Making our community legal centres and safe and inclusive for LGBTIQ clients Sam Elkin LGBTIQ Legal Outreach Service St Kilda Legal Service (in partnership with Thorne Harbour Health)

The LGBTIQ Legal Service is a new health justice partnership between St Kilda Legal Service and Thorne Harbour Health

How to engage with LGBTIQ+ clients?

Why?

Systemic Disadvantage Internalised Homophobia Incremental Trauma Internalised Homophobia Minority Stress all of which can result in poor mental health and an increase in unsafe drug/alcohol use = fines, infringements, debt, mental health admissions, experience of discrimination, Centrelink problems, eviction proceedings, family violence issues, VOCAT applications, Police Complaints, NDIS appeals…

Some added difficulties… Courts are still incredibly gendered spaces Transgender and gender diverse clients may have additional medical costs LGBTIQ people may find it more difficult to access a culturally appropriate clinical psychologist or psychiatrist to write a court report for them ID issues will often mean that TGD people’s ID can be a mix between their former name and current name Lack of LGBTIQ men’s behaviour change programs LGBTIQ ageing populations and the aged care sector

What does a ‘safe and inclusive’ interaction with an LGBTIQ person actually look/sound like?

Try not to make assumptions…

Be respectful - Don’t use words like “dyke” or “fag” - Don’t ever use “gay” to refer to negative situations or phenomenon. - If you make a mistake, just apologise and move on (i.e. don’t make it about you!). Try not to keep making the mistake. Don’t say “Oh I am just old school” and leave it at that. - Don’t ask about people’s body parts/medical history unless you are in the tiny minority of people who might actually need to know.

Train your staff and volunteers regularly

Update your forms

What best describes your gender identity? Male Female Non-binary/gender diverse Different identity (please state) ________ Were you born with a variation of your sex characteristics? (sometimes known as intersex) Yes No Not sure Prefer not to say What sex were you assigned at birth? i.e. the legal sex on your original birth certificate Male Female Different classification (please state) _____ Prefer not to answer

What your CLC can do Keep your networks/referral pathways up to date Make sure your service is accessible (including gender neutral bathrooms) Celebrate events like IDAHOBIT day (May 17) and International Transgender Day of Remembrance at your workplace (Nov 20) When you have events, invite LGBTIQ speakers (and pay them for their time!) Remember that LGBTIQ people are also a part of all CALD communities, ATSI communities and also experience disabilities. Make sure your workplaces policies are up to date (gender neutral language in EBA’s, consider transition leave clauses, consider how you can make your workplace a place where all staff feel safe to bring their whole self to work)