Page 3502 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 22 October 2014
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I am reminded today, however, that our focus must remain broader than progressing marriage equality. While we have made a lot of progress on removing discrimination for the LGBTI community, many challenges still present themselves. Canberra is by many accounts one of the most if not the most LGBTI-friendly cities in Australia. Data from the 2011 national census shows this. The ACT had the highest proportion of same-sex couples of any state or territory in Australia. Of all the couples who registered, I think 1.1 per cent were in same-sex relationships.
However, for many people to grow up gay or gender diverse remains a challenging period in adolescent life. I know that adolescence is difficult enough for kids without the added pressure of thinking they have to hide who they are out of fear. LGBTI teens and adults alike experience a severely elevated level of mental health issues in comparison with the general community. The sad thing is that this does not surprise me.
Attitudes of the past and the attitudes of some who are still living in the past are hurtful, they are alienating and they have no place in modern day Canberra or Australia. LGBTI youth are much more likely to end up homeless than the general population, and this is an increasing trend. While society becomes more accepting, gay youth are coming out younger and while still financially dependent on their parents. If the parents struggle to accept their children, they sometimes end up needing to find alternative accommodation.
At the other end of the spectrum, the LGBTI community has identified that there are major challenges to be faced by the community while our ageing population begins to enter aged-care facilities. Issues surrounding recognition of relationships and a lack of training for staff in dealing with gender diverse people can cause particular issues in residential care. Many people facing the prospect of entering the aged-care system are fearful of discrimination and social isolation.
It is because of these challenges that the ACT government continues to support and provide services specific to Canberra’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities. As Minister for Community Services, I am guided by the advice I receive from my advisory council on LGBTI issues. The advisory council performs many tasks, one of which is to liaise between the community and the ACT government. Whilst this is their primary role, they also undertake research and provide advice on matters referred by the Minister for Community Services or raised as a result of community consultation, identify priorities and develop a work program of actions to advance the interests of the LGBTI community, engage and seek advice from the LGBTI community as well as service providers and key stakeholders and act as a link between these stakeholders and the ACT government on relevant issues. They disseminate and communicate, either in person, electronically or otherwise, information to community interest groups on the proceedings of the council, and they establish and maintain cooperative networks with other ministerial advisory bodies and relevant ACT government agencies. They provide an annual report on the progress of work undertaken by the council to the Minister for Community Services.
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