MCM acknowledges International Transgender Day of Visibility

MCM is committed to ensuring everyone we work with is safe, empowered, supported and respected, throughout our workforce. We support and celebrate diversity of race, culture, faith, ability, sexuality and gender identity.

In this context, today we acknowledge the International Transgender Day of Visibility. We acknowledge that a significant proportion of both our colleagues and the people we support are transgender and/or gender diverse.

The term transgender refers to any person whose gender differs from what was presumed for them (or “assigned”) at birth.

MCM and its leadership fully support freedom of gender expression. We do whatever we can to support any and all members of our workforce who are non-binary, gender fluid, gender queer, agender, bigender and/or who choose any other term to best describe their gender identity. We fully extend this commitment to all the people we support.

This year in particular, we have seen trans-phobia heightened in the United States with the signing in January of an executive order that their government will only recognise two sexes, male and female. One impact in the local environment is that Australian universities are starting to see US grants being paused or cancelled because they are related to Diversity, Equity of Access or Inclusion or do not “defend against gender ideology”.
Read more: Australian universities losing US funding amid Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda - ABC News

Also in January, the Queensland government implemented a ban on hormone therapies for people under 18 with gender dysphoria. This means that even where the young person, their parents and their medical practitioners agree that hormone treatment is necessary, access to the medication will be denied. The timing of these therapies is crucial, because hormonal changes associated with puberty can exacerbate the significant trauma already experienced.

Any actions that allies can take to show support and care are meaningful. Some ideas on how to show support are:

• display a rainbow flag,
• include your pronouns on your email signature,
• take steps to learn more,
• reach out to a transgender person you know,
• attend an event or
• post your support on social media.

Resources to help you understand more about what it is to be transgender and gender diverse, as well as how you can support your support, can be found here:

• Transgender Victoria website
• Pride in Health & Wellbeing website

If you feel impacted by recent news and events, please reach out to services that can help provide support:

• Switchboard - 1800 729 367
• Q-Life - 1800 184 527
• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline -1800 55 1800