A recent survey, the results of which are published in Speaking Out: Stopping homophobic and transphobic abuse in Queensland, was yet another reminder that that Australia's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex (LGBTI) community continue to suffer abuse and victimisation in silence.
Dr Alan Berman of Griffith University and Dr Shirleene Robinson of Bond University collected almost 1100 survey responses from the LGBTI community and focus groups throughout Queensland. Their findings exposed a shocking frequency of verbal and physical abuse suffered by queers.
Sixty nine percent of female participants and 76% of male participants had been abused verbally, 15% of females and 32% of males had been physically assaulted, while 6% of females and 12% of males had been assaulted with a weapon.
Transgender people reported suffering an extraordinary level of abuse. Fifty five percent of female to male transgender people had received verbal abuse, 45% had suffered physical assault, and 9% had been assaulted with a weapon. Transgender male to female people reported the highest rates of abuse. Ninety two percent had suffered verbal abuse, 46% had been assaulted, and an incredible 38% had been assaulted with a weapon.
Only one in four attacks were reported to authorities, with most victims fearing that their report would not be taken seriously. They also feared that they would suffer further victimisation or even that they would be outed. Many queers are so terrified of the possible consequences of reporting assault that the justice system is effectively denied to them.
But change seems a long way away when major political parties refuse to grant queers equal rights.
Homophobic abuse is inevitable in a system that mandates heterosexual norms over all others. Capitalism relies on homophobia to discourage any deviation from the heterosexual nuclear family, in which women provide unpaid domestic labour.
True change can only come when workers join together in their refusal to be divided by hatred. That's why protest is a necessary part of the struggle to end homophobia.
“Equal Love” is one nationwide campaign fighting homophobia by seeking equal marriage rights for LGBTI peoples. By denying same-sex couples the right to marry, the major parties perpetuate intolerance by portraying queers as undeserving of the same rights accorded to straights.
Although a Galaxy poll commissioned in June last year by Australia Marriage Equality showed that 60% of Australians support equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, the government refuses to act, but protest can force them to take notice.
Taking part in Equal Love's regular equal marriage rallies is a vital way to show the government that the community is willing to stand up for queers, and wants an end to homophobic laws that rob them of their rights and dignity.
Your vote is also an important part of fighting homophobia, especially since this year is an election year. Socialist Alliance is running in the federal election and is the most progressive party on LGBTI issues.
Its platform on LGBTI issues is available at the Socialist Alliance website and includes comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and full marriage rights as well as civil unions regardless of gender or sexual preference. It also includes education programs for schools and an end to the ridiculous “homosexual advance” provocation defence in cases of violent crime.
If you can't make it to protests or vote, your daily interactions with friends can play a vital role in the struggle against homophobia. You can change attitudes just by speaking up when you encounter homophobic attitudes. Don't let it slide when you hear people using “gay” as a pejorative.
LGBTI people's struggle for the basic rights afforded straights will continue as long as those in power continue to profit from the denial of those rights. We don't want a world where people live in fear of violent assault because their gender or sexuality doesn't fit the norm. Solidarity with the queer community is what makes a better world possible.
[David Beswick is a Canberra Resistance member.]