Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Next Thursday, 17 May, is IDAHOBIT. IDAHOBIT is not something out of Middle Earth or The Lord of the Rings; it's the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia. It's a day to celebrate with our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities; it's a day to acknowledge their contribution; and it's a day to look forward to what still needs to be done for us to reach a society where same-sex attracted and gender diverse people are truly recognised and acknowledged as being equal members of our society.

Since IDAHOBIT last year there have been some pretty significant achievements in Australian society. Since 17 May last—12 months ago—transgender young people no longer have to get the approval of the Family Court before they are able to have the life-affirming hormones that they require to affirm their identity as the person they really are. There was a court case that enabled that to be achieved. There was another court case that said that trans young people, where they know that they are transgender, where their families support them and where their medical practitioners all support them, are able to have surgery without having to get Family Court approval. These are two really significant things that have been achieved.

We've had the first intersex focus event here at Parliament House, which put intersex issues on the agenda of politicians from across the spectrum. It was a really well attended event and got a lot of people in this place to think about intersex issues and people like they never have before. Intersex advocates are continuing to shine a light on the issues that they face and on the need to have greater acceptance of their rights, and with the affirmation of a statement that had intersex people from right around the country come together to produce what's called the Darlington Statement.

Of course, the big LGBTI achievement in Australia over the last 12 months was the achievement, finally, of marriage equality last December. I acknowledge Senator Dean Smith, who is in the chamber with me. It was huge. It has really changed the whole landscape for LGBTI people.