@wellwellwellnez I am so glad you raised the topic of the key issue because that's what today's question will be all about
@Former-Member- and thank you for being here to support IDAHOBIT
@The-red-centaur "the ability to be myself and to express myself how I want/feel." This is so powerful and I am glad to hear the inclusiveness you have found in the community.
@Appleblossom that sounds like a brilliant way to connect
@Former-Member "belonging to a community that's bursting with resilience."
@NatureLover it's often not typically included, but I've seen another Q added to the end of "LGBTIAQ+" to stand for "questioning," and I think it's something everyone should get into the habit of including! i.e., LGBTIAQQ+. Anyone who is questioning is 100% welcome in the community 😊And there are quite a lot of people who are questioning!
Whoops I have quite a number of questions to catch up on! 😅
Day 1:
- What are some of your favourite things about being LGBTQIA+?
I love that I have a lot more choice when it comes to partners! Being able to date women & gender diverse folks in particular is amazing- generally, people raised to be women are encouraged to be more communicative and open/in touch with their emotions- this works wonders in relationships!
I also love the strength of the community 🌈 There's an amazing connection you can have with others when you're coming from a shared experience of oppression by society; we can truly understand each other, and we care deeply for each other.
- And what parts of being in the LGBTQIA+ community bring you joy and resilience?
The people! Friends, partners, the broader community. The events we have, the spaces we share, the parties we have, and the communities we build.
Day 2:
- What are some of the biggest issues facing the community or things that you wish more people knew about being LGBTQIA+?
I wish more people knew that our oppression is ongoing and our concerns didn't stop when marriage equality was legislated.
These points here don't include everything- there are other significant issues; there are just the ones that stand out to me personally as a queer person who is also trans. My main concerns are:
- Ongoing stigma, bullying, family rejection (often leading to homelessness), discrimination, and an increasing epidemic of violence, hate crimes, and murders. I hate that I can barely walk down the street with my partner without being worried about/anticipating other people's negative reactions, like verbal abuse, because we're trans.
- Ongoing attacks on our existence through legislation, such is this frankly horrifying bill in the NSW parliament; and a lack of safe, accessible, affordable healthcare, particuarly for trans people.
- Things like the above causing disturbingly high rates of mental distress, self-harm, and suicide (about 1 in 2 trans people has attempted suicide).
I also wish more people knew about the asexual community (the "A") and the intersex community (the "I" - more info here)!
Day 3:
- Do you have a story of support that stands out for you?
The support that has stood out for me has come from the people I was unsure about; we know we can count on people in the community to support us, so it's particularly impactful when the people we're uncertain about actually support us. It can be a very rough world out there, so that support means the world 🙂
I'm looking forward to continuing to read other people's responses! 😊
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.