Living Positive Victoria stands with trans and gender diverse communities

To mark IDAHOBIT, today and every other day, Living Positive Victoria stands against the active and deliberate hate speech directed at trans and gender diverse communities within the context of the current federal election campaign.

CEO Richard Keane says “I have found this period very challenging coming from a community that has also experienced stigma and marginalisation. I have long made a personal commitment connected to my leadership to remain nonpartisan in my approach, but as an inclusive community we cannot and will not sit in silence as our trans and gender diverse friends, family and community members are singled out for unwarranted harassment by this repugnant attempt to divide the Australian community founded in fear mongering and bigotry.

It is harmful to all of us. All people living with HIV understand the immediate and long-term physical and mental health impacts of this type of blatant discrimination. It puts lives at risk. It continues to impact and further marginalise some of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Make no mistake, this is a calculated, deliberate and ongoing strategy which we have seen employed during the lead up to the marriage equality plebiscite, the debate preceding the religious discrimination bill and now in the federal election campaign.

The entire team at Living Positive Victoria stands in solidarity with trans and gender diverse communities. You are valued. You are loved.”

We invite you to revisit our Autumn 2021 issue of Poslink, where Sharon Sanchez asks us to love and embrace the trans women in our lives.

We encourage those impacted to seek support from the following key agencies:

Transgender Victoria
Victoria’s leading body for trans and gender diverse people.
tgv.org.au

Zoe Belle Gender Collective
A trans and gender diverse led advocacy organisation
zbgc.org.au

Discharged
An online peer led Alternatives to suicide support group for trans people of all genders across Australia.
discharged.org.au

Sane Australia
A national mental health charity.
sane.org
1800 187 263

Transhub
A digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse people in NSW.
transhub.org.au

Beyond Blue
Mental wellbeing support, advice and action.
beyondblue.org.au
1300 224 636

Qlife
An LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
qlife.org.au
1800 184 527

 

 

 

Living Positive Victoria acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.