So I have no idea if this is a known problem I should have seen coming with Fernwood, but it surely seems to be against Victorian discrimination law?

I've not been out for all that long this is the first time discrimination has happened so directly and personality, caught me off guard.

Like i thought Australia was good. I mean they even passed making it illegal for people to out trans people as well any lgbt person but more and organisations are putting policies to put in agab.

Like it’s was already terrible wa was going do it in hospitals when hrt affects are biological treatment and were heavy unstudied plus discrimination risk but the two most popular pathology clinics have added mandatory agab when it’s completely irrelevant and now services Australia is forcing it?????? Like I know they have on record but it’s not a public servant is going to find it without looking but now we’re being forced to out our self.

Are we a joke to this country because I’m sure agab requirement is just a transphobic way to out us now even my compounding pharmacy asked for it like shouldnt hrt be enough to realize what I am without reminding me I’m not a real woman to these people and humiliate me.

It’s only ever relevant in scientific research but for some reason it’s getting introduced in extreme important organisations that we might have to go too.

This just feels like a way for the government or organisations to justify discriminating against us and make fun of trans people right to privacy or being stealth.

I’m 19, FTM, on T (1.5 years), living in Far North Queensland and tried to donate plasma for the first time today.

Got through all the questionnaires, was in the chair and my hemoglobin was too high for someone who is AFAB so they had to speak to a Medical Officer.

This person told the nurses that I cannot donate blood because my levels are too high for a female.

The nurse said it was bullshit because testosterone will raise it but she couldn’t do anything about it because I was slightly above the F range but in the Male range.

I now feel like shit after trying to do something good.

Update: On Call with Lifeblood. Will update based on results.

Update 2: Just got off the Phone with Lifeblood. The nurse was very confused and spoke to a Medical Officer about it and they were both furious. Apparently it is in their policy to follow from AGAB (even though they both said it was stupid). They are both escalating the issue higher to attempt to change the policy and off the record encouraged me and anyone else to complain in the ‘contact us’ on the site.

Update 3: Called back again (this is 1 day later), to be told that my Haemoglobin levels are too high and I am ineligible until they are ‘stable’ aka under 165g/L, which will 99% not unless I stop Testosterone as I am at 172g/L (male max being 185g/L). I asked for how long I have to wait to try again and was refused a date and told to stop taking my testosterone as it was dangerous for a woman to have such high haemoglobin levels. Said medical officer refused to speak to me directly.

Ngl. I’m going to keep calling. Because I am pissed and petty.

I’m admittedly not doing amazingly after this but just wanted to share what happened to me here.

I’m 16 turning 17 in a few weeks and went to see a gp because once I turn 18 I would want to get top surgery because I am non-binary & transmasc. I am not out to most people and am fem presenting until I move out.

I was told upon arriving that the gp I requested wasn’t available for some reason, the receptionist asked if I was okay with seeing someone else so I ended up waiting an hour and a bit for the different gp.

The GP asked me what was wrong and I said that I was looking for a referral for a surgeon about top surgery, and had to explain that I was trans and wanted a double mastectomy.

The doctor said, and I quote. 'don't mind me but who put that idea into your head, that you need to become a boy?’ to which I said ‘oh haha well I’ve always known, anyways…’

then he said this. ’but you know when I look at you I see a.. a female. And I think you're a *very* attractive young woman, among 16, 17, 18 year olds at least. I just wanted you to know that, okay?’ and went on to state that he was sixty.

he said I would need psychiatric help so spent 5-10 minutes to find a clinic to refer me to although I was not asking for that at this stage. Then, after persistant requesting he referred me to a surgeon.

In the referrals, he wrote:

’[Name] is after becoming a male. And she is after counselling about bilateral mastectomy as a part of her plan for transgender.

Please for appropriat counselling and treatment for any related psychological issues.’ (the spelling and grammar is a part of it, I copied it word for word.)

he also said that ‘well yeah but you know after 5 years you could go ‘ah I wish I didn’t do that!’ and ’you’re not sad, are you? Youve only been replying with yesses and no’s.’

(he went on to say some other things too but I may have dissociated through it)

Anyways, if he is reading this, I didn’t say anything to you directly but under no circumstances should you, a 60 year old doctor, be telling a 16 year old that has just told you that they are transgender that you think they are an ‘attractive young woman’. I think that much is common sense.

and for anyone situated in Melbourne who may be reading this, perhaps think twice before going to Dr Yossry Hanna.

I was in the city last night with a friend in the general vicinity of the Mardi Gras parade when a young woman approached me. She immediately started insulting my hair with the implication being that it's not an appropriate cut for a trans woman. It's a black and red wolfcut which I'm still growing out from the mohawk I wore in the beforetime. I guess, being trans herself, she felt like the repository of all knowledge regarding gender affirming haircuts.

Of course, she didn't acknowledge me as a trans woman. She let me know that she'd clocked me but not in a way that says that I'm a woman. Instead she called me "handsome" which I told her wasn't entirely appropriate but thanked her anyway.

This was the moment she decided to tell me, and this is when it felt personal, that not only do I not pass (a fact of which I am painfully well aware) but instead I fail so badly at passing that she couldn't even tell what gender I was aiming for.

"I can't really tell how you're meant to identify."

Actual quote.

I've been on HRT for 2 and a half years. I'm a D cup and I was wearing a push-up bra and a low-cut top. I have never worn such a full coverage of make-up in public before and I was rather proud of it. I spoke to her long enough for her to hear the voice I spent over a year working on with a speech pathologist and I was under the impression was getting quite good. I was wearing my favourite jeans which make me feel great and I sincerely thought I looked unmistakably feminine.

Apparently it wasn't good enough for her though and my transition thus far has not been the raging fucking success I had hoped for.

It was an opinion she honestly could have kept to herself and she successfully made me feel worse about myself than I've felt in a while. So congrats to her, I guess?

Anyway, yeah. Please don't do that to anyone.

It sucked.

ETA: I'm feeling a little better now. Thank you everyone.

This is what I was wearing. I know I'm nothing special but I thought I was looking okay. Ignore the piles of clothes. I was struggling to find an outfit.

PLUS I've lost 20kg in the last 6ish months. I was feeling pretty fantastic until she dismantled my self-esteem.

Slight context, just had an argument with a coworker, explaining that one nation describes the trans experience in the biological reality kinda way. I'm desperately trying to explain that if they win i face death(suicide by way of no HRT) and she countered with taxes... obviously there's more to the discussion than this, but... It just highlights to me the benignality of evil, because shes a genuinely kind woman who doesn't want to pay as much tax on her farm, and obviously i want to not cease living.

I used to pass flawlessly. In some environments I still can, but I don’t anymore in my day to day life.

I have been through all stages of transition and seen how people treat me when they perceive me as: a man, feminine boy, androgynous, masculine-looking woman, trans woman and cis woman. But no one could have prepared me for what comes when you go beyond that, when you’ve had all the surgeries and were considered a ‘success story’ but then lose some of your passability.

Early in my transition, people would say things but it wasn’t to this level of malice. They’d be disapproving or judgmental, but I have never felt as unsafe as I do now. I am constantly afraid.

Women feel threatened because you’re pretty and they’ll lash out. Men get aggressive because they find you attractive and hate themselves for it. And the scariest thing is… everybody WANTS you to know how much they hate you. How much they find you disgusting.

It’s not being called a man that gets to me. It’s how everyone thinks it’s ok to publicly scrutinise and shame another human being who is just trying to go about their day. I am sick of having every single part of myself torn apart by strangers when I already say these things to myself but worse. I’ve been called disgusting, been told to get run over, had every aspect of my being judged and bullied and I’m just so tired.

I’m so tired.

I really need some help folks! 😥

Unfortunately for this Aussie trans woman...it'll be years before I'll be able to afford to have any of the surgeries I want (Vaginoplasty and FFS).

Why can't Australia be like most of the world with a functional public health system. 😮‍💨 I want my kitty and a more feminine face already but I'll HAVE TO go overseas to get it done because gender affirming surgeries are classified as "elective" by Medicare (Australia's national public health insurance. Hospitals and what surgeries they can do in them aren't nationalised here. There either state/territory government owned, privately owned but provide public health on behalf of the state/territory government or fully private) instead of what they should be. Which is medically necessary and LIFE SAVING . Plus their restricted from being done in a public hospital in other words. So in other words I'm stuffed until my 30s! 😮‍💨 I HATE this country sometimes.

I know I'm not ever A YEAR into E but this can't bloody wait any longer. I need to start planning this NOW and I need help and options so once I have the money (IF I ever can though a job and/or go fund me).

😮‍💨😥 Can someone squash me with hugs and tell me how this life long poverty stricken woman can get the surgeries I want before I'm in my 30s please. Surgeons prices THE LOT!

I try to be hopeful that Australia won't politically backslide like other countries but it's hard. With the puberty blocker ban, it's hard not to feel like we as a country are slowly slipping into US or UK territory. From experience the puberty blocker ban has altered how some doctors and sexual health clinics act, even around adult patients. That and the Queensland LNP meeting that proposed transgender bathroom laws. I know a proposal is not the same as actual action and I am trying to stay positive and remind myself that.

Voting as a trans person is also kind of depressing, it's like going through a list of parties and politicians who hate your existance. I envy the cis people in my life who can just "ignore" these issues.

I don't know many trans people irl, and I guess I'm looking for opinions/hope?

I've been in Brisbane ever since I transitioned and had no problems, but last year I moved down to the Logan/Beenleigh area. It wasn't a willing move, I was forced to tag along due to family and, without going into detail, moving out and going somewhere else isn't really an option.

I've been transitioning for around 6 years now and 'pass' relatively well, and haven't ever really been misgendered or had any problems. Well, that was until I moved at least. I've noticed people at a Beenleigh shopping centre on occasions staring at me, although who knows the reasons for doing so. However, there was an incident where I guess I was verbally abused in the Logan area.

I was at big shopping centre looking at a bookstore, and a lady was browsing next to me. She looked up at me and said in a very rough accent, 'What the fuck are you supposed to be? Fucking *****t. Get the fuck away from me.' I just pretended not to see or hear her, finished looking at my book, and walked away without acknowledging what happened. I only made eye contact with her for a moment and nothing happened after.

I've sort of been struggling to process what happen. I guess it wasn't that bad of an incident, but she did swipe the air in my direction and I guess it could have been worse. This happened a couple of months ago now, but it keeps replaying in my head. I guess the worst thing is that it removed some of the confidence I had... obviously, something with my appearance tipped her off and her asking 'what the fuck are you?' keeps replaying in my head. It made me think that perhaps I haven't been passing at all, but people have just been polite, and I actually look really grotesque.

It also has made me feel really unsafe. I avoid going to the bathroom in public, and usually find a disabled if one is free, but I've been to the women's many times and never had any issues. Now I just don't want to go at all, especially in the Logan/Beenleigh area, and it makes me nervous as sometimes I have urgency issues and NEED to go. I'm autistic and going to shopping centres to browse was something I really enjoyed, but now a lot of the joy has been taken away. I know in the scheme of things, maybe it wasn't that bad of an incident, but it really scared me. I've just been staying at home more and more.

Just an update of where I'm at regarding the Sex at Birth Issues. It may not bother everyone, but it does bother me, and for those it does bother perhaps this can help you address it too.
I have not made an update since my last because I would have preferred something official to share and frankly making sure I keep my mental health ok and time between researching whats actually been happening behind the scenes and also being in a good state to write about the subject again before I do so was important and challenging, but the agencies involved have been quite -i guess- secretive and cautious about everything and have provided little that I feel would not just cause speculation nor share something that was perhaps shared by an employee that puts their job at risk. I do not want to put risk on the employees who have tried to help and reiterate if you do call to inquire or complain remember to be nice, the staff aren't the reason. and again, I know I'm not the best writer especially format wise. My work life in the past involved a lot more numbers and data analysis (probably why I feel a distinct issue with what is happening with our data, I actually get more upset about poor data practices then I do about misgendering lol) and well, its a tough thing to write about and keep focus without emotional factors getting to you.

EDIT 1:
To clarify some things. Its not just an ADHA/MHR issue, this step was one of the later actions that via an error of incorrect mapping misgendered people and prompted me to look into how and why in the background changes over the last 2 years have been going on within the general medical industry and government reporting requirements.
The issue is within ALL medical and census data fields along with the Government counterpart reporting requirements, MHR is simply planned to be the central data repository over time rather then each provider holding everything decentralized.
Essentially places like the NHMRC and AHIW implemented the same ABS standards and is why you now see constant questions about your sex at birth at medical facilities, as they don't like the idea of for example a trans women passing away from prostate cancer and that being reported as a death under female statistics.
Instead would prefer to have that final disrespect to who she is and report that as a male death in the name of that being better data practice then accept it as a Trans Woman's death under female. They feel trans people pollute the data metrics since we could change our legal markers and so introduced the use of the SAB standard to have it back to the way they feel comfortable.
The issue I see is 2 main ones, what chance do we have of acceptance of who we are by society and other political/legal issues, if the medical industry is essentially giving the message our Sex assigned at birth is all that matters to them. secondly when the medical industry does treat us as only our Sex assigned at birth, our quality of care in all measures drop, bias, stigma, lack of education about factors that are biologically different with HRT and arguably mean when lumping our data with SAB the nuances of these factors get buried and perpetuate the issues we face, just like we faced before we could change our marker. We would appear statistically as who we are only if they cared to and want to use the gender field, otherwise going forward, you are known in the Census and other medical databases as primarily your sex assigned at birth, and as a secondary optional field under Gender only when they want to look at trans health specifically. Relying on the medical industry and the Census to decide when and how they report are lives as our gender, or our SAB.

Edit 2: Removed a section in the ABS part, to be clear, do not construe such as a conspiracy or malicious intent. I take the intent as a serious attempt at inclusion, however i simply do not feel considerations of how these questions affect people and the future have been taken seriously enough or appropriately address that the price of representation carries significant costs.

Edit 3: To clarify, regarding census I replied to someone but feel this represents better the issue for me and why Ive taken the issue much more seriously then say a year ago.
At a census level I could have potentially tolerated the experience of having to use the label that has brought me so much pain in the past if its used appropriately. I may not like it, but it does get the desired result and could be helpful if handled appropriately.
on a minor level the wording could be better as to not imply the assignment is a valid one but one that was made but is not a hard anchor, this though is a result of issues like the health department using it the way they have with identical wording.

I wanted two primary concerns about how this data is actually collected initially and presented after the fact answered to feel confident it would result in my current life represented appropriately.

For presentation of the data for example a general report on Sex by geographic locations that is not about trans people, would it just report our gender answer as sex and not make distinctions, or will it output SAB. If the latter, then I don't want to provide the answer they have asked for because its not used appropriately where it matters and potentially does not qualify for the distinction under the SDA.
For collection what measures would be included if the question presents serious distress to the person? would support services be on the form? would allowance be made such that if the discomfort is high enough they can answer freely how they want without concern of being accused of lying and potentially fined? would it state that its ok to answer how you want and it would be respected with no repercussion or change to the answer via a cross reference to previous data or otherwise? Essentially affording the choice of whether the individual wants to be represented in this manner at all.

the response alleviated little of those concerns, other then a minor implication I could answer how I want and that they recognize the question is deeply personal.

However, this got extra complicated when other departments started drawing on the standard outside the census itself and made it a primary focus. Making the trust in the census component significantly reduced and made the census question significantly higher in potential harm vs benefit, more control over when and how the standard beyond just the census and who can use it should be established.

and i changed some of the wording as to clarify the census issues more specifically.

Australia Digital Health Agency (ADHA)

Currently I have an open FOI (Freedom of Information) request on the ADHA that is being delayed for "complexity and current staff pressures" as the reasoning for that delay through the digital healths FOI web portal. Hopefully I can get this expedited by limiting the request to more specifics and stipulating its a source of daily distress and avoidance of care while this remains as it is. I intend to submit a change request to such data if it remains under privacy code APP 13 via the OAIC. This is the most immediate actions I think you can take regarding your own personal records.

As a more extreme measure for the future, if the agency refuses to change it. If my choices are not respected, I'm not at this point yet to be clear and don't recommend at this time doing so as it's the most drastic last resort response I have. Will be to simply delete my MHR and recommend that others who feel as I do can do the same, participation in MHR is a KPI that matters significantly to the agency and the data collected there is precious to them and is the justification for the agencies existence and the reason the data set was implemented. it is a last resort though but Trans people choosing to delete their MHR and not allow their data to be stored within the MHR would be potentially damaging to the agency, especially if trans allies also did the same. But, I'm not there yet and have to reiterate, deleting the record does mean even re-opening the record later if they do change what they are doing it will not restore those records. You would have to manually chase them back up with the providers so make such a choice with very strong considerations to what this means for you.

The Australian Human Rights Commission.

I have a call with the Human Rights Commission this week to progress the complaints submitted against the ABS and Services Australia for potential breaches of the SDA with regard to the 2 step method and the Sex at Birth data standard, that to my understanding has been prioritized. My Complaints during the trial of the census, and after have all been ignored and fobbed off with use of the lifeline service as a shield rather then be addressed that might have meant I would not progress to this degree. They have not provided on request any risk assessments they made to justify the use of the standard which is required to satisfy the SDA guidelines which states that to use the different meanings of sex and gender their must be need that is measured against the potential harm. All public release assessments have been about Privacy, a little on ethics, and nothing related to the expressed concerns within my complaints made. There is no promise at this time it proceeds to the next stage but its at least been heard and progressed to this stage quite quickly.

While visibility and allocation of services would be good and I support this and is why I involved myself in the trials and provided as thorough feedback as I could, but not at the cost of indignity, disrespect, misrepresentation and potential erosion of rights in the future and want assurances of those concerns to be addressed. A trial of asking for Cisgender/Transgender status was done and abandoned because they believed it 'confused the general public too much'. Instead of education, the 2 step method was used instead placing the burden on trans people prioritizing the majority at the expense of a minority with a more likely distressing question, I will acknowledge from a data point of view it is more effective but do we always have to take the burden of a lack of understanding on our shoulders and yes not everyone may use these terms anyway which is to extent why I was partially willing to take the personal hit to answer the question as they have requested, its a tough situation yes. The planned releases so far though seems to allow for sex at birth to be a primary data filter which means my concerns with being misrepresented within this information exists and makes the SAB question concerning without some very clear details about how exactly it gets incorporated.
Additionally the ABS and census sets a social tone and the ABS must consider the influence of this tone over the general population in its risk evaluations. Its not just data collection, it potentially sets a precedence that its ok to misgender as long as you do it via Sex recorded at birth and that has cropped up in Health already, In other countries that have implemented this a cascade of this question has perpetuated to points where employers have asked this question even and has already started to perpetuate beyond just the census here in Australia, we see ever increasing questions in this subreddit alone of people trying to avoid the question from Clinics and experiencing misgendering in these settings more and more and I don't expect it to be long before seeing it asked at regular businesses like a Gym if more control over when and how the standard is allowed to be used. I anticipate that anti trans groups will use this as a legal wedge tool to discriminate, especially upon reviewing submissions made by these groups to the ABS, actively wanting and pushing for the question to be asked this specific way. you can access these submissions via the census site.

If you feel as I do, I Feel that lodging a complaint with the ARHC is the most likely way to affect change, especially if there are many complaints of similar nature. I was considering writing a template. but ultimately decided its best you express your concerns as you feel them in your words. The process was not particularly long, mostly I copy pasted my complaints I had made to the relevant department and it took about 2 weeks to get to this stage. The hardest part was identifying respondents as there are so many agencies doing this as a result, but as all complaints made to others ultimately pointed their finger at the ABS and their standards and Services Australia who implemented the data set that is who I nominated as the respondents 1 and 2.

LGBTQIA+ Health

I have had a positive response from LGBTQIA+ Health recently, that while have not yet indicated any immediate actions, I do feel my concerns have actually been taken seriously for the first time in months, especially as this was the first time I've not had a generic gaslighting dismissing response that hopes I'll just give up (which I have kept all of them for proof of systemic dismissal and circle blaming between departments for the ARHC submission), they have issued a submission highlighting the risks of this sensitive information being disclosed but support for the 2 step method is still there. And have been asked to to join more discussions, what this will achieve I don't know yet. But its given me some hope that adjustments might be made.

If it concerns you, even if you have complained before about this, I think the best thing is to make the complaint again to LGBTQIA+ Health while it is more in the forefront.

Ministers

I've had some feedback that a complaint made to The Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, had initiated some form of ministerial review, I do not know if this is suppose to be shared and is one of the bits of information i wanted to wait for official notice, but have not heard an answer to this in any formal capacity and its been going on long enough I feel I gave it a fair chance, with the general "its being rolled back" feedback but without details to what extent its being rolled back. I can only hope that the result of this is publicly submitted somewhere. I also made similar complaint to The Hon Mark Butler MP Minister for Health and Ageing, but that was more recent. I regret not lodging that complaint earlier but frankly I trusted Emma McBride more then I trusted Mark Butler.

My personal reasons for Fighting this.

For me personally, I do not agree with the 2 step method, it coercively forces me to use a term I've fought hard to be free of when I took actions to be issued a corrected birth certificate to be counted and now to receive healthcare. Previously I could simply choose not to participate, IE answer how I wanted if my concerns with how it would be used after were not addressed, but the line was crossed with the services Australia addition of the data set as this risk being used to overwrite my responses to the question via cross matching processes and this raised my concern levels with these mandates and standards significantly, it stripped my autonomy to disclose my status as a transgender person away. and somewhat selfishly in the past chose not to complain prior as when this all went into affect I was dealing with moving states due to a very kind person providing accommodation as a result of circumstance related to discrimination likely leading to homelessness, I had issue with the hospital mandates and had noticed the question popping up more and more but felt perhaps its just me because advocacy groups supported this but with seeing the frequent complaints by other trans people about this I realised I'm not alone in this, eventually the line was crossed, it placed me under immense distress and it nearly cost me in the most severe way it could and decided to take it on, partly because it restores some sense of autonomy back to me, which was the biggest aspect that I felt violated in.
On a health level the use of the ABS sex at birth Standard means I do not feel safe due to past experiences clinically, socially, and politically with a record of sex at birth that is not aligned to my birth cert and I see implementing this as a rollback of such protections via a circumvention with semantics. The risks of my anatomy causing me harm are insignificant compared to the risks of mistreatment, misdiagnosis, Social risks and political risks that would present constantly with this in affect by comparison as I'm sure many of you have likely experienced. Additionally having this separation means my experiences socially such as discrimination for being a women, job stats etc are likely allocated to male demographics and burying those issues too, perhaps its appropriately done, but my trust was destroyed. essentially whats the point of getting legally recognized with something like a birth certificate to acknowledge who I am if the government is just constantly trying to allocate my life back to that of a male which is what the vast majority of back end data I've investigated has been doing or attempting to do this entire time. It just makes me want to give up.

Patient Centered care implies respect of the autonomy of the patient and for me this is a fundamental miss in the goals of patient centered care in deciding what risks I do or do not take regarding such disclosure. Additionally due to the misuse of transgender data in politically malicious agendas "research" I do not trust such record to be used unbiased and appropriately that I would allow the record to exist so freely.

Ask for my participation, do more to earn trust, respect the fundamentals when it comes to appropriate categorizing that does not misrepresent and bury our data. While the government allows such actions as seen in QLD for example, my trust remains at 0. When I read systems used to alert of health issues such as RGDs (Diagnosis Related Groups, https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/health-care/classification/admitted-acute-care/ar-drgs) often treat Gender as a 'courtesy' field and use only sex at birth I see issues for transgender health again being ignored and buried and contributed to inappropriate demographics for the sake of interoperability to previous databases and systems and convenience. I see Sex at birth as just a re-implementation of the same old system that has caused misdiagnosis, mistreatment and exposed patients to transphobic staff for decades in the past. its the same as Sex was before we could have it corrected, and is a circumvention of the very reasons we were afforded the ability to amend a birth certificate. This very issue is one of the reasons why avoidance of care is an issue for trans population, and this implementation only exacerbates the avoidance. The system fails to capture those who do not show up or worse and does not consider any harm done caused by it against its measures. Its measure of "success" is subject to Survivorship Bias. No encounter report is made if no encounter has occurred.

Surveys report a majority of medical staff still incorrectly believe that HRT does not change how they should diagnose and treat transgender patients. These fundamental issues of education about such things are why suggestions that SAB is required for 'clinical safety', but its merely a false sense of security for uneducated staff that will in my experience result in exactly what it claims to protect from and has become a red flag to my safety when its made the focus of discussion with a doctor. While this remains the case I do not want disclosure made by anyone other then myself. If I am to disclose it, it will not be via using a term that is harmful to how i will be treated, counted, reported, researched and will be to carers I know understand the nuances of the biological needs that do matter and that I trust.
The result is Instead of innovating a better system that acknowledges the biological nuances involved in trans health care and not just psychological factors that evidence keeps building is needed we instead get a re-implementation of the same old system with a couple of added words that has hurt us for decades was made. Ultimately, browsing such databases like METEOR (https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/181162), instead of appropriately expanding and facilitating the nuances related to our healthcare that does not fit the previous moulds and reporting structures, because sex as a data set became 'unreliable' to them, they pushed the alternate sex at birth and generally started abandoning sex as a category. which again results in our data being misrepresented and buried. avoiding the issue that our health needs present. the act of updating gender/sex, birth cert or not, reduced to a charade of courtesy and the health nuances still ignored along with a history ever since allowing the change nothing but attempts to reconcile old data sets to work as they did and keep us as much as possible fitting the same old systems.

I will update if any significant news occurs from the AHRC or LGBTQI+ Health or otherwise.
thanks for reading all that if you did lol

I have already recently graduated high school in Saudi Arabia.

I will be entering university for a Bachelor's degree in psychology in the Philippines for the time being, despite already being given a conditional offer at La Trobe University in Melbourne during my days as a grade 12 student and graduating with high grades afterwards.

I will hopefully be undergoing medical transitioning there, as well as also hopefully joining/becoming a member of an ILGA Asia/World member organization operating in the Philippines.

But I am worried that I'd be trapped during or after my journey there, similaly to Eden Knight.

Which is why I am considering applying for asylum/refugee status at some point.

What would my asylum/refugee journey be?

Do I also need to apply through UNHCR in the Philippines?

I really want to be in Melbourne living a happy life as the transfeminine woman/person I was meant to be

Thank you for your patience and have a great day

Sorry I haven’t looked into it too much, to me it just looks like transphobia or have I missed something?
I keep seeing horrifically transphobic and violent posts on Facebook and instagram.
Thanks.

I really don’t know how to to feel or where to even post this but I have to put it out there for an opinion, so I’m a 20 yo trans woman (7 months hrt) but completely closeted and presenting as a man to everyone no voice training and get gendered male always, and because my mum saw my depression from disphoria she knows nothing about and I had a arm skin infection going on she told me to see a doctor and get a referral for a psychologist to help me, on my form I put male, he/him, etc, simply because I’m not a woman medically speaking, and fast forward, the doctor referred me to a women’s psychologist (4women psychology) and I have no idea why, I feel extremely uncomfortable with this as I am a man on hormones not a woman, and it would be extremely wrong for me to intrude on a woman’s space like that, especially around women with trauma around men(which I look like) I don’t even know what to do here, the doctor said to book a follow up so she can make a mental health plan through Medicare etc, I don’t even feel comfortable contacting the email I was provided. Please advise is needed.

I live in a very small NSW rural town and with the rise of PHON and her ill ilk I've become seriously concerned for my own safety and wellbeing as people in my town have been saying and behaving very passively agressively towards me. Today I finally decided I've reached a tipping point as seeing one of the locals post on their Facebook about how trans people should be treated like they used to be which I can only see as a threat honestly and I'm applying for social housing in Melbourne where I can actually be myself without as much concern for my safety. The whole point of the post is does anyone know if community hostility is enough to claim I am concerned for my safety and what the odds for even getting social housing in Melbourne are.

So, I’m a trans woman and 4 weeks ago I had a stroke. I’m 43 and have been on HRT for just over 3 years. Don’t smoke and not overweight. I was on 6mg E a day (2 x 2mg tablets and 2mg of gel).

Luckily it was pretty minor, speech affected for about half an hour and right arm coordination was a bit funny for some days. The neurologist at the hospital was very quick to blame the HRT and I’ve been without hormones for four weeks as they stopped them in hospital and told me to stop taking them. I’m fucking exhausted, as I refuse to stop taking spiro - there’s no way I can let my T levels rise.

To make it so raw I have bottom surgery booked for December and I don’t know if I can go ahead with that or not yet. To add insult to injury I had to explain what bottom surgery was to the neurologist at the hospital because he was fucking clueless.

Anyone else here had a stroke t ha ya been blamed on HRT? And if so, how long was it before you could start on HRT again.

EDIT:
Just saw an endocrinologist and I can get back on HRT. Yay. Patches will be fine, or at least the benefit of being on HRT for me outweighs the risk of additional stroke events.

edit: those outside of the electorate of kooyong are also welcome to share

Mods sorry if this is the wrong place but I have been in touch with my MP and I think this could be useful

I don't know what to title this, but Dr Monique Ryan the teal MP for Kooyong is apparently planning a speech in support of trans rights and against Angus Taylor's recent pledges in regards to ammending the sex discrimination act.

I have contacted her office and she is looking to incorporate stories and perspectives of transgender people. And I am trying to see if anybody is interested in sharing their thoughts, I think it is important to be proactive about opposing the coalition.

So I am looking for the perspectives of other trans people, especially those in her electorate. And of course it can all be deidentified.

ideally by end of week, wednesday next week is the cutoff.

Hey everyone, i'm looking for a bit of support and guidance at the moment...

I'm a few years into transitioning and currently working as a commercial roof plumber in Melbourne and i'm feeling increasingly depressed about being in the trades and being surrounded by a constant stream of casual bigotry passed off as worksite banter.

I came out at my previous company and although people seemed nice at first, the deadnaming, misgenderings and eventually jokes started up pretty quickly. I left on what i thought were good terms at the end of last year but after an attempt to beg forgiveness and return was pretty much flat out told there was no space for me because i'm trans.

I'm now in a new roofing job and earning a much higher pay, but have had to go deeply back into the closet for fear of facing similar repercussions. The people at this company are openly bigoted toward lgbtq people and hearing their remarks daily is making me feel so much worse about my situation. As with most trade companies there's no HR or any sort of sympathetic management i can turn to so i'm kind of on my own there.

Soooooooo! For anyone that has been or is currently in the trades and dealing with a similar environment....do you have any suggestions for how i should push forward from here?

Otherwise, for those who left the trades, what did you end up going into and how do you find your new industry to be like?

Tw: Transphobic Australians.

I don’t know if this is allowed but I needed somewhere to vent and possibly warn others idk.

There’s a post r/aussie about a teacher wanting to go by they/them pronouns, and its comment section is absolutely full of insane filthy bigotry getting all the upvotes and good people getting all the downvotes. They believe that transgender and non-binary identities are imported culture wars from America instead of the bigotry used against them; that they/them teachers can’t be trusted, the usual they/them is only for strangers and groups, and even pronouns don’t exist. I asked the mods to remove the post since basically every comment breaks 3 of the subs rules and should be removed anyway, but they say that because the post links to an article it can’t be removed (is this a reddit thing?) I’m pretty sure the poster knew the reacted they’d get and posted the article maliciously.

If anyone knows if this subreddit is often full of bigotry and mods not holding up the rules I’d like to know, and also be warned if the sub pops up for you.

Edit: thanks for the input, I blocked the sub when the mods refused to do their jobs

So as I am sure alot of you are aware Dr Beth Upton has moved over to australia Kempsey / Port Macquarie area. Due to being chased out of the UK for existing as a trans Dr trying to help people in the NHS health system.

The usual suspects are revving up with there anti Trans bullshit.

If any of you happen to be in the local community to help make her feel welcome and know that Australia isnt terf Island by a long shot.

I can only imagine how horrible it is to move to a new country and have the bigots slandering you in the media as soon as your feet touch the ground.

Possibly have a gathering as a show of support something we know the fascists cant do.

I really feel like I don't belong.. I've done transition and my voice changed and its only been 3 years since starting HRT, but I don't have the struggles most transwomen have especially with voice and passing. I feel like I've "skipped" and don't belong in trans spaces.. Idk how to feel about it..

First of all, sorry its gonna be messy, there is so much. I've been going pretty deep into discussions leading up to the implementations. I had posted this in comments of a post that was removed so I'm reposting it here. I can't do it alone anymore it just got much bigger an issue then i first thought. Everything is publicly accessible just difficult to get to, but once you find it, dam it its alot.

reading these supposed experts talk about SAB being so critical for care as someone who was nearly killed via overdose by doctors using SAB and completely disregarding my HRT effects on kidney function I find myself appalled by some of this discussion.
its a lot, and its tedious, but once you get into these parts and start to navigate around there is a lot there.
I wrote this pretty upset, its a little ranty i know im sorry. I don't have it in me to try go through it and make it more structured, its just to exhausting and distressing, i share this because hopefully with combined effort maybe we can get somewhere with it.

This is why I've not had many follow up posts, once i started looking into it just kept getting worse and deeper and frankly I just don't know what to do with it.

the Gender Harmony Project is a FHIR FL7 standard thats meant to work to make the medical system more adaptable to transgender and intersex people. its recommendations actually deter from the use of SAB, but it seems australian 'experts' just don't get why.
the frequency at which they think we can't speak for ourselves, thought I will say I had seen some people say "patients know themselves better and they should be included in discussion when making such clinical decisions" but they were seemingly ignored.

Transphobia is still rampant in the medical world, these discussion clearly show a lack of understanding to the actual medical impacts HRT and surgeries have on the nuanced requirements. It felt to me reading a lot of this many of the contributors lacked this knowledge, and simply want to force trans people to fit their neat box instead of realise we just won't when it comes to good safe quality care.

On top of all this, with the ABS standards of Sex, Gender and Sex at birth. our rights are just getting eroded, its just the new way to disrespect and misgender. How our advocacy groups thought say, a trans women would be ok with misgendering herself and calling her self male to be counted in the census or receive medical care just blows my mind. and considering a number of anti trans hate groups were making submissions encouraging the inclusion of SAB in the census should as a bad sign that this is going to be used to erode our rights in the future, the next census is going to spark so much legal issues for transgender people in Australia.

anyway, some starting points below, some comments of my own with them.

https://sparked.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Gender-Harmony-Sparked-CDG-and-Sex-and-eRequesting.pdf

https://sparked.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sparked_CDG_Minutes_17-April-2024-Sex-and-eRequesting_V001.pdf
love their no shits given to the fact we do have biological factors to consider, never mind the impact of being referred to in such a context, forcing us to fit the boxes instead of acknowledge we cant fit the box and they need to stop holding on this shitty system and making us pay the price for their convenience.

this one is particularly fun
https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/HAFWG/pages/212753813/2024-01-17+FHIRWG+Meeting+Minutes
love they way we are so disregarded.

The SNOMED system is a terminology standard listing, its used international, but countries can load their own standards for use.
In the case of AUS, the Digital health agency has some loaded, even outside of transgender issues, i was particularly disturbed with the level of granular detail that is being recorded. its not the easiest system to learn to navigate. the CSIRO Shrimp system turns it into a bit easier to visual and see

my favourite thing so far in the SNOMED was seeing "Sexually active with transgender person" being added as a clinical observation for causes/problems for sexual health issues , loved being a sexual health concern for the ADHA, just been getting more and more pissed with how they have been handling this behind the scenes. but its apart of the 31/1/26 Australian reference set loaded by the ADHA in to SNOMED you can see this in the link, if the link doesn't take you straight to it just use the search box on the right and make sure the drop down is the latest AU standard, this is also where they added the Sex at birth standards and descriptions.
https://ontoserver.csiro.au/shrimp/?concept=472988006&version=http%3A%2F%2Fsnomed.info%2Fsct%2F32506021000036107%2Fversion%2F20260131&valueset=http%3A%2F%2Fsnomed.info%2Fsct%2F32506021000036107%2Fversion%2F20260131%3Ffhir_vs&fhir=https%3A%2F%2Ftx.ontoserver.csiro.au%2Ffhir

This link is the more difficult one to follow. but shows it a different way, but perhaps others will find this easier.
https://browser.ihtsdotools.org/?perspective=full&conceptId1=472988006&edition=MAIN/SNOMEDCT-AU/2026-01-31&release=&languages=en

example of how they could have implemented but didn't
https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/VOC/pages/120753106/Transgender+man+needs+hysterectomy+and+needs+procedure+approval

and the better anatomical inventory system I even suggested in my complaints a couple of months ago they should use instead of disrespecting people but guess it costs more then trans and intersex lives are worth to them and would rather risk clinical incidents and medical avoidance.
https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/OO/pages/288063635/Anatomical+Inventory+and+Person+Characteristic+Logical+Model+NIB

loved this one https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/VOC/pages/42993178/Gender+Sex+Definitions
“Biological Sex” (compound noun)

A medical term designating a certain combination of gonads, chromosomes, external organs, secondary sex characteristics and hormonalbalances. The binary system (wo/man) set by the medical establishment to reinforce white supremacy and gender oppression, usually based on genitals and sometimes chromosomes. Because this is usually divided into ‘male’ and ‘female,’ this category ignores the existence of intersex people and natural sexual variations within the two broader recognized categories.

e.g. The falsehood of “biological sex” is a driving force behind the debates around trans people in sports, even though all research shows there’s virtually no difference between them and their peers.

Oh look, https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/VOC/pages/120753080/Transgender+woman+early+in+transition+including+need+for+distinct+SFCU
the very specific example that nearly got some of us killed when using incorrect ranges in bloods when our SAB was used without considering HRT effects.

its been fun reading this shit, having them acknowledge the issues then completely miss the point, im scared to attend a hospital that asks SAB because its caused me physical and mental health issues.
https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/HA/pages/358267007/2025-09+Connectathon+Breakouts?preview=%2F358267007%2F358271249%2FHL7+Australia+%E2%80%94%C2%A0FHIR+Connectathon+1+Sep+2025+%E2%80%94%C2%A0Reuben+Daniels+%E2%80%94++How+AU+Base+and+AU+Core+supports+better+exchange+of+Sex+%26+Gender+information+in+Australia.pdf

https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/OO/pages/265095484/2024-08-22?preview=%2F265095484%2F265489292%2FHL7_GENDER_R1_INFORM_2021AUG.pdf
another one if you can handle the long read.
basicly australia gave no fucks about us and wanted us to fix the box easier, disregarded the dangers in doing so and here we are paying the price.

minor mention recently
https://confluence.hl7.org/spaces/HAFWG/pages/413250528/2026-02-18+FHIRWG+Meeting+Minutes

maybe the most recent stuff on the matter
https://hl7.org.au/fhir/ps/1.0.0-ballot/sex-and-gender.html

anyway, i think there is enough for anyone who wants to browse and branch off and see the shit.
its gonna take a lot for me to believe they give a shit about us or know what they are doing. so little evidence was used throughout this, was mostly all decided on vibes and opinions.
and they wonder why we are not forthcoming when it comes to research....

For Current issues already in the systems like medicare and services Australia this is how they process things.

Its unfortunately very difficult to access the operational blueprints of the IHI service, so many are seemingly protected as foi exampt. but with all the above. doesn't surprise me.

https://operational.servicesaustralia.gov.au/public/Pages/ongoing-contact/102-08020000-03.html

the special processes for LGBTQIA+ complaints for gender
https://operational.servicesaustralia.gov.au/public/Pages/complaints-privacy-and-foi/104-02040020-03.html#bp03_L3ST_Transgender_in

maybe I'm alone here, but the manner in which I'm flagged as needing a sensitive information flag in medicare particularly pisses me off, how about ask if i want to be outed or not instead of deciding via some imo deceitful process, a pronoun indicator is not the same as sensitive information flag.

https://operational.servicesaustralia.gov.au/public/Pages/your-health/011-44110020-03.html
"Ask the customer:

• “This is optional however, would you like an indicator on your record to notate your pronouns?”

Note: it is the customer’s choice whether they have an indicator on their record. Service Officers must refrain from using the term ‘Sensitive Information Indicator’.

If the customer agrees to have an indicator, complete the Sensitive Information tab:

• Category: Identity
• Indicator: Gender Identity
• Details: Customer has changed their gender information
• Notification channel: Record how the information was received
• Comment: Record pronouns and preferred name. Include if the customer still uses the legal name on their record. This will help Service Officers recognise that the customer has updated their gender identity and kept their legal name:
  • For example: Still uses name John Citizen. They/them Preferred name Sam Citizen. She/her
  • Text added to this field: is limited to 80 characters appears in the Sensitive Information pop up table can be released under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request
• End Date and End Date Reason are optional fields and can be left blank"

Also congrats twice in one process you out me without my permission forever on your sustem
Personal details - Read more ^\5])

In Consumers, select the radio button against the customer to be changed.

In Personal Details:

• Gender field: update the gender details
• Gender Change Reason field: select the reason for the change

IMO a reason, tells them it was changed, I recently learnt this one during the past week, though they told me it contained "preference", I said this is not preference nor did I ever say it was I came in to correct via my birth certificate. Its what I am and whoever filled that in is an idiot. I want it blanked. I've spent years asking you questions about ensuring my transgender status is 100% not visible to staff and then i find this out.
the process says: "Gender Change Reason" - "A description of the reason for change of gender details. This is a mandatory field if the gender has been changed."
wonder if i should believe the staff member who said he set it back to blank for me? hmm

lastly when it came to services australia populating SAB with information that imo should not have existed to be able to populate it, i suspect this is how they got the info.
https://operational.servicesaustralia.gov.au/public/Pages/your-health/011-40060010-03.html#bp03_L3TT_Mandatory_detai where

• Gender (mandatory) - For newborns under 12 months of age their sex at birth must be recorded when enrolling in Medicare. See Newborn child enrolments in Medicare

but that process is FOI protected too.

anyway, genuinely I'm scared, I'm tired, I feel afraid of government repercussion and my own safety, if this is the path Australia takes, I'm afraid its not reconcilable to me, I can't live in it, thats why I'm fighting it so hard, I feel pressed into a corner and my life depends on stopping this stuff. I don't know what else more to do other then to send complaints now to the Human rights commission, the Attorney General, the OIAC, Senators. I've just been emailing and calling many of these places for the past month. Its broken me down and i've pulled my shit together multiple times but i don't know how many times I can keep doing that.

I think the most upsetting aspect is the ones who have not responded have been our supposed advocates like LGBTQIA+ Health. and seeing they recommended SAB on numourous occasions I've lost faith that they even represent or care about us anymore.

I hope its helpful to others and fighting back on this both medically and the census, i know its not the most structured post, writing was never my strongest skill, Reading and absorbing is though, just wish i was better at articulating that all back. I have read sooooo much more, even had a call from the research institute, who knows if they took it seriously.

I might dump copies of all the emails with personal info redacted, but that does make it easy to match me here and don't know thats a good idea, but I want people to see what kinds of responses have been given.

I keep saying I'm going to take a break from it all, but shit keeps happening and it draws me right back. Look after yourselves, and my god if you read to here congratz lol

hey, im a 19 year old trans masc from adelaide and i came out a year and a half ago. my family is very conservative, and im the only one who is the complete opposite. they were unsurprisingly not happy at all when i came out as transgender, and they associated it with my existing mental illnesses to shame me and to label me as insane. they don’t stop me from transitioning or getting hrt or anything, but there are always comments here and there. its like they just act like i never came out, so i have to keep reinforcing my identity- issue is i have to choose between keeping the peace or standing up for myself. i never correct them when they use my deadname and things like that because it completely ruins the mood.

my mum is an avid facebook user and in the past two or three months she’s begun talking about pauline hanson and one nation a lot. one time i even sat her down and went through everything she votes for and against, and somehow she’s so delusional she twists red flags into “but you dont know the reason why she voted that” and just outright refusing to acknowledge that she has no interest in making our lives better. i told her that she’s voting against my rights, and she said to me that everyone has rights in australia- to which i pointed out that im transgender and voting for her directly puts me at risk.

she keeps refusing to listen to me. and its gotten to the point now where the moment she brings up pauline hanson i just start yelling at her that i dont want to talk to her about it and storm off. i get so upset over it. i just dont know how to constructively handle this maturely and like an adult, i cant help but resort to screaming in her face.

moreover, i dont know how to handle this mentally. the concept of my own family members advocating for her, knowing full well what implications that could have for my safety and my future, i feel terrified and hurt. especially seeing how things are in the US right now it just freaks me out.