Australia’s peak body for professionals involved in the health, rights and well-being of all trans people, binary and non-binary.

“I’ve been a GP in Canberra since 1993, and working with trans people has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, particularly as one of the few trans doctors in Australia,” says AusPATH Director Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo.

“These guidelines have been developed and reviewed by the full AusPATH Board and every Sub-Committee, to whom we say thank you.”

AusPATH say they are proud to have majority trans Directors, with all Sub-Committees inclusive of trans health professionals, alongside cisgender allies.

The Standards align with AusPATH’s goals of providing education on trans health, rights & wellbeing, developing best practices, promoting relevant research and maintaining a network of informed service providers.

You can read the full Australian Informed Consent Standards of Care for Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy at auspath.org.au

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On Transgender Day of Visibility, The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is calling for the immediate address of health gaps experienced by trans and gender diverse Australians.

The ACN released a statement today celebrating the achievements, presence and community of trans and gender diverse folks, identifying urgent issues in healthcare.

“Today, I would like to acknowledge the persistent contribution trans and gender diverse people make to our society and especially those who are my colleagues in the nursing profession,” ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN said.

“It is unconscionable that this group continues to experience discrimination in accessing many of our areas of society such as health, education and sports.”

“The flow on effect means trans and gender diverse people are more likely to experience much higher rates of violence, mental health problems and homelessness – just to name a few examples.”

“These statistics are even more troubling for those in already marginalised groups, such as people of colour, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and young Australians. Our society must not tolerate discrimination based on gender or any other form.”

Adjunct Professor Ward also highlighted how the nursing profession has a leading role to play in tackling the systemic issues trans and gender diverse people experience.

“Nurses are the starting point for those looking to enter the health system, not just in hospitals but in all settings of care delivery across the community,” Ward said.

“We see first-hand the devastating health impacts of discrimination against trans and gender diverse people. Nurses are dedicated to advocating for the most vulnerable in our society and we know there is an urgent need for reform to address the disparities they face.”

“As a profession, we are also continually learning and reflecting on how we can evolve to ensure the consumer experience with the health system is as positive as possible.”

In consultation with nurse leaders in the area, ACN developed Guiding Principles on Nursing Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion in 2021 to provide nurses with the tools and knowledge to establish culturally safe and inclusive work environments.”

“ACN is firmly committed to leading a diverse and inclusive organisation that is dedicated to social impact and shaping the health of all Australians, and these principles are central to all areas of our organisation including staff, students, members and stakeholders.”

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

The post Nurses call for equality in trans & gender diverse healthcare appeared first on OUTinPerth.

A landmark report analysing the history of trans and gender diverse communities in New South Wales has been released today, marking Trans Day of Visibility.

The report was produced for NSW’s peak LGBTQ+ health organisation ACON and the Gender Centre by Professor Noah Riseman of the Australian Catholic University, tracing the history of trans and gender diverse lives in the region from pre-colonisation to the present day.

The report draws on research funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery grant which is exploring the histories of trans people in Australia. It aims to strengthen the trans community’s historical consciousness, and to understand how the experiences of the past have shaped the present and can inform the future.

“This incredible NSW trans history report reminds us that trans people have been being themselves here for over 60,000 years. Trans people have always existed, and that’s something to celebrate, especially on today’s International Trans Day of Visibility,” ACON’s Acting Director for Community Health and Wellbeing, Teddy Cook said.

“From anti-discrimination law, birth certificate reform, public protest and police accountability, with this report and all the work our communities continue to do, we pay tribute to the hard work and achievements of our trans legends and visionaries.”

“Trans Day of Visibility is a celebration of our communities; a chance to stand up, stand out and recognise the many amazing feats we have achieved, and will continue achieving.”

“With the spirit of the day and this report in mind, it’s important we make visible our own trans mighty and world-changing heroes and histories. We celebrate Roberta, Kooncha, Nadine, Norrie, Jasper, Craig, Dean and so many more.”

The report’s author Professor Riseman said that like many things, the key to making progress for trans and gender diverse communities in the present and future, is looking back at where trans people came from and what has been achieved so far.

“Gender diverse people have been here since time immemorial and this report highlights that history – the triumphs, the struggles, and the changes trans people have endured,” Professor Riseman said.

“Sharing trans history can connect generations of trans people, to learn the struggles and triumphs of the past and where there is more work to do. It is often said that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. This report shows that gender diverse people have always been here. Now we see them.”

“Thank you to everyone who contributed to this landmark report, including – Norrie, Eloise Brook, Teddy Cook, the late Katherine Cummings, Lisa Taylor, the late Aidy Griffin, Adrian Barnes, Kooncha Brown and the wonderful graphic designers Oliver Reyes and Jaime-lee Collinson.”

Eloise Brook, Health and Communications Manager at the Gender Centre adds that their organisation is excited to launch this examination of history.

“The history of our community and the struggles undertaken by our elders is vitally important to give us a sense of who we are and what we have yet to achieve.”

“Not only that but it’s a really good read too!”

You can read the full report at transhub.org.au

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New South Wales’ Gender Centre is proud to announce the relaunch of their legacy print resource for trans and gender diverse folks – Polare.

“Polare had been continuously in print from September 1993 until January 2019 and for decades we were the main resource for the trans and gender community in NSW,” says Eloise Brook from the Gender Centre.

“But it’s different in 2022. So much information and misinformation around the lives of trans and gender diverse (TGD) people and families bombards us from outside of the community.

“We felt it was time that we started talking about the important things that affect TGD people and families, the things that empower and connect us, and the things that unites us around our common, shared experiences. Relaunching Polare seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Polari was the name for a well-known coded language used in London in the 19th century. Fairground workers, sex workers and queer folk used Polari to communicate important information that under normal circumstances could be risky in the wrong places.

“We loved the idea that our new Polare could do a similar thing,” says Brook.

“Three times a year we’ll publish important stories that we think TGD people and families should be talking about. Whether that’s one of our community elders talking about how important it is to properly process regret; how our young people need extra time to grow into themselves or the way voice work can give us power over our transition, we’re publishing articles that are thought- provoking and liberating at the same time.

“But we also have our eyes set on bigger things. Originally Polare was NSW focused, but this year we are going to look wider to other states and territories for more national conversations. There is an important need for TGD people and families, TGD community focused organisations and TGD led specialist services to be talking about the things that effect our well-being.

“TGD people frequently dismiss the idea that we might be a community, or say that they aren’t interested in being identified as TGD. In 2022 I’m not sure how much of an option this is for TGD people and families. Political currents nationally and internationally seem to be against us. We are more in the spotlight than we have ever been and TGD rights remain a hot topic. Yet, we are still being talked about more than spoken too. It’s still a regular occurrence to have non-community allies and organisations to be asked to translate our stories and struggles on our behalf. With Polare we want to change that.”

The Gender Centre is about to turn 40 and delivers over 90% of all trans and gender diverse services in NSW, supporting crisis accommodation, families and young people, rural and remote support, or counselling and psychological services they remain the only trans-led, trans-specialist service in NSW.

A digital version of Polare will be launched for Transgender Day of Visibility this Thursday 31 March and will be available three times a year – April, July, then in November for Transgender Day of Remembrance. You’ll find Polare on the Gender Centre’s Website at gendercentre.org.au

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The New South Wales Liberal Government have just tabled a report outlining their opposition to One Nation NSW leader Mark Latham’s anti-transgender Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) bill.

The bill, put forward by Latham, would amend the state’s Education Act to “prohibit the teaching of the ideology of gender fluidity to children in schools”, ensure the curriculum does not include mentions of trans or gender diverse identities, and put teaching and support staff’s jobs at risk should they choose to support trans and gender diverse students.

The response delivered by Minister for Education and Early Learning and Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council Sarah Mitchell outlined the government’s position on the bill.

The report lists four reasons the Perrottet Government will not support the legislation, highlighting that many aspects of the bill are enacted through current legislation and practice, while others are operationally impossible such as “defining a coherent set of community ‘core values’ agreed upon by all parents”.

Minister Mitchell also rejected the bill on the grounds that it may lead to targeted discrimination against a marginalised community “which already experiences poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes” and potential impacts on schools’ legal obligations to protect and support all students.

“The NSW Government remains committed to working with parents as partners in the education of all children across the State. This is enshrined in the Education Act 1990 (NSW) as one of the four principles of the Act, ‘the education of a child is primarily the responsibility of the child’s parents’,” Minister Mitchell’s response reads.

“Under current provisions of the Education Act 1990 (NSW), the rights of parents to guide their children’s moral development are paramount. These rights are protected by and reflected in the processes of public consultation that have gone into the development of the Australian Curriculum and NSW syllabuses. Parents’ rights are further safeguarded at the local level by processes of communication, choice, feedback and complaint within school communities.”

The Minister also outlined concerns that the bill had the potential to undermine and constrain the ability of teachers and schools to support all students’ education and wellbeing.

“A key risk of the Bill is the potential to marginalise the LGBTIQ+ community, which is a group already experiencing increased isolation and vulnerability. Seventy-two per cent of gender diverse young people have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Forty-eight per cent of gender diverse young people have attempted suicide in their lifetime. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) young people are five times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers (LGBTIQ+ Health Australia February 2020).”

“Every child has the right to receive an education of the highest quality, and the NSW Government supports the right of every student and teacher to be themselves at school and to fulfil their potential. NSW schools have legal obligations to protect and support students, including those who are same-sex attracted or transgender.”

This is the second piece of key legislation put forward by Latham that has targeted NSW’s LGBTQIA+ community, and failed to gain support in NSW Parliament.

In February, Latham’s Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms and Equity) Bill failed to get enough support for a second reading, with it being voted down 29-4. Government MPs united with the Opposition to turf the bill out of parliament.

OIP Staff

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

The post NSW Government reject Mark Latham's anti-trans education bill appeared first on OUTinPerth.

Local support and advocacy organisation TransFolk of WA have responded to revelations Prime Minister Scott Morrison supports a bill that seeks to exclude trans, gender diverse and intersex Australians from sport.

Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler’s Sex Discrimination and Other Legislation Amendment (Save Women’s Sport) Bill 2022 would ensure that people assigned male or female at birth were kept separate on the sporting field, and could exclude intersex people entirely.

The Prime Minister’s support of the private member’s bill has drawn vocal opposition from LGBTQIA+ advocates, labelling the amendments as out of step with society, science and major Australian sporting codes – who are moving to make sport more inclusive for trans, gender diverse and intersex folks.

TransFolk of WA have today voiced their objections to the bill, highlighting major concerns over the wellbeing of trans, gender diverse and intersex communities under a cloud of “federally endorsed transphobia.”

“We are forced again to respond to a Bill that seeks to degrade anti-discrimination law in such a way as to specifically limit the lives of trans, gender diverse and intersex people,” TransFolk of WA Chair Hunter Gurevich said.

“It should go without saying that this Bill is inappropriate and discriminatory. It seeks to alter standing Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 to permit exclusion of individuals from sports based on Senator Claire Chandler’s interpretation of the categories of sex.”

“It does not reflect the understanding of contemporary society or scientific consensus, in that it actively excludes trans and gender diverse people, and it erases intersex people altogether. The reality is, the Act already permits discrimination against trans and gender diverse people based on strength and stamina. Senator Chandler’s bill therefore is necessarily designed to discriminate against trans, gender diverse and intersex people purely for being different.”

“A mature and nuanced conversation is to be had regarding the participation of trans, gender diverse and intersex people in sports. It is to be had by trans, gender diverse, intersex and cisgender sports people, by physicians and scientists. It is to be had within each sport about each sport by experts in the sport. It is not to be imperiously curtailed or micromanaged by politicians with an axe to grind or an election to win.”

“We live in an extraordinary country, but we have problems. We have climate change, health services, sustainability of our energy, resources and economy, housing, jobs… the list is long, and many of the items critical. We beg our democratically elected federal leaders to prioritise the critical issues over petty meddling in standing legislation.”

“In short: leave us alone and do your actual job.”

OIP Staff

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

The post TransFolk of WA slam Senator Chandler's anti-trans sports bill appeared first on OUTinPerth.