UC Ally Network
The University of Canberra is deeply committed to representing the rights and interests of all people that are part of the UC community. Our goal is to promote a culture of respect for diversity and inclusion so that all people – no matter their sexuality, gender, religion, race, or ability – feel valued as members of UC.
Through various channels, UC aims to support people from LGBTQIA+ communities to meet their full potential during their time at UC. We have a wonderful network of supportive people at UC who can provide guidance, advice, mentorship, and information about LGBTQIA+ initiatives on campus.
The UC Ally Network is one of those channels. The Ally network provides visible representation and allyship to students and staff members who are diverse in their sexuality, gender and/or sex characteristics and identify as LGBTQIA+.
More information about the Ally Network and its activities can be found below.
The Ally Network understands the challenges that are experienced by people who are diverse in their sexuality, gender and/or sex characteristics and its members are willing to affirm their experiences and rights. The Ally Network raises the awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues across our campus and advocates for change.
An 'ally' is someone who is there to help and support another. Your Allies are not experts on matters of sexual identity or gender - they are people who are passionate about making the university an environment where all staff and students can work and study in a space free of harassment or discrimination.
The Ally Network aims to extend the current diversity initiatives of the University and to promote a more welcoming, diverse, and inclusive culture by facilitating greater visibility and awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues.
The role of an Ally
- UC Allies are committed to building a safe and inclusive place to work and study.
- UC Allies are a point of contact on campus for LGBTQIA+ staff and students or anyone with concerns around sexual, sex and gender diversity.
- UC Allies are staff and HDR students who are representative of the whole UC community and who may or may not identify as LGBTQIA+.
What does a UC Ally do?
- Provide a comfortable and confidential environment for people to discuss matters related to sexual diversity and sex or gender identity.
- Work on expanding their understanding of LGBTQIA+ communities and the nature and impact of discrimination experienced by LGBTQIA+ people.
- Show leadership by being publicly supportive of sexual, sex and gender diversity.
- Role model non-discriminatory practices and language.
- Promote a greater understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Challenge, wherever possible, homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism on campus.
- Provide information and make appropriate referrals.
Allies are not expected to be experts or to take on a counselling role but have access to resources to refer on to appropriate services.
The UC Ally Network is overseen by a small committee of staff members from across the University, supported by student representatives from the SRC.
The Committee has responsibilities to provide leadership to drive LGBTQIA+ awareness and engagement across the University staff and student bodies. This is achieved through facilitating regular events and activities, providing input into the development and revision of University policies, and supporting training and education programs for staff and students that build understanding of diversity and LGBTQIA+ matters.
The 2022-23 Committee membership is as below.
You can get in contact with the Ally Network Committee via the UCAlly@canberra.edu.au email.
Dr Annie McCarthy (co-chair) |
| Assistant Professor, Global Studies - Faculty of Arts and Design |
Fox Fromholtz (he/him) |
| Student Wellbeing Advisor, Student Life |
Meaghan Butler (she/her) |
| Executive Officer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic |
Mel Triantafyllou (she/her) |
| Sessional Tutor, Faculty of Health; HDR student |
Dr Naomi Dale (she/her) (co-chair) |
| Associate Dean, Curriculum and Students, Faculty of Business, Government and Law |
Email: naomi.dale@canberra.edu.au |
Suzanne Lazaroo (she/her) (communications officer) |
| Communications Manager, Media and Communications |
A Guide to Gender & Sexuality Terminology
The UC Ally Network is hoping that the following information will help you understand the language of gender and sexuality. We hope that this will allow you to better connect with yourself and others, bridge gaps, and create healthier, happier communities.
We acknowledge that this list is a foundation and that this list will never be comprehensive. It’s the beginning. Don’t let it be the end. We never want you to hear someone define themselves, point to this list and say 'Nuh uh. You’re wrong. It says here that you’re…'
Identity is a personal thing, so if you really want to understand someone, you need to get to know them (not just their labels).
Also know that this list is always changing, sometimes in small ways, sometimes dramatically, to reflect the changing culture it represents.
LGBTQIA+
LGBTQIA+ refers collectively to people who are:
- lesbian
- gay
- bisexual
- transgender
- queer/questioning
- intersex
- asexual
We also attempt to include the many people and communities who have additional ways of describing their distinct histories, experiences and needs.
Sexuality and Sexual Orientation Terms
| Aromantic: |
Experiencing little or no romantic attraction to others and/or has a lack of interest in romantic relationships/behaviour. Aromanticism exists on a continuum from people who experience no romantic attraction or have any desire for romantic activities, to those who experience low levels, or romantic attraction only under specific conditions. Many of these different places on the continuum have their own identity labels. |
| Asexual: |
Experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others and/ or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behaviour. Asexuality exists on a continuum from people who experience no sexual attraction or have any desire for sex, to those who experience low levels, or sexual attraction only under specific conditions. Many of these different places on the continuum have their own identity labels. |
| Bisexual: |
A person who experiences attraction to some people of their gender and another gender. Bisexual attraction does not have to be equally split or indicate a level of interest that is the same across the genders an individual may be attracted to. |
| Demiromantic: | Little or no capacity to experience romantic attraction until a strong sexual connection is formed with someone, often within a sexual relationship. |
| Demisexual: | Little or no capacity to experience sexual attraction until a strong romantic connection is formed with someone, often within a romantic relationship. |
| Emotional attraction: |
A capacity that evokes the want to engage in emotionally intimate behaviour (e.g. sharing, confiding, trusting, inter-depending), experienced in varying degrees (from little-to-none too intense). Often conflated with sexual attraction, romantic attraction, and/or spiritual attraction. |
| Fluid(ity): | Generally with another term attached, like gender-fluid or fluid- sexuality, fluid(ity) describes an identity that may change or shift over time between or within the mix of the options available (e.g. man and woman, bi and straight). |
| Gay: |
Experiencing attraction solely (or primarily) to some members of the same gender. Can be used to refer to men who are attracted to other men and women who are attracted to women. |
| Lesbian: | Women who are primarily attracted romantically, erotically, and/or emotionally to other women. |
| Pansexual: | A person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions. Often shortened to 'pan'. |
| Romantic attraction: |
Capacity that evokes the want to engage in romantic intimate behaviour (e.g. dating, relationships, marriage), experienced in varying degrees (from little-to-none, to intense). Often conflated with sexual attraction, emotional attraction, and/or spiritual attraction. |
| Sexual attraction: |
A capacity that evokes the want to engage in physically intimate behaviour (e.g. kissing, touching, intercourse), experienced in varying degrees (from little-to-none, to intense). Often conflated with romantic attraction, emotional attraction, and/or spiritual attraction. |
| Sexual orientation: | The type of sexual, romantic, emotional/spiritual attraction one has the capacity to feel for some others, generally labelled based on the gender relationship between the person and the people they are attracted to. |
| Spiritual attraction: | A capacity that evokes the want to engage in intimate behaviour based on one’s experience with, interpretation of, or belief in the supernatural (e.g. religious teachings, messages from a deity), experienced in varying degrees (from little-to-none, to intense). Often conflated with sexual attraction, romantic attraction, and/or emotional attraction. |
Gender and Gender Identity Terms
| Affirmed gender: | The gender to which one identifies, which may or may not match the individual’s gender at birth. |
| Agender: |
A person with no (or very little) connection to the traditional system of gender, no personal alignment with the concepts of either man or woman, and/or someone who sees themselves as existing without gender. Sometimes called gender neutrois, gender neutral, or genderless. |
| Androgyny: | A gender expression that has elements of both masculinity and femininity. |
| Assigned sex at birth: |
A medical term used to refer to the chromosomal, hormonal, and anatomical characteristics that are used to classify an individual as female, male, or intersex. Often referred to as simply 'sex,' 'physical sex,' 'anatomical sex,' or 'biological sex'. |
| Bigender: | A person who fluctuates between traditionally 'woman' and 'man' gender-based behaviour and identities, identifying with two genders (or sometimes identifying with either man or woman, as well as a third, different gender). |
| Binary: | The concept of dividing sex or gender into two clear categories. Sex is male or female, gender is masculine or feminine. |
| Cisgender: | A gender description for when someone’s sex assigned at birth and gender identity correspond in the expected way (e.g. someone who was assigned male at birth, and identifies as a man). |
| Gender expression: | The external display of one’s gender, through a combination of clothing, grooming, demeanour, social behaviour, and other factors, generally made sense of on scales of masculinity and femininity. |
| Gender identity | The internal perception of an one’s gender, and how they label themselves, based on how much they align or don’t align with what they understand their options for gender to be. Often conflated with biological sex, or sex assigned at birth. |
| Gender non-conforming: |
A gender expression descriptor that indicates a non-traditional gender presentation (masculine woman or feminine man). A gender identity label that indicates a person who identifies outside of the gender binary. Often abbreviated as 'GNC.' |
| Gender queer: | A gender identity label often used by people who do not identify with the binary of man/woman. |
| Intersex: | A term for a combination of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs, and genitals that differs from the two expected patterns of male or female. |
| Mx.: |
An honorific (e.g. Mr., Ms., Mrs., etc.) that is gender neutral. It is often the option of choice for folks who do not identify within the gender binary. |
| Non-binary: | A gender identity label used by some people who do not identify with the binary of man/woman. |
| Transgender: |
A gender description for someone who has transitioned (or is transitioning) from living as one gender to another. An umbrella term for anyone whose sex assigned at birth and gender identity do not correspond in the expected way (e.g. someone who was assigned male at birth, but does not identify as a man). |
Societal Attitudes and Issues
| Advocate: |
A person who actively works to end intolerance, educate others, and support social equity for a marginalised group. To actively support or plea in favour of a particular cause, the action of working to end intolerance or educate others. |
| Ally: |
A (typically straight and/or cisgender) person who supports and respects members of the LGBTIQA+ community. We consider people to be active allies who take meaningful actions to show this support and respect. |
| Biphobia: |
Range of negative attitudes (e.g. fear, anger, intolerance, invisibility, resentment, erasure, or discomfort) that one may have or express toward bisexual individuals. Biphobia can come from and be seen within the LGBTIQA+ community as well as straight society. |
| Cisnormativity: |
The assumption, in individuals and in institutions, that everyone is cisgender, and that cisgender identities are superior to trans* identities and people. Leads to invisibility of non-cisgender identities. |
| Cissexism: | Behaviour that grants preferential treatment to cisgender people, reinforces the idea that being cisgender is somehow better or more 'right' than being transgender, and/or makes other genders invisible. |
| Heteronormativity: |
The view that heterosexual relationships are the only natural, normal, and legitimate expressions of sexuality and relationships. These assumptions are reinforced through cultural beliefs and practices and through social and political institutions such as the law, family structures and religion (Fileborn, 2012). |
| Heterosexism: |
Behaviour that grants preferential treatment to heterosexual people, reinforces the idea that heterosexuality is somehow better or more 'right' than queerness, and/or makes other sexualities invisible. Heterosexist provides the 'social backdrop' for homophobic and transphobic prejudices, violence, and discrimination (Fileborn, 2012). |
| Heterosexual ally: | – A heterosexual ally is also someone who confronts heterosexism in themselves and others. |
| Homonormativity: | A term that describes the privileging of certain people or relationships within the queer community (usually CIS gendered, white, gay men). This term also refers to the assumption that LGBTIQA+ people will conform to mainstream, heterosexual culture, for example by adopting the idea that marriage and monogamy are natural and normal. |
| Homophobia: |
An umbrella term for a range of negative attitudes (e.g. fear, anger, intolerance, resentment, erasure, or discomfort) that one may have toward LGBTIQA+ people. The term can also connote a fear, disgust, or dislike of being perceived as LGBTIQA+. |
| Queer: | An umbrella term to describe individuals who don’t identify as straight and/or cisgender. Although once used as a derogatory term, the term queer now encapsulates political ideas of resistance to heteronormativity and homonormativity and is often used as an umbrella term to describe the full range of LGBTIQA+ identities. |
| Transphobia: |
The fear of, discrimination against, or hatred of trans* people, the trans* community, or gender ambiguity. Transphobia can be seen within the queer community, as well as in general society. |
Support at UC
Students
- Student Advocacy
If you are a member of the LGBTIQA+ community, and would like assistance, please contact the Student Advocate team.
- Medical and Counselling support
The University of Canberra's Medical & Counselling Centre located at the southern end of Building 1 on Level B, is a service dedicated to the needs of University Students and the University Community.
The aim of the Medical Centre is to provide a range of general practitioner, nursing, and psychological services. Medical services for Australian UC students are bulk billed through Medicare.
The UC Counselling Service is Confidential, Free, and available to all currently enrolled UC Students. Counsellors are all trained Psychologists, who can aid with issues pertaining to sexuality, sex and gender identity, interpersonal relationships, social isolation, and other difficulties arising from these.
- Wellbeing support
Our Student Wellbeing team provides individualised support and information to help you navigate your journey at UC in the best way possible. They are an experienced team of wellbeing professionals, passionate about ensuring that all students are supported in a meaningful way. They acknowledge that there are many factors that may impact you throughout your studies, and these can be one-off, ongoing or impact you suddenly.
They provide confidential advice, referrals and support with any challenge or concern that you may face.
Please see this step-by-step guide (PDF 160KB) to updating your preferred name through MyUC.
UC staff
- A range of medical services are available to UC staff through the University of Canberra's Medical & Counselling Centre located at the southern end of Building 1 on Level B.
- Free staff counselling is available off-campus through the Employee Assistance Program. For more information on the staff EAP visit Employee Assistance Program.
External counselling, support, and advocacy services
- A Gender Agenda
A Gender Agenda works with all those who do not fit cultural assumptions about the male/female binary, whether because of their gender identity, gender presentation, history, or biological characters.
They provide support, advocacy, training, and community development.
- ACON
ACON is New South Wales' leading health promotion organisation specialising in HIV and LGBTIQA+ health.
- Canberra Sexual Health Centre
The Canberra Sexual Health Centre is a specialist clinic providing professional and non-judgmental care & provide free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and are the region’s largest HIV outpatient service.
- Diversity ACT
Diversity ACT is a community based, registered charity, run by volunteers that provides a service hub, social worker, support networks, groups and community resources to assist the LGBTIQ+ community of the ACT Region.
- Meridian ACT
Meridian ACT offer a range of wellbeing services for LGBTQIA+ people including free psychological support
- National LGBTI Health Alliance
The National LGBTI Health Alliance is the national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people and other sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTI) people and communities.
- PFLAG
PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays is a non-profit voluntary organisation whose members have a common goal of keeping families together.
PFLAG offer help, support and information to families, friends of all lesbian and gay people.
- QLIFE
QLife is Australia's first nationally oriented counselling and referral service for people of diverse sex, genders, and sexualities. QLife provides nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web-based services to support LGBTIQA+ people of all ages.
1800 184 527 (5.30pm - 10.30pm)
- Reach Out
Reach Out is a site specifically dedicated to helping youth all over Australia come to terms with all sorts of issues they may have. They have a large range of LGBTQIA support services available.
- Twenty10
Twenty10 incorporating GLCS NSW is a community-based, non-profit, state-wide organisation, working with and supporting people of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities, their families, and communities.
- Headspace
Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12–25-year-olds. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health) alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.
- minus18!
minus18! are leading change, building social inclusion, and advocating for an Australia where all young people are safe, empowered, and surrounded by people that support them.
- Ygender
Ygender is a peer led support and advocacy organisation for trans and gender diverse young people. They were established in 2010 by a group of trans young people who realised that our community needed an autonomous space to support each other and advocate for our rights.
- Equality Australia
Equality Australia exists to improve the wellbeing and circumstances of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia and their families. They work with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer people to build the power, voices, and influence of our communities to address issues impacting the community.
- Queerspace
Queerspace – for community, by community. counselling. case management. advocacy. research. training. professional development. consultancy.
- TransHub
TransHub is ACON’s digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse (TGD) people in NSW, our loved ones, allies, and health providers. You’ll find information about social, medical, and legal affirmation, as well as health and support resources. TransHub also has lots of information to support allies and clinicians.
The ALLY network is involved in a number of key events at UC, as well as in the general Canberra community.
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events planned.
Past Events
When: Tuesday the 15th of February at 5.30pm
Where: Garema Place, Civic
What: Rally
Why: The Morrison government has passed the religious discrimination bill in a marathon all-night sitting of the House of Representatives, despite Liberal moderates defecting to help add more extensive protections for LGBTIQ+ students and hundreds of thousands of people across Australia have vocalised their disgust at what this bill represents in particular for the trans and the broader LGTBTIQ+ community. The Bill may have passed through the lower house, but the fight against what it represents isn't over yet.
When: Tuesday March 01 1800-2100
Where: The Well UC
What: The UC ALLY Network invited the UC Community to join our Panel of LGBT Experts to discuss how we can improve inclusivity in our community. The takeaways from the event were that there are ALWAYS things we can do to reach the goal of Zero Discrimination. Below are just a few:
- Research
- Make connections within the community
- Volunteer with relevant groups
- Take position as an ally actively
- Walk out in front (take the lead) and beside (I’m here for you) walk behind (as support)
- Be curious - ask questions you don’t know the answers to and engage with the community
- Google can provide answers
- Allies are always on it’s a full-time position - challenge everything and everyone don’t let anything slide: What makes you say that?? Why do you feel that way?
When: Wednesday the 19th of January 1000-1300
Where: Clive Price Suite (1C50)
What: An opportunity that provides all stakeholders (staff and students) a chance to reflect on what the UC Community wants/needs/expects of the
Ally Network – and what is required to meet those outcomes and then support the development of the new TOR
Friday, 27 August is Wear It Purple Day. Wear It Purple Day was founded in 2010 in response to global stories of teenagers experiencing bullying and harassment resulting from the lack of acceptance of their gender identity or sexuality. When the stories highlighted the number of young people who taken their lives as a result of the bullying Wear It Purple Day was born.
Wear it Purple Day provides the opportunity to show young people there are members of their community who support and accept them. It’s a day to reinforce to our youth that they have the right to feel proud of who they are.
THRIVE, UCX, the UC SRC and the UC Ally network have joined together this year to promote Wear It Purple Day at the University of Canberra. Activities will be delivered virtually on Friday the 27th of August, running with the 2021 theme of “Start the Conversation and Keep it Going”. More information can be located on UC Life’s Facebook Page.
We encourage staff and students to wear purple coloured clothing on Friday the 27th to display support for the UC LGBTQA+ community and encourage discussions regarding how we as staff can continue to ensure UC is a safe and respectful environment for all our staff and students.
Other ideas to demonstrate support and increase understanding of why days like this of are significance include:
- Hold a purple themed virtual gathering, photographed of course!
- Download the Wear It Purple Zoom Background
- Tune into University of Newcastle’s Panel: Queer Health in Higher Ed on Tuesday, 24 August
- Share photos on Instagram with your purple theme, encouraging others in your life to keep the conversation going regarding sexuality and gender #weareuc #wearitpurple
Staff can demonstrate their support in the workplace:
- complete the LGBTQ+ training offered online by P&D under compulsory Diversity Modules in Canvas
- complete the Let’s Dance training offered online by P&D under Belonging Modules, and
- amend signature block to include pronouns.
Diversity Awareness Periods are all about celebrating or honouring LGBTQIA+ awareness periods, i.e., awareness days, weeks and months that focus on LGBTIQ+ matters and increasing awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community’s rich and fabulous diversity.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 19-25 February | Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week - A week to promote information and awareness about aromantic spectrum identities and the issues they face. |
| 17 Feb - 5 March | Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Festival - captures the imagination of Australia’s LGBTQI and mainstream communities, taking over the city for weeks on end, culminating in the world-famous Parade: a colourful and dazzling night of pride, celebration and self-expression. This year Mardi Gras aligned with Sydney World Pride celebrations. |
| 1 March | Zero Discrimination Day - A United Nations (UN) recognized day promoting equality before the law, and in practice, throughout all of the member countries of the UN. |
| 10-12 March | Pride Weekend (Canberra) - the second weekend of the Enlighten Festival will celebrate LGBTIQA+ pride with Pride Weekend @ Enlighten Festival. |
| 11 March | Fresh Out Fair Day (Canberra) - Fresh Out is a one-day outdoor event in Glebe Park featuring Australia’s finest performing artists, a village of market stalls representing our diverse community organisations and local businesses, and a showcase of Canberra’s finest food and wines produced within the region. |
| 31 March | International Transgender Day of Visibility - an annual event dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. |
| 6 April | International Asexuality Day - a coordinated worldwide campaign promoting the ace umbrella, including demisexual, grey-asexual and other ace identities. The four themes of IAD are Advocacy, Celebration, Education and Solidarity. |
| 26 April | Lesbian Visibility Day – an annual day to celebrate, recognize, and bring visibility to lesbians. |
| 17 May | International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT Day) – raises awareness of violence, discrimination, abuse, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide. |
| 19 May | Agender Pride Day - A day celebrated internationally to promote awareness of agender individuals. |
| 24 May | Pansexual & Panromantic Awareness Day – an annual day to promote awareness of, and celebrate, pansexual and panromantic identities. |
| 28 May | LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day –aims to help end violence and abuse within LGBTQ+ communities, by increasing visibility through the annual awareness day campaign. |
| 1-30 June | Pride Month – celebrated in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots, LGBT pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a social group |
| 14 July | Non-Binary People's Day – an annual day to celebrate and bring visibility to people who are non-binary in the LGBT+ community. The date is the precise midpoint between International Men's Day and International Women's Day. |
| 16 July | International Drag Day – A day that aims to celebrate and recognize the drag art all around the world. |
| 25 August | Wear it Purple Day – a day to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. |
| 16-22 September | Bisexual Awareness Week – also known as #BiWeek celebrates the unique contributions and experiences of bisexual, pan, fluid, queer (bi+) people globally. |
| 23 September | Celebrate Bisexuality Day (CBD) – this national day of visibility for those identifying as bisexual celebrates all facets of their sexuality, such as its history and culture. |
| 1-31 October | LGBT History Month – this is a month encouraging openness and education about LGBTI history and rights. |
| 8 October | International Lesbian Day – An annual day celebrating lesbian culture that originated in New Zealand and Australia but is now celebrated internationally. |
| 11 October | National Coming Out Day – a day to celebrate the act of "coming out", that is when an LGBT person decides to publicly share their gender identities or sexual orientation |
| 18 October | International Pronouns Day – seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. |
| 23-29 October | Asexual Awareness Week – also known as Ace Week is an international campaign dedicated to promoting awareness of those on the asexual spectrum (around 1% of the world's population is asexual) and expanding education of asexuality. |
| 26 October | Intersex Awareness Day - celebrated in October to commemorate the first intersex protest, Intersex Awareness Day is an internationally observed awareness day designed to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people. |
| November (date TBC) | SpringOUT Festival (Canberra) - The SpringOUT Festival is Canberra’s queer cultural festival which affirms the pride, joy, dignity and identity of Canberra’s LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) communities through events of celebration. |
| 1-30 November | Trans Awareness Month – a month to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming communities and to raise awareness for this community through education and advocacy activities. |
| 8 November | Intersex Solidarity Day, also known as Intersex Day of Remembrance – is an internationally observed civil awareness day designed to highlight issues faced by intersex people. |
| 13-19 November | Trans Awareness Week – a week to educate about transgender and gender non-conforming people, and the issues associated with their transition and/or identity. |
| 20 November | Transgender Day of Remembrance – a day to memorialise those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. |
| 1 December | World Aids Day – an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people with HIV, and remember those who have died from an HIV-related illness. |
UC Ally Network Resources
Supporting the trans community: a guide
Want to be an ally and support for the trans community? Here are some things you can do, useful resources to help and guide you – and this 31 March, on Transgender Day of Visibility, a special screening you can head to.
Get and Share the basics with this Fact Sheet from Canberra’s very own A Gender Agenda (AGA), and this Trans101 Video from Minus 18.
Start a conversation with your team about support for trans and gender diverse staff and students.
Pop your pronouns into your email signature/Canvas … and wherever else you want to add them.
Read some of the great stories about trans lives from Melbourne-based Archer Magazine.
And if you’re academically-inclined, also Read the first chapter of Mayo and Blackburn eds. Queer, Trans, and Intersectional Theory in Educational Practice(2019) – available online through the UC Library.
Sit back and watch Queerstraliaon ABCiview – the miniseries explores the untold queer history of Australia.
This Transgender Day of Visibility (31 March 2023), you can also head out on the town, because the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) and A Gender Agenda are hosting a special screening of Joyland.