As a Greens MP, the recognition and equal treatment of people with diverse genders and sexualities is important to me. In Parliament in 2018 I proudly voted to abolish “forced divorce”, where married trans people could not change their legal gender without getting divorced. In my speech at the time, I urged the Government to do more to recognise LGBT+ people.
In 2021, I sponsored a petition by Maiwar local Esther Vale to reform the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act in order to recognise and protect LGBTQ+ people, including removing surgery requirements to update your gender on a birth certificate and recognising genders other than male or female. In 2022 I also sponsored a petition by local resident Sel to remove transphobic and anti-sex worker provisions in our Anti-Discrimination laws.
I’m incredibly proud to say these petitions were successful and the reforms have now been introduced - but there’s still more to do.
The LNP has adopted the hateful rhetoric of anti-trans campaigners in the US and the UK, and are targeting young people. Premier Crisafulli has banned gender affirming healthcare for under-18s in the public health system, and is conducting a sham "review" of hormones and puberty blockers (after ignoring the 2024 review of this very care found it was safe and should receive more funding).
A young person's healthcare choices are a matter for them, their family and their healthcare team, not politicians. I'm pushing back on this ridiculous political posturing from the conservative wing of the LNP, and working towards an evidence-based approach that improves access to high quality, well-informed healthcare choices.
I’m proud to continually work alongside the LGBTQ+ community on campaigns to improve the safety and livelihoods of queer people.