It was standing room only at today’s Equality Tasmania forum, Living Proof, about gender affirming care for young Tasmanians in the state Parliament House.
Forum-goers heard from experts in the field as well as a young trans woman and her parents.
Forum organiser, Trenton Hoare, said,
“We planned for 70 people to attend today’s forum but almost 100 came, so there was standing room only.”
“There is a significant amount of misinformation about health care for young trans and gender diverse people and the forum helped to inform members of the public about what the scientific evidence tells us.”
“It was great to see so many politicians, health professionals and members of the community attending today’s forum. They left with a better understanding of how affirming care saves young lives and keeps families together.”
Before today’s forum Rodney Croome from Equality Tasmania launched a new group called Parliamentary Friends of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians that is co-convened by MPs across the political spectrum and seeks to inform MPs about issues of cocvnern to the LGBTIQA+ community.
Mr Croome said,
“The most important LGBTIQA+ law reforms in our state’s history – including the decriminalisation of homosexuality, anti-discrimination protections and gender recognition laws - have been achieved with politicians working together across the parliament.”
“The Parliamentary Friends of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians group will foster cooperation across political lines, as well as raise awareness and support among MPs by conducting events highlighting the continued discrimination and disadvantages facing the LGBTIQA+ community.”
Today’s form was organised by Equality Tasmania and co-sponsored by State Health Minister, Bridget Archer and Opposition Equality spokesperson, Ella Haddad.
The forum, called Living Proof, heard from
- Eloise Brook, CEO of Australian Professional Association for Trans Health
- Yalei Wilson, clinical psychologist
- Dr. Miro Rainsford, counsellor and behavioural sciences researcher, and
- Amilie Courtney, young transgender person, and her parents
The six co-convenors of the Parliamentary Friends of LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians are
- Ella Haddad - Shadow Minister for Equality
- Bridget Archer - Minister for Health
- Kristie Johnson - Independent Member for Clark
- Cassy O'Connor - Greens Member for Hobart
- Meg Webb - Independent Member for Nelson
- Rosalie Woodruff - Leader of the Tasmanian Greens
- Roger Jaensch joined the group tomorrow as a Liberal Party representative in the absence of Bridget Archer, who was unable to attend
They co-conveners were joined on stage by a number of other MPs attending the forum who wanted to demonstrate their support for LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians.
Two photos are attached, one of the gender health care panel and one of MPs who gathered in support of the launch of the new Parliamentary LGBTIQA+ Friends group. Credit: Rod Spark Photography
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information - or to speak to one of the forum panelists - contact Trenton Hoare on 0427 886 450 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
