When is enough, enough? Australia's LGBTIQ+ Community

When is enough, enough? Australia's LGBTIQ+ Community

"Equality and freedom from discrimination are fundamental human rights that belong to all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or because they are intersex"

-Australian Human Rights Commission

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) Australians experience significantly poorer health outcomes than the broader population. Many of these inequalities are the tragic manifestation of a long history of institutional discrimination, including: the criminalisation of male homosexuality, the classification of homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder, the availability of the ‘gay panic defence’ in the cases of assault or murder, and the prohibition of same-sex adoption.”

This statement was released by the Australian medical Association (AMA) showing their support for same-sex marriage as a result of the postal survey circling Australia.

They believe that:

1. It is the right of any adult and their consenting adult partner to have their relationship recognised under the Marriage Act 1961, regardless of gender.

2. Current anti-discrimination laws should be maintained and enforced to ensure that businesses cannot withhold goods or services from clients due to their gender and sexual orientation.

3. There are real and significant mental and psychological health impacts arising from structural discrimination, and the AMA supports moves to eliminate it in all of its forms.

4. All Australian doctors should offer sensitive, non-discriminatory care to all of their patients regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Throughout the progression of the postal plebiscite, from the moment it became public knowledge until now, only weeks before the results are released, many have raised concerns for the health and wellbeing of our LGBTQIA+ community.

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community were quick to point out the harmful and discriminatory treatment they receive on a daily basis, before their rights were turned into a public debate.

The AMA have confirmed the validity of these concerns in their release, stating that “People who identify as LGBTIQ have significantly poorer mental and physiological health outcomes than those experienced by the broader population, and are more likely to engage in low-risk behaviours such as illicit drug use or alcohol abuse.” It has also been found that “People who identify as LGBTIQ have the highest rates of suicidality of any population group in Australia,” after those of Indigenous males.

Minority stress occurs when members of minority groups face constant discrimination, abuse and unequal treatment based on their “perceived status” in society. The AMA attributes these inflamed rates to the “Minority Stress Model, which proposes that poorer health outcomes in minority groups can be partially attributed to stressors caused by living in a hostile or homophobic culture,”

Considering the health implications highlighted by the Australian Medical Association, an organisation devoted to enforcing standards of ethics and care, it is hard to understand how the postal survey was implemented.

Community Support

Whilst the plebiscite has taken a negative emotional and physical toll on the LGBTIQ community, it doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any positive aspects.

The LGBTIQ community managed to create an exceptionally strong presence online by:

• Creating and distributing various petitions against the plebiscite and further discrimination against LGBTIQ people;

• Organising events in support of the LGBTIQ community, including; mass protests in all of the country’s capital cities for the ‘Yes’ campaign, ‘Big Gay Out- Community Picnic’, which is a picnic on the day of the postal survey results, Sydney Results Announcement in Prince Alfred Park, a Result Night Street Party for Marriage Equality on Oxford Street, and hundreds of others;

• Creating groups on Facebook and spaces on Twitter to share personal stories, for support and to give the LGBTIQ community and accessible and widely used platforms to voice their concerns and to encourage equality; and

• Encouraged conversation surrounding mental health and suicide, especially for boys and men.

Social media has also provided multiple platforms for LGBTIQ creatives to share their art and their personal protest, in relatively safe and encouraging spaces.

The Following images have been taken from social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and show the creativity and passion behind the ‘Yes’ campaign.It shows the importance of men having spaces where conversation is encouraged and a sense of acceptance is felt. Influential figures, such as celebrities, social media and pop culture characters and artists, are now using social media to create spaces for their fans and communities to come together to demonstrate solidarity and acceptance.

Below is a photo series of posts made by influential figures in the LGBTIQ+ community, the responses and reactions of the LGBTIQ+ community, as well as voices of support from allies. It demonstrates the power and strength that is created when safe spaces are provided for conversation and expression, particularly in turbulent and unsettling times.

LGBTIQ+ Stories

I headed to the second rally held in support of same-sex marriage and in protest of the postal plebiscite. After experiencing the love and power behind the first YES Rally for Marriage Equality, I decided to take my camera and notepad with the hope of capturing the emotion and determination exploding from the thousands of rainbows and thousands of people behind them fighting for their rights, well-being and acceptance.

Whilst the second rally was half the size of the first, the 7,000 LGBTIQ+ people and their allies yelled twice as loud, marched twice as hard and created a glittery ocean of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

While the survey is almost completed wrapped up, the fight for our LGBTIQ+ community is far from over. We need to remain vigilant, strong and determined. Everyday people's rights and freedom to exist is challenged, with voices ringing in their ears telling them why they aren't people and that they don't matter, suicidal ideation and increased rates of depression need we need to talk to each other and seek help when it gets too much.

Refuse to remain silent and speak out for yourself and your fellow LGBTIQ+ people in this unsettling and unpredictable time.

#LGBTIQ #LGBT #Samesexmarriage #Plebiscite #postalvote #discrimination #youth #suicide #highsuiciderates