The sex discrimination commissioner says there has been a concerted disinformation campaign against transgender rights since Australia\u2019s postal survey on same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n
The Australian Human Rights Commission released a report on Tuesday<\/a> \u2013 coinciding with international trans day of visibility \u2013 finding that trans and gender-diverse people experience \u201csignificant and preventable barriers to their safety, dignity and full participation in society\u201d spanning healthcare, housing, education, employment and public life.<\/p>\n The report, led by the sex discrimination commissioner, Dr Anna Cody, recommends changes to federal law to include protections for LGBTQ+ Australians from vilification, bans on conversion practices and an end to pauses on puberty blockers for trans youth.<\/p>\n Cody said since the 2017 postal survey on same-sex marriage \u2013 when much of the no campaign focused on trans issues \u2013 there had been an increase in hate speech against trans people. But Cody said it was not the postal survey alone that led to the change, and that a \u201csevere disinformation campaign\u201d was being run.<\/p>\n \u201cThat also coincides with stronger anti-rights movements which are funded [internationally] and which are campaigned internationally,\u201d she said. \u201cSo it\u2019s not just a natural bubbling up from the community. They are driven. And I think social media has really turbocharged that movement.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, it makes it much easier to spread disinformation as well as to perpetuate narratives and stereotypes.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n Jeremy Moineau, a trans human rights advocate, said anti-trans sentiment had not worsened online, but social media added fuel to the fire.<\/p>\n \u201cThe algorithm keeps feeding angry people things that will make them angry. So they stay angry and they stay connected to the platform,\u201d she said, pointing to trans people leaving Elon Musk\u2019s X.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a platform that many people now either regretfully use and interact with or have stepped away from completely because \u2026 it\u2019s sort of this angry fishbowl of feelings and opinions.\u201d<\/p>\n Cody said trans people were often targeted for doxing \u2013 exposing their personal information to the public \u2013 but may not have sought charges using recent anti-doxing laws because of the potential additional abuse they may face.<\/p>\n Doxing laws, passed in November 2024, criminalise the malicious use of personal information, with a penalty of up to seven years in prison for targeting a person because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve also seen, where trans people have brought cases, it opens them up to further abuse. It doesn\u2019t necessarily reduce the amount of abuse they receive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s a very hard road to follow to expect an individual to bring a case.\u201d<\/p>\n