GLBTI community consultation

The following are a summary of conerns and recongnition of achivements to come out of the consultation process:

What needs to be done?

•  Whole of government approach to dealing with GLBTI issues - there are many areas of the ACT government and the community where there are problems. Need some sort of central point where agencies and staff can go for information needed to improve services. For example, a central agency in the Chief Minister's Department, or an advisory council to provide coordinated educative policies for staff members, health department workers, front-line community service workers to give people skills to deal with issues. 
• Perhaps an agency within the Education Department in educating teachers to deal with issues in classrooms and students who may have gay/lesbian parents.
• Young gay/lesbian people continue to have problems with harassment and violence - further education is needed around violence - people still hesitant to go to police fearing they will be judged, and not the perpetrator.
• Physical and verbal violence still occurring in high schools and colleges, and  issues should be spoken of so that young people know where to go to get help. Essential for people to take the first step and requires the information to be 'out there'.
• Focus on eliminating discrimination around gay teachers being able  (and encouraged) to 'come out' and provide role models for young GLBTI, helping to reduce their isolation.
• Encourage parents of GLBTI young people, and people who are 'out'.
• Difficult to impose educational reform on schools but with rising suicides rates among GLBTI young it should be a focus. Information and education on GLBTI issues should be part of this reform, encouraging young people to ask questions.
• Legal recognition of change of sex (without surgical mutilation) - discrimination legislation does not go far enough. There is some Commonwealth legislation, but need ACT legislation to recognise change of sex. Being 'medically different' makes it difficult to access primary health services.
• Need funding to do some outreach at places where young people congregate - e.g. skate parks,  shopping malls, providing safe sex education and promotion - still a lot of ignorance among young people.

What positive things have been achieved?

• The groups already existing, and flourishing, to help with GLBTI issues:  for example AIDS Action Council, Gay & Lesbian Officers (GLLO) of the AFP, Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT, Canberra Sexual Health Centre. 
• AFP include GLBTI issues as part of their GLLO training, focusing on education, medical, health and violence issues. Currently working on a Beats policy. But police need input from the community, feedback as to what is expected of police, who are keen to get the message out that they are here to help.
• AFP have an officer responsible for coordinating GLLO network in the ACT. One area of focus is training around Beats issues - both from use of venues as Beats, and complaints from the public at some activities.
• AIDS Action Council's initiative in setting up the Qnet website for young people.
• ACT government undertook ambitious law reform project - went through and audited every piece of  ACT legislation and removed all possible words of discrimination.  Last round of reform addressed question of partner issues where couples have been living together for two years.
• Issues around young people and 'coming out' is being spoken of more in schools/colleges - visibility is important and visibility on a mass media level has changed young people's experience to be able to have models in TV shows or stories out in the community so that their sense  of  isolation is reduced.

The AIDS Action Council would like to thank everyone involved in the forum, especially ACT Health, Health Minister Simon Corbell, all the panellists, and of course Julie McCrossin.