International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:24): I rise to speak in support of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, an important day tomorrow to support young LGBTIQ people. This is a day for schools, workplaces and our broader community to celebrate and embrace diversity and to commit to take steps together to stamp out discrimination.

It is a tragic reality that we still do not have full equality for LGBTIQ people in Australia. We know that 75 per cent of LGBTIQ young people experience some form of discrimination, 61 per cent face verbal abuse and 19 per cent experience physical violence. Unfortunately, we see that online and in person, meaning that, sadly, there are spaces in our community where our young people feel unsafe and unable to be themselves.

This discrimination has awful and sometimes tragic consequences for these young people. Some 24.4 per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual people and 36.2 per cent of trans Australians experience depression, compared with 6.8 per cent of our general population. These harrowing statistics show what impact this discrimination has on our LGBTIQ community and how desperately we need to act to make our young people, and indeed all Australians, safe. Acting against discrimination is something we are all able and empowered to do, and it is incumbent upon each of us as community leaders to act, to do what we can to reduce these terrible statistics and to include all young people in all aspects of community life.

Our South Australian Labor government has rightly taken many steps to welcome LGBTIQ people and to make our society safer and more inclusive. With the support of many from this side and many from the other side of this chamber, I was honoured last year to lead through this house the passage of a number of pieces of legislation focused on making our South Australian community one that is truly inclusive, equal and welcoming.

Our Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill makes it easier for South Australians to change their gender on their birth certificate. This removes the requirement of an application to a magistrate, making it an easier process, telling those whose identity is not reflected on their birth certificate that they should have that choice and not have to apply to a court to make that decision for them.

The Relationships Register Bill now legally recognises in South Australia same-sex couples who are married overseas and enables all South Australians to register their relationship. The EOA Act has also been amended to enforce protections for this recognition. This has removed a significant impediment to equality. We have also passed the Statutes Amendment (Surrogacy Eligibility) Bill so that people have fair access to reproductive treatment, and we have amended the Family Relationships Act so that non-heterosexual couples have access to lawful surrogacy arrangements.

With the Statutes Amendment (Gender Identity and Equity) Bill, we changed the language used in South Australian law and, in doing so, removed gender bias in all state legislation. Under the Adoption Act, couples in a marriage-like relationship can adopt, removing barriers relating to sex and gender identity. Through the passage of the parentage presumption bill, which I worked on but which was led by the Hon. Tammy Franks in the upper house and others in this house, parents like Elise Duffield and Sally Amazon could celebrate Mother's Day last Sunday as legally recognised mums of their beautiful son, Tadgh.

Importantly, our Premier, Jay Weatherill, apologised to LGBTIQ people who were previously discriminated against under our state's laws, recognising that all people should have the same opportunities and freedoms under our legislation.

These are all bills for which I and others advocated in this house and which the Minister for the Environment in the upper house, Ian Hunter, also led and advocated. We did so to ensure that all members of our community are fairly and equally treated under our law. It is right that on this day we reflect on our progress to date, but most importantly reflect on the ongoing need to support members of our LGBTIQ community.

Today, I call on everyone to speak up and challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language and behaviour and, in doing so, encourage others to find their own voice and to feel safe to similarly challenge such behaviour. As we mark IDAHOBIT day tomorrow and beyond, I encourage all members to learn more about the experiences of LGBTIQ people and how we can better include all people in local community life and beyond.

Importantly, I encourage all members to celebrate diversity tomorrow and beyond by wearing rainbow, by running or attending a fundraiser, by sharing the hashtag #IDAHOBIT or the phrase 'I stand with my LGBTIQ mates', or by doing whatever you can to learn more, to understand and to include. I am heartened that people throughout South Australia will be sharing this message and demonstrating acceptance and welcome for all LGBTIQ people. I am particularly heartened and inspired that a number of schools across our state, including Wirreanda Secondary School and Christies Beach High School in my own community, will be marking the day in very special ways and recommitting to ensuring their schools are ones that are safe spaces and that accept and understand all.