LGBTQIA+ Australians will be left out of the 2021 Census. Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has ordered for questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity to be excluded from the Census.
Census 2021 is the Australian Government’s key opportunity to understand what the community needs — particularly in relation to health and mental health services, education, and community and social services. If the government doesn’t ask questions about sexual orientation, gender diversity and variations in sex characteristics, it won’t understand the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a result, the community will miss out on vital services.
There is a service gap that divides the LGBTQIA+ community and the rest of Australia. The best way to improve health, mental health, education, and other important outcomes is ensuring that our leaders consider the diversity of our community when creating policies that affect our lives.
Most LGBTQIA+ Australians will have a horror story about not being able to access health and mental health services, education, and community and social services. We want rainbow kids to grow up without having horror stories of their own.
Politicians need to hear why it is so important that LGBTQIA+ Australians are counted as part of the 2021 Census.
Upload a photo or video of yourself and share with us a story of your own or someone you know about why it is so important for the LGBTQIA+ community to be counted in the 2021 Census. For example: have you not been able to access health and mental health services, education, and community and social services?
Your story will be sent to Michael Sukkar and Josh Frydenberg to help pressure the government to commit to including SOGI questions in the next census, and, in the meantime, to support health and social services to understand the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Our Stories:
To add yours, use the form on this page!