Gender & Sexuality
Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same.
Gender identity refers to the way in which a person understands, identifies or expresses their masculine or feminine characteristics within a particular sociocultural context. This may or may not be aligned with the person’s assigned sex at birth. Some people may identify as one gender in one setting and a different gender in another.
Sexual orientation is the nature of a person’s basic sexual and/or romantic attraction to other people.
Gender & sexuality resources
- Minus18 are champions for LGBTIQ+ youth Australia-wide. Check out their website for a multitude of resources explaining gender identity and sexual orientation.
- Intersex Human Rights Australia Ltd is a national body by and for people with intersex variations. They promote the human rights, self-determination and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia, and provide many resource links on their website.
- ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. Check out their website for information on gender and sexuality
- The Australian Human Rights Commission AHRC is an independent third party which investigates complaints about discrimination and human rights breaches. For more information, go to the AHRC website.
Other organisations:
- Rainbow Health Victoria Supporting LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing
- ACON is Australia’s largest health organisation specialising in community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Established in 1985, ACON works to create opportunities for people to live their healthiest lives.
Resources
Family Violence Referral Resource A comprehensive list of referral options for LGBTIQ+ clients
Rainbow Health Victoria Supporting LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing
With Respect practice guide The policy and practice guide accompanying the framework includes examples of the types of family violence that may be particular to LGBTIQ communities.
Top tips for inclusive responses to LGBTIQA+ people experiencing family violence
Power and Control Wheel for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Relationships Power and Control Wheel adapted from the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project for LGBT communities. (Duluth)
LGBTIQ+ Homelessness and Family Violence – Information for case workers Video providing information for workers about family violence and other issues for LGBTIQ+ young people. (Wombat Housing Support Services)
Tip sheet to help practitioners responding to family violence provide LGBTIQA+ inclusive support Prepared with Switchboard and Safe and Equal.
LGBTIQ Family Violence Webinar focusing on responding to victim survivors from LGBTIQ communities using an intersectional framework (NIFVS)
Inclusive Practice Training Zoe Belle Gender Collective training helps organisations and individual practitioners provide accessible and inclusive services for trans and gender diverse (TGD) people and their families in Victoria.
Misgendering + Pronouns A guide to using inclusive language when speaking languages other than English
Inclusive communication with LGBTIQ+ clients This guide outlines why inclusive communication matters and what works to ensure inclusive communication, and supports practitioners to use this evidence in their decision making when working.
LGBTIQA+ glossary of common terms This resource sheet provides a glossary of terms for practitioners and service providers to help them to better understand the terminology and to use inclusive language in service provision.
Proud Parent A collection of references to help in creating safe spaces at home and school
Minus 18 have worked with YGender to produce an online starter pack to help support trans people around you, called Trans 101
Pride in Diversity is one of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, launched in February 2010 as the national not-for-profit employer support program for all aspects of LGBTI inclusion. The program provides advice, guidance and expertise to Australian employers nationally. Pride in Diversity supports member organisations in their pursuit of best practice, LGBTI cultural inclusivity and the attraction and retention of talent through the adoption of progressive inclusive policy, practice and behaviours. Read more about Pride Inclusion Programs Pride in Diversity offers a series of publications that are available in PDF format to their members via their members-only portal, and hard copies can be purchased via their online shop
Titles include:
- LGBTI Domestic & Family Violence – A guide to best practice for workplace policy
- Employers’ Guide to Intersex Inclusion
- Count Me In Mini Ally Guide
The Australian Sex Discrimination Act 1984 makes it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. The AHRC’s Face the Facts resource sheets offer accurate and easy to understand information on this and other key areas of the Commission’s work.
Trans101 Videos and documents helping people better understand what it means to be trans
Trans Children & Young People Supporting trans children and young people
Supporting LGBTIQ+ people who have experienced conversion practices
Walkern Katatdjin A national research project that aims to understand and promote the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual + young people, and to work with services to develop appropriate interventions.
LGBTIQ+ & Faith Enhancing the visibility, safety, mental health and well-being, social inclusion and sense of belonging amongst LGBTIQ+ people from multicultural and faith based communities
Say It Out Loud LGBTQ+ Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Toolkit
Research Matters: What does LGBTIQ mean? A factsheet by Rainbow Health Victoria that focuses on some key concepts that help in understanding what the acronym LGBTIQ means.
There’s No Safe Place at Home: Domestic and family violence affecting LGBTIQ+ people Research report regarding 2020 survey of LGBTIQ+ people across Australia. (Equality Australia & Drummond Street)
Developing LGBTQ programs for Perpetrators and Victim Survivors of Domestic and Family ViolenceResearch Report focusing on engaging the LGBTQ community in tailored perpetrator programs. (ANROWS, 2020)
Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer communities Article discussing the prevalence, experiences and barriers for the LGBTIQ community experiencing family violence. (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2015)
Data collection that is not inclusive is a significant barrier to services for LGBTIQ+ clients. Meridian (formerly the AIDS Action Council) has a full guide on LGBTIQ-inclusive data collection
“Sorting it Out”. Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GBTIQ) men’s attitudes and experience of intimate partner violence and sexual assaultReport presenting data from a survey with GBTIQ Australian men. (Western Sydney University and ACON)
Beyond Bricks & Bars: Trans Decarceration Evaluation ReportCriminalised trans and gender diverse people experience harassment, abuse and discrimination, systemic use of solitary confinement, and a widespread absence of support for their health, legal and social needs.