A play’s aim to create more awareness of trans and gender diverse issues reached the Northern Grampians shire on Monday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The play, at Powerhouse Theatre, followed main character Frank, who was transitioning and affirming his gender.
Transgender and gender diverse people, such as Frank, identify their gender as different to what was assigned to them at birth.
Transgender and gender diverse people might choose to undergo hormonal or surgical options to affirm their gender.
They might choose to change their physical appearance such as changing their hairstyle or the way they dress, or they might ask to be referred to by a different pronoun.
But the play’s message was clear – every trans experience is different and the best way to support a trans person transitioning is to ask, ‘how can I help?’
In the play, Frank’s friend Marco tried to help Frank in the way he thought was best, not realising Frank wanted space.
A panel, with members from Alphabet Soup Grampians, Transgender Victoria and North Central LGBTI Network, discussed the importance of offering help.
Three of the four panel members were trans people.
The panel member, who was not a trans person, said: “One of my friends was transitioning and I saw myself in Marco. I kept offering to help, but I never asked what I could help with.”
After Frank had announced he was affirming his gender, someone at his school threw a water bottle at him, among other bullying.
Transgender people experience significantly higher rates of non-physical and physical abuse compared to the general population, the Human Rights Commission says.
Panel member Alphabet Soup Grampians peer support Tina Healy said she took her former employer to the Human Rights Commission after experiencing discrimination at work and she won.
The play also looked at grief friends and family to someone transitioning may experience.
Frank approached his dad, who started to cry when Frank asked his dad to look at him.
Frank had a support network around him, including his parents, his friend Marco and for a while a peer support group.
It’s important to have a support group, panel members said.
Miss Healy said within a short period of transitioning, she lost her marriage, home, job, friends, siblings and community.
“It’s certainly not a lifestyle choice,” she said.
“Having a peer support group also helps to address loneliness people transitioning may experience.”
The National LGBTI Health Alliance says the health and wellbeing outcomes of people with trans and gender diverse experience are directly related to transphobic stigma, prejudice and discrimination and abuse.
The organisation said transgender people were 11 times more likely to attempt suicide in comparison to the general population.
Some of the support groups in the Northern Grampians for trans and gender diverse people include Rural Rainbows, North Central LGBTI Network and Alphabet Soup Grampians.
- For support with gender diverse issues please call Switchboard 1800 184 527.
- For general phone support call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800.
- To access resources and information about service providers go to the head to health website https://headtohealth.gov.au/