Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Gender diversity and inclusion

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries) (13:04): This week the global screen icon that is Neighbours is filming its first episode featuring a transgender actor—none other than Young Victorian of the Year and advocate for trans and gender-diverse rights Georgie Stone. We have also seen Cricket Australia adopt new guidelines on ensuring gender-diverse and non-binary cricketers can be included in Australia’s number one game, making it truly a sport for all Australians.

We have also seen Rebekah Robertson, a long-time advocate for and supporter of families with transgender children, about to release her heartfelt story of an ordinary loving family coming to terms with the possibilities of raising a transgender child in their family. In that work Ms Robertson reflects on the stigma, discrimination and fear that underpins much of the kneejerk opposition to trans and gender-diverse people’s right to be recognised truly as who they are. She comments:

… it’s my fervent hope that people with open minds and hearts can … better understand the issues surrounding transgender people … I want readers to understand the power of authenticity, of being true to yourself. Transgender people are human beings. Their rights, dignity and humanity need to be protected by family, friends, schools, medical practitioners, people of faith and governments.

It is time, as Rebekah says, and I again quote:

… to see past …the headlines, the rhetoric, the politics—and understand that the things that may seem to divide us are created by fear and nothing more.

Surely it is time to put aside fear and support gender-diverse Victorians.