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Today on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), we celebrate the strength of LGBTIQA+ young people in the face of rising levels of discrimination and vilification, both here and internationally, by amplifying the voices of LGBTIQA+ young people we work with.
In 2024, YACVic wrote a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) project mapping discrimination against trans people in Australia, with a full report to be released in late 2025.
Since then, we’ve seen an increase in global events targeting the rights of trans, gender diverse and non-binary people, and small but vocal anti-trans supporters given platforms in the media and online.These campaigns are often not based onreliableevidence, but aim to create fear and division within our diverse Australian community.
In this heightened politicisation of LGBTIQA+ identity, we have already seen the reactive removal of life-saving medical care and roll-back of inclusive policies in Queensland, which has had dire impact on the mental health of LGBTIQA+ young Australians.In contrast, this year, the Victorian government passed new laws granting new protections for sex, sexual orientation, and gender against vilification. This is a huge step in recognising the rights and equal treatment of all diverse communities, including LGBTIQA+ people.
Over the last year YACVic collected reflections from LGBTIQA+ young people throughout Victoria, and the workers, family members and community networks who support them. We heard the impact harmful narratives are having on our LGBTIQA+ community’s mental health, as events get targeted and the number of individual attacks increases, impacting the community’s ability to safely connect in their local areas.
We also heard that when LGBTIQA+ young people have opportunities to have their voices heard and their identities affirmed and celebrated, their mental health and sense of belonging with their community is significantly increased.
Changes to the Victorian anti–vilification will not start for some time, with the criminal provisions coming into effect on September 20, 2025, and the civil provisions to be enacted on June 30, 2026. These laws are not enough on their own. What we need is social and systemic change, where everyone has access to safe, reliable information on gender identity, and can access inclusive supports when and where they need it. We have provided the following updated recommendations from the voices of LGBTIQA+ young Victorians, who call for greater investment in inclusive services, spaces, and co-designed education initiatives.
We can celebrate LGBTIQA+ identity by listening to and amplifying stories and experiences from community, working together towards a society free of discrimination based on who you are or who you love.
It’s why YACVic is so proud to work with and for LGBTIQA+ young Victorians through the Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) program, alongside 15 other HEY Partner organisations. By providing programs, inclusive services, and opportunities for community impact through the HEY Grants, we provide safe, affirming spaces for young people to express their identity in all celebrated forms.
Listening to LGBTIQA+ young Victorians
“In Victoria in most places [TGD human rights] still have a long way to go, particularly in regard to microaggressions in the education system, healthcare, as well as intersections with disability, mental health and religion.”
With the introduction of Victoria’s anti-vilification laws, we share these recommendations from LGBTIQA+ young Victorians on how to create a safer, more cohesive society for everyone.With the introduction of the social media ban, it’s essential we see investment for LGBTIQA+ young people to have access to safe spaces, both online and in-person, to access information and support.
By elevating the stories of LGBTIQA+ young peoples’ lived experiences, we hope to inform all Victorians about the realities of LGBTIQA+ young peoples’ strength and pride.
Our Recommendations
Recommendation 1: Embed Youth Voice in Decision-Making
LGBTIQA+ young people are the experts of their own lives and are best placed to inform policy and program development to actually meet the needs of the community.
The Victorian Government should invest in LGBTIQA+ Youth Advisory Groups (YAGs) and embed meaningful youth participation in policy and program development across all levels of government.
From young people:
“Queer young people are the future and should be treated as such; they should be consulted in decision making.”
“[Rainbow youth advisory groups]… empower young people and queer people and give them voices… it saves lives.”
Recommendation 2: Ensure Safe, Accessible and Inclusive Community Events
We know connection with community and sense of belonging are indicators of positive mental health. LGBTIQA+ young people must have opportunities to connect with their community in meaningful, celebratory ways.
The Victorian government must guarantee the continuity and accessibility of LGBTIQA+ in-person events and community spaces, especially in rural and regional areas.
From young people:
“Every time there’s another event cancelled, it just makes everyone in the community that much more nervous and anxious… we need more safety precautions.”
“The biggest thing for me is community, whether that’s online or in-person...if you have a strong community, we can make it a little bit easier to campaign against unfair laws.”
Recommendation 3: Invest in Affirming Mental Health and Healthcare Services
LGBTIQA+ young people often face barriers in accessing safe, inclusive, and affirming mental health and medical services. These barriers can include a lack of provider knowledge, harmful attitudes, long wait times, and misinformation. To meet the needs of LGBTIQA+ youth and improve wellbeing, governments must invest in comprehensive reforms that ensure respectful, evidence-based care is available to all—when and where it is needed.
3.1. Inclusive Training for Frontline Workers
Mandatory, co-designed training is needed for all health professionals, especially those in general practice, emergency care, mental health, and youth services. Training should cover gender-affirming care, use of respectful language, and the systemic barriers LGBTIQA+ people face.
From young people:
“Have all healthcare providers trained in gender diverse clienteles, so I don’t have to go to the GP and they’re like, ‘there’s one doctor who doesn’t work [in regional town] anymore’, so you have to go to Melbourne...”
“Sometimes when you go to a GP you have to explain to them what a trans person is, and because they don’t understand my needs they ask invasive questions as well.”
3.2. Promotion of Trusted Information
Young people should not be left to navigate complex healthcare systems or misinformation on their own. With social media restrictions limiting access to peer support, there is an urgent need for government to promote evidence-based, inclusive, and youth-friendly health information about services, rights, and gender-affirming care.
From young people:
“The fact is there’s not information and the information that’s out there isn’t credible and not always rights. And the system is so inflexible that you get a little bit of hope, but then the information is not right.”
“I had to do my own research...I was desperately trying to Google and read online all this stuff to be like, well, how do I exist in this world?”
3.3 Increased Access to Affordable Care
Long wait times, travel distances, and high out-of-pocket costs prevent many LGBTIQA+ young people from accessing the care they need. Investment is urgently needed to reduce waitlists, expand local access, and ensure that all gender-affirming and mental health care is affordable and publicly funded.
From young people:
“It took me 3 years to get surgery…I had no mental health support while I waited.”
“What is the biggest barrier to healthcare? Where do you start? Location, accessibility, money? Everything.”
Recommendation 4: Provide Comprehensive and Inclusive Education and School Environments
LGBTIQA+ young people deserve access to safe, inclusive, and affirming education environments. Schools play a vital role in shaping young people’s identity, self-worth and future pathways. These recommendations will help address discrimination, prevent harm, and promote wellbeing and belonging.
4.1 Staff Training in LGBTIQA+ Inclusion
Teachers and school staff are central to creating affirming learning environments. Mandatory, co-designed training on gender diversity, sexuality, and inclusive practices will ensure staff are confident and capable in supporting LGBTIQA+ students. Training should be strengths-based, culturally responsive, and regularly updated.
From young people:
“When I went through high school there was really no mention of trans people at all. I think that discussion early on in people’s lives would lead to much better outcomes with understanding or harassment or hate speech in general.”
“At my school it has definitely felt like I’ve had to educate some teachers on bullying...there have been instances at school where I’ve had to tell people, or friends of mine have had to, to say ‘hey, that’s not cool to say’.”
4.2. Anti-Bullying and Affirming School Environments
Affirming environments go beyond policy—they include visible actions that validate students’ identities and ensure safety. Anti-bullying initiatives must be paired with inclusive uniform policies, access to gender-neutral bathrooms, and school cultures that affirm rather than isolate students for expressing who they are.
From young people:
“The biggest thing was that my school didn’t have a disabled/gender neutral bathroom...It meant that I had to out myself in order to feel safe to pee at school...”
“Coming out is like...you’ll put yourself at a risk of safety...your motivation will go down, it’s not a light incident, it’s how it affects your mood and then your life.”
Recommendation 5: Promote Positive Representation in Media and Public Life and Media Accountability
Diverse, empowering and affirming media representation plays a key role in shaping public attitudes. Investment is needed in public campaigns that highlight real stories from LGBTIQA+ communities, especially trans and gender diverse people. Media outlets should be held to higher standards of responsible reporting when featuring trans and gender diverse stories.
From young people:
"We need to start with whatever we can in order to build up that curiosity in people, that will then lead to acceptance."
“Trans people in the media are at most is very negative in every aspect...there’s always new things like trans people in sport, or healthcare, and it sets us back unbelievably each time.”
Recommendation 6: Make Legal Recognition More Accessible
Legal recognition of gender identity should be simple, affordable, and accessible for all people—including young people under 18 and those without parental support.
From young people:
"There’s been a lot of barriers with young people who are being affirmed in their name or their pronouns...having inclusive policies in place won’t cause any harm, it’s going to be helpful."
“We should have the right to self-identify [gender identity] ourselves, without discrimination, and have legal recognition of gender identity to protect us from discrimination in employment, education, housing and public service.”
Recommendation 7: Invest in Anti-Discrimination Reform, co-designed with LGBTIQA+ young people and communities
Reform must go beyond legal protections. With the introduction of Victorian anti-vilification laws to explicitly include sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status as standalone protected attributes, the governments should co-design anti-discrimination strategies with LGBTIQA+ communities to address stigma, violence, and the spread of disinformation.
From young people:
“Queer people are worth protecting.”
“Our rights have been politicised.”
Recommendation 8: Ensure Inclusive Public Infrastructure and Access to Safe Spaces
LGBTIQA+ young people need to feel safe using public infrastructure, including bathrooms, transit stations, and community venues. Gender-neutral facilities should be mandated in all new or upgraded public buildings. Invest in ‘Safe Spaces’ program.
From young people:
“I don’t “look trans” so often my experience in gendered spaces is dictated by how I am acting. But to manage my own dysphoria I avoid them because I feel unsafe and uncomfortable”
“When I personally think about if I have to come out in a place, a good portion of what stops me is my own psychology, being that I don’t know how someone will respond...I don’t know if someone has ever met a trans person. And I won’t know if it’s a safe environment.”
Recommendation 9: Combat Misinformation and Hate Speech
LGBTIQA+ communities—particularly trans and gender diverse people—are increasingly targeted by online hate campaigns. Governments must invest in public education, digital tools (such as fact-checking), and community-led responses to combat misinformation and build social cohesion.
From young people:
“It really is feeding the hate of trans people.”
“Trans people in the media are at most very negative.”
Message to decision-makers: Importance of lived experience insights
Programs and policies that are shaped by lived experience are more likely to meet the real needs of LGBTIQA+ communities. When young people, families, and workers with lived experience are actively involved in design, delivery and evaluation, services become more relevant, more responsive, and more empowering.
Lived experience strengthens community connectedness, fosters leadership, and ensures that solutions are grounded in what works. It also helps build trust—between services and the communities they support.
From young people:
"Queer young people are the future and should be treated as such; they should be consulted in decision making."
“They should be asking us what our perfect world would look like, what makes things easier for us and what we would like to learn. What I think is missing is older people respecting our decision making and autonomy as young people and not questioning in condescending ways, but I also think that what’s missing is older people sharing real knowledge with us, like what struggles did they face and how did they do it or why they can’t put money into things or how we can realistically change things - just more transparency so we can work on practical solutions.”