Equality Australia

From the team at Equality Australia have a happy holiday and be safe! We’ll see you back here in 2025 ❤️

Good News! Today the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released groundbreaking estimates that 4.5% of Australians over 16 years are LGBTI+. The experimental estimates - the first of their kind in Australia - combined data from nearly 45,000 people who responded to one of four recent ABS health surveys. The results? Roughly 3.6% of Aussies are LGB+ and nearly 1% of Australians are trans and gender diverse. Meanwhile 0.3% of Australians report they know they were born with variations of sex characteristics. In total, estimates show that more than 900,000 Australians are LGBTI+. While these estimates are only experimental they confirm what we already know - Australia is home to thriving LGBTIQ+ communities. This year we secured commitments from the Federal Government to count sexual orientation and gender identity, with more work ahead to include intersex people. Now we're one step closer to being seen as the significant population group that we are.

2024 – a year in review. From ensuring every state and territory is brought into the 21st century with accessible pathways for gender recognition, to battling against the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate - this year we’ve truly made history. From the Equality Australia team, thank you for helping to make this year possible. There is more work to be done in 2025. But this year has proven that we can build a better future. Share your highlights and head to our link in the comments for ways you can take meaningful action!

Yesterday, after extensive community consultation the Australian Government launched a national action plan for LGBTIQA+ health, accompanied by $15.5 million in funding. The plan prioritises our community driven health organisations and making mainstream services more accessible for our communities. This announcement is a very welcome step to addressing the health disparities experienced by our communities. We all deserve access to safe, respectful, high quality and inclusive healthcare. You can read more about the action plan here: https://lnkd.in/gY5ic6aU

Seven years ago marriage equality became law in Australia. We won the right to marry when millions of Australians voted “Yes” for our community and “Yes” to have our love recognised as equal. After the historic passage through parliament of amendments to the Marriage Act on 7 December 2017, we witnessed Australia officially take this historic leap toward equality on December 9, 2017. The harm caused to our community by the plebiscite can never be undone. But seven years on, marriage equality is law of the land. Sadly, unfair and outdated legislation continues to leave our community vulnerable to religious discrimination, and fails to provide clear avenues to address rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate. Ahead of next year’s federal election, it’s crucial we fix this. But to do that, we need to hear from you. Head to the link in the comments and take our community survey. Have your voice heard on the issues affecting you!

NOW HIRING: Are you a lawyer who is ready to help play a pivotal role in making Australia a better place for LGBTIQ+ people? The Legal Policy Advisor helps achieve Equality Australia’s vision of a fair and equal Australia for LGBTIQ+ people, their families and communities. Reporting to the Legal Director, you will inform policy and provide advice across many areas of law that impact the community at the Commonwealth, state and territory level. With 2-4 years PQE, you will assist with the delivery of campaigns and have an important role in the legal and policy work that is the backbone of Equality Australia’s strategic focus. This is a fast paced role, where no two days will be the same. We encourage applications from people from LGBTIQ+ communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of faith. Apply now via the link in the comments!

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown was in Melbourne today for the introduction of new anti-vilification protections in Victoria. The expanded hate speech laws will protect people if they are vilified based on disability, gender identity, sex, sex characteristics or sexual orientation. Ms Brown stood alongside other community leaders to welcome the reforms, including CEO of Gender Equity Victoria Micaela Drieberg, Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Dr Judy Tang, Daisy Gardener from Fair Agenda and Anastasia Rose Le, board director of Victorian Pride Centre. Everyone should have the right to feel safe in public and online regardless of who they are, how they identify or where they come from.

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. We remember the trans and gender diverse we have lost to transphobia and discrimination. We take today to remember to remember the cost of injustice. While their loss will forever be felt, their strength, pride and beauty lives on in us. Today, we remember why we work towards a better future. To our trans and gender diverse community - we will always stand alongside you 🏳️⚧️

With next year’s federal election on the horizon, we want to ensure our community is heard. We want to hear about the issues that matter to you. Head to the link below and take the 5-minute survey today! https://lnkd.in/gUFpgWiq

7 years ago Australia said ‘YES!’ to marriage equality. On that day our love - our humanity - was recognised as equal. So much has changed since 2017. But today let’s celebrate this historic step forward.