Withdrawing from Better Together Conference

In response to the harmful content in a recent podcast episode published by The Equality Project, and their subsequent apology, Transgender Victoria is formally withdrawing our endorsement and participation in the upcoming Better Together conference.

The podcast, a conversation framed as a "brave conversation" between two white, well-educated cisgender men, featured damaging and ill-informed rhetoric derived from anti-trans campaigning and inaccurate research. Crucially, the discussion lacked the essential perspective of anyone with lived experience of being transgender, gender diverse, or non-binary. The views expressed, which perpetuated anti-trans myths with no reputable evidence, were allowed to go entirely unchallenged by the host.

Son Vivienne, CEO of Transgender Victoria said, “We are deeply disappointed with the apology issued by the organisers. It fails to adequately address and acknowledge the fact that the podcast platformed and perpetuated misinformation and harmful, anti-trans rhetoric. It completely ignores the necessity of including lived experience in conversations about our communities.”

We acknowledge groups such as Drummond Street Services and Trans Sisters United for speaking up first. TGV joins their ranks in dis-endorsing the conference.

Setting the Record Straight

For clarity, and to combat the misinformation that was platformed, we must state the facts:

• Trans rights do not obstruct the rights of anyone else.
• There is no evidence of trans people causing harm to cisgender women, or anyone else in so-called "intimate women-only spaces."
• Claims that trans people have an unfair advantage in sport are based on inaccurate assumptions about size, strength, and the impacts of hormones on performance, with significant peer-reviewed research disproving these assumptions.
• The effects of puberty blockers and many hormone replacement therapies are also well-researched. Puberty blockers have been offered to cisgender young people with ‘precocious puberty’ for many years. Furthermore, gender affirming surgeries are generally only available to adults in Victoria, with the average age for those surgeries being 32 years.

A Call for True Allyship

At this moment in time, we call on our allies to do better - step up, take the time to do your research, take accountability, and ask some trans people! Discussion about the rights and lives of transgender, gender diverse and non-binary communities must always be well-informed, evidenced by research, and inclusive of the people who are most impacted.

We invite The Equality Project to engage with TGV in our industry-leading trans inclusion training. This is an opportunity to genuinely learn how to become better allies and ensure they are upholding the principles of social equity and justice they claim to champion.

TGV remains dedicated to our purpose: to work for, with, by TGD communities to achieve better social, economic and health outcomes. We are here to support your gender journey.

We look forward to celebrating Trans Month this November with over 30 trans-centric events – programs and gatherings that are wholly trans-inclusive with absolutely no compromise.