Your Community Health stands in solidarity with trans and gender diverse communities as proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act threaten to roll back hard-won legal protections. We are calling on all parliamentarians to reject these changes and uphold the principles of equality, dignity and human rights for all Australians.

At Your Community Health, we believe every person deserves to live with dignity, safety and freedom from discrimination.

That is why we are deeply concerned by proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act that would weaken protections for trans and gender diverse Australians and redefine who is recognised and protected under Australian law. Human rights advocates, legal experts and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner have warned that these changes risk excluding a community that already experiences significant discrimination and inequity, while undermining protections that have existed for more than a decade.

As a community health service, we see the impact that discrimination, exclusion and stigma have on people’s health every day. When people are told they do not belong, cannot safely access services, or are not recognised for who they are, the consequences are real. They are felt in mental health, wellbeing, access to care and connection to community.

We are concerned by attempts to use trans and gender diverse people as political targets in debates that risk causing real harm. At a time when trans and gender diverse Australians continue to face increasing hostility, and attacks on their rights, leaders should be working to strengthen inclusion, not legitimise further exclusion.

These proposed amendments do not advance equality. They would remove existing protections from trans and gender diverse people and create new opportunities for discrimination and exclusion. Human rights are not a finite resource. Protecting the rights, safety and dignity of trans and gender diverse people does not come at the expense of anyone else’s rights.

History has shown that progress towards equality is achieved by expanding protections and participation, not by narrowing them. Australia should be moving forward on human rights, not backwards.

Your Community Health stands with trans and gender diverse communities and calls on all parliamentarians to reject these amendments and uphold the principles of equality, dignity, inclusion and human rights for all Australians.

That is why Your Community Health has signed Equality Australia’s petition opposing these proposed changes. We encourage others who support fairness, inclusion and equal protection under the law to add their voice as well.

Human rights are not a finite resource. Protecting the rights, safety and dignity of trans and gender diverse people does not come at the expense of anyone else’s rights. – Your Community Health

Add Your Voice

Sign Equality Australia’s petition opposing these proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act.

Sign the petition