Ahead of Sydney’s WorldPride Human Rights Conference, transgender support groups have raised the alarm about a surge in hate crimes against the community. Transgender people, particularly youth, are being “bombarded” with hatred online, which is taking a toll on their mental health. Eloise Brooks, a communications manager for outreach group The Gender Centre, said misinformation and negative media attention have compounded hatred of trans and gender-diverse communities. The situation has only worsened during election campaigns and policy changes through the New South Wales parliament, she added.
Teddy Cook, ACON’s director for community health, revealed that a 2019 transgender mental health survey by La Trobe University found that 65 percent of respondents had suicidal thoughts. The figure represents a dramatic increase compared to their cisgender peers, and there has been a significant uptick in demand for mental health services. Cook further lamented that the number of suicides among transgender people has reached epidemic levels in New South Wales. He attributes the surge in hate crimes to groups that were formed during the marriage equality referendum, which have now turned their attention to targeting trans people online.
Although the number of Australians who identify as non-binary, gender-diverse or trans has grown, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has acknowledged that it is almost impossible to accurately record this demographic group by stats alone. Trans murders have been documented in a global database by advocacy group Trans Gender Europe (TGEU) since 2009. However, many trans-hate crimes are believed to go unreported, making it difficult for organizations such as The Gender Centre to provide the necessary resources and support to those who need them the most.