Thursday, 23 March 2023

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (09:49): I join with members of the government in sharing our love and appreciation for the trans and gender-diverse community. We are a place of absolute pride in Victoria, and we are one of the most inclusive and supportive communities in the world. It is something that we celebrate. It is something that people come and visit and share with us each and every day. The images that we saw out on the steps of Parliament are harrowing. We saw only a little while ago some of those nasty elements present at the Victorian Pride Centre and then on the very steps of our Parliament – Nazis all the way through to hate speech targeting some of the most vulnerable in our community. We know the stats and we know the impact, and it goes without saying that those that are impacted have a disproportionate mental health and wellbeing impact on them. As Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, I know that disproportionate impact and how that affects trans and gender-diverse community members.

I want to say on behalf of my community and on behalf of the government that we absolutely love and appreciate all of you and that you have a wonderful place in the Victorian story and the patchwork quilt that makes up our wonderful and inclusive society, so keep being as proud as you can be. I visited the Victorian Pride Centre a while ago, and I was just blown away by the love and inclusion that was on demonstration. To anyone that wants to go and see the beautiful support services that are there, that is what truly is Victoria.