Anti-LGBTIQA+ hate crimes are a serious public health issue. Discrimination, harassment, and violence can cause trauma, stress, and social isolation for LGBTIQA+ people. Research shows that LGBTIQA+ communities experience much higher levels of psychological distress than the wider population, with hate and discrimination playing a major role.
Many LGBTIQA+ Victorians have experienced discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Social media and parts of the media are increasingly helping spread harmful misinformation and negative attitudes towards LGBTIQA+ people, making hate feel more normal and accepted.
While laws and policing are important, they are not enough to stop anti-LGBTIQA+ hate. We say lasting change requires community-led programs that challenge harmful attitudes, prevent misinformation, and provide safe, supportive services for people affected by hate and discrimination.
We are calling on the Victorian Government to:
- Recognise anti-LGBTIQA+ hate as a major cause of psychological distress
- Increase funding for community-led anti-hate prevention programs
- Expand peer-led mental health and trauma support services for LGBTIQA+ people
- Introduce truth in political advertising laws to reduce harmful misinformation
- Strengthen rules for social media platforms to reduce hate speech and disinformation
- Invest in education programs that address misogyny and harmful gender stereotypes
- Support culturally safe, community-led responses for diverse LGBTIQA+ communities
- Create support pathways for victim-survivors that do not rely only on police
- Work with the Australian Government to implement recommendations from the Equal Identities report.