LGBTIQ advocates have lashed The Australian newspaper for “appalling” coverage of transgender issues in a new “Gender” section on its website.
Headlines in the new section include “They’re castrating children”, “Transgender project ‘out of balance’”, “Sex not a matter of belief”, and “Corrupting kids’ thinking”.
“Medicalisation of gender is dividing our society and abusing our defenceless young,” one op-ed claims.
Responding on Monday, Equality Australia lashed the newspaper’s “disgraceful obsession with humiliating trans people”.
“The rights and existence of transgender people is not up for debate,” the group tweeted.
“Conservative religious fringe groups are determined to divide Australians using misinformation and fearmongering about transgender people.
“Trans and gender diverse people are a part of all histories and cultures. We will continue to celebrate their existence, fight for their rights, and to lift up their voices and stories.
“We won’t capitulate to the hate-fuelled agenda of a few loud bigots.”
Writer Benjamin Law pledged to donate to The Gender Centre on behalf of anyone who cancelled their Australian subscription.
“The Australian has now set up a dedicated page to demonise and spread misinformation about transgender and gender-variant youth,” he tweeted.
“Promoting fringe anti-trans extremists while campaigning against medical experts and kids hospitals. Struggling to think of anything lower.”
Trans nation: the gender debate — you’ll find The Australian’s exclusive news reports & independent commentary on this new dedicated page — https://t.co/3HSSdX1Ri3 @australian #AusPol #FreeSpeech
— Bernard Lane (@Bernard_Lane) August 8, 2019
Here’s some content for your new gender section @australian 🌈#Trans #LGBTIQ #pride pic.twitter.com/zC3NjcujUr
— EqualityAustralia 🌈 (@EqualityAu) August 12, 2019
Let me go on the public record in condemning @australian and their journalists for their appalling fearmongering and refusal to acknowledge proper expert advice on supportive treatment for trans children. Also massively #transphobic https://t.co/raXZ4G1gpB
— Dr Fiona Bisshop (@DrFionaBisshop) August 12, 2019
The Australian guidelines for the care of trans and gender diverse children reference all this research. This is not experimenting. This is saving children’s lives. https://t.co/EmF9Pm76yK
— Dr Fiona Bisshop (@DrFionaBisshop) August 12, 2019
Bernard, when the trans teens that I talk to every day come to me and ask why people are angry at them, threaten them with homelessness and abuse them, this is the kind of content that instigates it.
I’m too disappointed and sad about this to be angry. Because I’m tired.
— Joan A. Westenberg (@Jonwestenberg) August 10, 2019
But I need you and your colleagues to understand how much it hurts people like us when this kind of thing happens. And I need you to understand that if you don’t take ownership of a responsible public conversation, you implicitly take ownership of the negative repercussions.
— Joan A. Westenberg (@Jonwestenberg) August 10, 2019
THREAD
As part of their relentless war on trans kids, The Australian this morning are now trying the argument that “girlie boys” and “tom boys” and diagnosed transThat’s not it THATS WHY I WROTE THIS BOOKhttps://t.co/lkL6fZvxm4
— Jo Hirst (@thegenderfairy1) August 11, 2019
In August, if you unsubscribe—or get someone to unsubscribe—from the @australian, I’ll donate $36 (the cost of a monthly sub) to @thegendercentre who do vital work supporting local trans youth.
Provide proof of unsubscription in the replies and I’ll donate on Aug 31. 🌈 (1 of 2)
— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) August 11, 2019
Hey @australian, if you’re going to pass off wild speculation from anti-trans lobby groups as news you could at least be honest about it. This kind of nonsense harms trans kids who deserve the best medical care, our love and our respect 👏🌈 pic.twitter.com/ZbYshuORKc
— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) August 12, 2019
This is atrocious. It’s also so, so dangerous. People will read this headline as a statement of fact, even though it’s utterly untrue. This kind of “journalism” kills trans kids. pic.twitter.com/JM7bPu3R3C
— sam langford (@_slangers) August 12, 2019
Stigma and discrimination impacts mental health of transgender people
In 2017, landmark Australian study Trans Pathways found that 80% of young transgender people had self-harmed.
The study also found 48% of the trans young people had attempted suicide.
Researchers found issues like “peer rejection, bullying, issues with school or university, and a lack of family support” were key factors impacting their mental health.
The Australian furore follows Prime Minister Scott Morrison criticising Cricket Australia’s policy supporting transgender players as “heavy-handed” and “a sledgehammer”.
Responding to the comments, LGBTIQ health organisation ACON said leaders must act in a manner “inclusive of all Australians, and to refrain from using language that adds to a culture of division within Australian society.”
“Most transgender and gender diverse people live happy, healthy and connected lives,” ACON said.
“Unfortunately this is not the case for all, as evidenced by studies that demonstrate trans and gender diverse people shoulder a real and pressing burden of mental health issues.
“These experiences are directly related to stigma, discrimination and transphobia, and not the result of trans and gender diverse people being who they are.”
“Data from the National LGBTI Health Alliance state that trans and gender diverse adults are nearly eleven times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. Thirty-five percent of trans and gender diverse adults having attempted suicide in their lifetime.
“Yet, when transgender and gender diverse people are accepted and able to participate in their community as their affirmed gender, mental and physical health outcomes dramatically improve.”
ACON urged all leaders and commentators “to ensure that a truly a safe and cohesive society in Australia includes our most vulnerable populations.”
“Only when those on the margins are meaningfully included can we hope to build the health, wellbeing, safety and inclusion of all Australians,” they said.
“Unity, not division, must be our ultimate goal.”
Trans and gender diverse people experiencing distress can contact national LGBTIQ+ counselling service QLife on 1800 184 527 or via online webchat from 3pm-midnight every day.
For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
