Event to promote LGBTIQ solidarity

During handover in an Australian hospital ward, a nurse is overheard ridiculing a transgender woman as “it”.

In another hospital, a worker refuses to change the male name above a bed to reflect the occupant’s preference to be known as a woman. Anecdotally, incidents such as these are not isolated.

Nursing lecturer Dr Belinda Chaplin has organised a public event at Casuarina campus on Thursday 17 May, to support International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.

“This is the perfect opportunity to ramp up the conversation about what it means to be an inclusive society,” Dr Chaplin said.

“This includes respecting people’s sexuality and gender identity. I hope that our community continues to see attitudes change for the better reflecting the progress we saw when the majority of Australians voted to legalise same sex marriage.”

Dr Chaplin also welcomed Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s formal apology to the LGBTIQ community and the changes to NT legislation allowing historical homosexual convictions to be expunged.

Guest speakers will include CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Operations Meredith Parry, NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers, NT Queer Unionists in Tertiary Education member Louisa Manning-Watson, and Northside Health NT’s Dr Dani Stewart.

The event will be held at the Mal Nairn Auditorium, building Red 7, from 12noon-2pm, with lunch provided and entertainment by Territory favourite Vogue MegaQueen.

RSVP: belinda.chaplin@cdu.edu.au

Dr Chaplin is also conducting a study on the experiences of transgender and gender diverse Australians living with HIV, and is a board member of the NT Aids and Hepatitis Council.