LGBTIQ+ stands for ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, intersex, and queer’, with the ‘+’ representing minority genders and sexual identities not explicitly defined by the acronym. The LGBTIQ+ community itself is a minority population group that has slowly but steadily been recognized and provided rights by legal institutions within Australia since the 1970s. While the exact share is not known, recent reports have estimated that around 11 percent of the Australian population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex. One landmark moment for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in the country occurred recently in 2017, when same-sex marriage was legalized in Australia. It followed the voluntary ‘Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey’, to which 61.6 percent or around 7.8 million of the responses voted “yes” to support the legalization of same-sex marriage in Australia.
A wide range of dedicated services and organizations operate in Australia to support and improve the rights, health, and livelihoods of the LGBTIQ+ community. Nonetheless, there are ongoing challenges faced by this minority group requiring ongoing efforts from both the Australian government and the wider community to reach equality.
LGBTIQ+ in the workplace
LGBTIQ+ persons may be more susceptible to discrimination in the workplace, which may contribute to their willingness to be out about their sexual orientation or open about their gender identity at work. In a recent survey about LGBTIQ+ adults and the workplace, less than 40 percent said that they were out to everyone within their workplace, and just over half said that they felt accepted and confident at work. Each year, the Australian Human Rights Commission receives hundreds of complaints regarding the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which covers complaints relating to discrimination based on a person’s sex, gender identity, intersex status, and sexual orientation, among other things.Mental health impacts
LGBTIQ+ people face unique challenges related to their identities which may have detrimental impacts on their mental health. Non-LGBTIQ+ employees in Australia were more likely to feel mentally well than LGBTIQ+ employees, according to a survey conducted in the country in 2022. Studies have found that this population group faces disproportionately higher rates of mental health conditions than those who do not identify with diverse gender, sex, or sexual orientations. Diagnoses of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are common among the LGBTIQ+ community, and LGBTIQ+ people may face barriers and stigma when accessing healthcare services. Recent public discussion has focused on improving the health and well-being of minority groups, including the LGBTIQ+ community. One recently established initiative is the New South Wales ‘LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027’, which aims to improve health outcomes for LGBTIQ+ people.A wide range of dedicated services and organizations operate in Australia to support and improve the rights, health, and livelihoods of the LGBTIQ+ community. Nonetheless, there are ongoing challenges faced by this minority group requiring ongoing efforts from both the Australian government and the wider community to reach equality.
