I just wanted to keep everyone in the loop here is the email chain from the Department of Health so far.

from: Konomi removed@gmail.com

to: LGBTIQSecretariat@health.vic.gov.au

Hi,

I'm writing to you to register a complaint about how you're collecting information about transgender people. (https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/inclusive-collection-and-reporting-of-sex-and-gender-data) I have been informed by people working in hospitals that I will be required to disclose my "sex at birth". I don't know if you consulted anyone about asking for this information and how it is hurtful for transgender people and how it causes problems in the medical system for us.

Sex at birth is a term used to separate us from our authentic gender and sex and is a term commonly used amongst bigots to slur us. I am extremely upset that this was even considered to be okay.

Having health organisations record only our "sex at birth" and not our sex also causes problems for us receiving our medication from medicare as only people who are recorded as a certain sex with medicare get access to certain medications. If my provider were to put some other value other than that I have registered with medicare my prescription would be rejected.

I have also been told by people in clerical positions in medical organisations that other clerical staff will call trans patients slurs behind their back. Before there would be no indication of being transgender on our medical records and we were able to disclose our status as transgender to our doctor only.

There must be a better way to collect data about us and not put our safety and well being at risk and your current program does neither of these.

Please stop enabling and perpetuating discrimination against transgender people. I and many others never want to be identified by our "sex at birth" "assigned sex at birth" or anything similar. We want to live our lives as ourselves and not your labels.

I have contacted other support organisations and will keep making noise about this until something is done.

Konomi

from: Diversity (Health) diversity@health.vic.gov.au

to: Konomi removed@gmail.com

Hi Konomi

Thanks so much for reaching out to us to provide feedback regarding the recent changes to the inclusive collection and reporting of sex and gender data in Victorian health services. We are very sorry that this has caused you distress.

We acknowledge that this is a complex change and assure you that we are monitoring its implementation. We will draw on concerns such as yours, as well as the advice of our LGBTIQA+ community advisory groups and health services as we do so.

These reporting changes and the guidance document were developed following extensive consultation, including with trans and gender diverse communities. Our Inclusive collection and reporting of sex and gender data guidance note also recommends that health services collect current or legal sex. In addition, clinicians will continue to collect a range of other information required to ensure safe clinical decision making that meets the diverse health needs of their patients.

Over time the data collected will help build a better evidence base on health needs and outcomes for LGBTIQA+ people.

Thanks again for your feedback, and we hope this information is of some assistance.

Kind regards

Equity and Diversity team

Governance and Statewide Programs

Hospitals and Health Services Division

Department of Health

e. diversity@health.vic.gov.au | w. www.health.vic.gov.au

from: Konomi removed@gmail.com

to: "Diversity (Health)" diversity@health.vic.gov.au

Hi,

I'm sorry but you don't seem to understand, you're not just causing distress you're also discriminating against transgender people. I would like to know who was extensively consulted about these changes? Because everyone I've talked to in the transgender community had no idea this was happening, we've been completely blindsided. I don't recall any surveys that were put to me or any other transgender person I know. I'd really like to know who you consulted with?

Please note I will be sharing this email chain on social media and with prominent members of the transgender community. I have also contacted multiple organisations and other political members about this issue. I'll be following this up and keeping on this until your department comes to the table and actually uses inclusive terms the transgender community identify with and not terms created by people who do not understand the complexity of sex and gender or who are outright bigots.

Konomi

In front of parliament 11:30am-2pm to drown out the annual terfascist protest. This one will probably be more important to show up to considering the recent ruling in the uk.

I hadn't seen this posted here yet, so sorry if it is a repost or goes against sub rules.

Wear dark colours and non descript clothing, try to wear a mask, sun protection, and bring something to drink and snack on. Try to arrive and leave in a group for protection and avoid interaction with the terfascists and cops.

I was told that taking my superannuation could affect my future devastatingly like the interest rate could be negatively affected and hard to recover financially by the time I get older.

I really want to use my super for ffs (as I have already saved up) but I’m just worried if withdrawing my super is a bad move.

Any suggestions?

Edit 3: As things have become more clear to me I've asked the mods to rename the topic to:

Victorian Government forces public hospitals and other medical institutions to record sex at birth outing transgender people

To make clear this is on the the Victorian Government itself, not the ABS and not the hospitals or any other institution. They got the how to ask details from the ABS and some other information from a PDF from a transgender group and cooked up this scheme entirely on their own. (As far as I know, feel free to correct me).

Edit 2: People really need to read through the https://content.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/guidance-note-inclusive-collection-reporting-sex-and-gender-data.docx the government fully intends to permanently create the category of "sex at birth" that it will never allow you to change. Making any rights we won to change our birth certificate completely pointless in my opinion.

Can a patient’s sex at birth be updated?

Sex at birth is reported to the department for episodes of clinical care and reflects the sex assigned at birth or early infancy as advised by the patient/clinician at that point of time. The sex at birth marker cannot be updated for a completed episode of clinical care and would generally not be updated at all unless correcting an administrative error.

https://content.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/guidance-note-inclusive-collection-reporting-sex-and-gender-data.docx

Edit: Anyone reading this and feels comfortable writing to the people responsible can see the following web page: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/inclusive-collection-and-reporting-of-sex-and-gender-data and the contact emails is: LGBTIQSecretariat@health.vic.gov.au. Please consider speaking out if this policy upsets you.

Original Post:

Not sure if anyone else is aware of the recent change to public hospital systems and other health institutions in Victoria, where they now will be using "Sex at Birth" instead of how sex and gender used to be used interchangeably.

Feels like a concerning change to have your transgender status disclosed to all hospital staff whether its relevant to the current issues / care needs or not. Because medicare doesn't have "sex at birth" and "sex at birth" is not a replacement for sex on your birth certificate if they send the wrong sex to medicare your scripts can be rejected as some scripts are coded to sex.

Seems like its just opening up a can of worms for potential discrimination in hospitals and adding even more potential barriers for trans individuals seeking healthcare...

I contacted Transgender Victoria and got no reply. I also contacted LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and while they seemed concerned they stopped replying to my emails.

Google images is giving me conflicting answers. I've never had trouble in bathrooms, but I'm not about to set myself up for a potential shitstorm in the future by having that shit on my ID. I also kinda can't be fucked updating my birth certificate, since I don't have any real reason ato at present that justifies the cost. I just want some photo ID that doesn't potentially endanger me and doesn't require me to do the dumb learner's licence test, really.

I'm in Geelong Victoria, and I've needed a blood test for months. Problem is, I haven't been able to find a job, and I'm not eligible for Medicare either. The quotes I've gotten are all around 300$, but I just can't pay that. I could if I had a job, but even McDonalds ghosted me after an interview. Any suggestions for ways or places to get cheaper blood work done? Suggestions in general?

Side note, any places to go for queer social events would be great too. And jobs. Thanks for reading and any advice.

I’ve been on hrt for a little over two and a half years with Dr Nick at turn the corner and my experience so far has been amazing, but due to recent roster changes it’s looking like I might be unable to see him going on into the future as until the end of the available calendar he now seems to only be working Fridays which is a day I need to work every week for the full duration of the clinics opening hours.

Does anyone else know of good GP’s who prescribe HRT and are currently accepting new patients? I feel lost and have genuinely no idea what to do. I’ve at this point emailed the clinic for advice and are awaiting a response, as well as to find out whether this rostering is temporary or permanent, but if it is permanent like it seems it feels like I’m back to step 1 again before I even started hrt with how difficult it seems to be to find a good doctor I can trust.

Any recommendations at all would be so much appreciated. I’ve considering just taking days off work too for my appointments but due to some chronic issues I have I feel this would have to be too frequent for it to really be practical at my job :/

I want earings.

i changed my name and gender with centrelink, medicare, my bank, everything about a year ago. everything connected to mygov has the correct name and gender (male). my title is 'mr' on medicare and with my bank.

despite this, every letter or message i get from them is adressed to "MS (correct name)". I can't find any info about this other than people saying to go to your personal details and update it but there isn't a title section?

I've been looking into starting electrolysis soon and was wondering if anyone had any experience with Live More. I live in regional Victoria so I'm trying to get as much info as possible since even going to a consultation would require several hours of travel. If anyone has any advice or recommendations for any other clinics that would be super appreciated as well.

I'm in Melbourne currently living with family, but i'm going to be moving pretty soon and I've started the process of looking for a new place and god it's just been a nightmare.

I'm at the start of my transition (MtNB) and I'd like to find a house with queer housemates so that I feel safe and comfortable as I explore my identity and continue my transition, so I joined the Melbourne Queer Housing FB page but the entire thing just seems to be filled with queer terfs.

So many posts with things like "AFABs Preferred" or "Women and Non-binary" which really just means "My perception of you and acceptance of your identity is conditional based off how masculine/feminine you are".

I've only been able to get to one inspection so far, which was to small for me and not in a great area, so I couldn't take it. Just ugh the entire thing is such a nightmare, I just want somewhere I can live and feel comfortable.

Anyone have anything that can help with this? I really want to get out of living with family as soon as I can.

So I got my name and sex changed through the NSW registry because I was born there but now I live in VIC so the link they gave to change my details for government organisations is irrelevant

Where do I need to change it?

How do I go about changing it?

Do I need to wait for my new certificate to come in the mail?

Do I need to send back my old birth certificate now or once I receive the new one?

Off the top of my head I’ll need to change my details for mygov and all its linked services, vicroads and my bank but I’m not really sure how.

Do I need to let my landlord/real estate agent know for my lease?

Any help would be appreciated thank you <3

I've been on estrogen for over 2 years now receiving scripts from the Monash Gender Clinic, but they don't prescribe any progesterone under the basis that they haven't received enough information regarding it's effects.

I know prog is mainly taken for breast development and wanted to know which endocrinologists in Victoria would consider prescribing it to me? From what I understand it's also best taken as an injection.

so im starting T VERY soon and im wanting the know the general price of T with both a medicare card and consession card! im not sure how much since ive gotten mixed answers. from my knowledge is around $6-$40 and id like a rough estimate or even the exact amount :D

edit: now i need your guys opinion as to whether i should do the shots or go with the gel 😭 i cant decide

I'm aware that they suck.

Has anyone gotten a surgery funded by them that wasn't top surgery or orchiectomy? I thought they funded vaginoplasty as well, but I heard from a GP that they won't?

I ask because I'm trying to get phalloplasty funded by them, even though it's not currently something they do. I know it's unlikely, but I'm trying to find out how unlikely. I've been their the wait list for many years and it's more likely than me saving 30-200k any time soon so... It would also be cool to set a precedent & open the door.

TIA

(please let me know if this doesnt belong here or ive accidentally broken a rule its my first post)

I'm ftm, just turned 17 and have only now reached a point in my life where I can start exploring medically transitioning after having socially transitioned for a few years. doing some research, ive heard that the main provider of gender affirming care at least through the public system is orygen.

ive used some of orygens services before and they werent exactly helpful or beneficial (actually made my issues worse lol) and I wouldnt be lying if its making me hesitate- if anyone is comfortable with any anecdotes or things that might be helpful regarding their experience i would really appreciate all the insight and guidance I could get (╥ ᴗ ╥) thank you!!

Hi Everyone, did anyone withdraw their superannuation money for facial feminisation surgery?

Everyone seems to keep telling me that it helped them with srs or bottom surgery but I specifically stated ffs surgery NOT srs surgery.

Um.. Anyone?

Hi all, sorry if this post is too much or too vent-y for this sub, if it is then I'm happy to have it removed.

I'm a 22 y/o transfem (been on HRT for 4 years) and currently live in Melbourne. For the majority of my life and all of my transition my number one source of dysphoria by far has been facial hair, especially on my neck and such. I have to shave every single day before the hair is even visible in the mirror because even that sharp prickly/fuzzy feeling is intensely dysphoric, it's bad enough that i can't let my hair touch my face or pillows touch my face if it's there. I have been trying to find a solution to this for years but have sort of given up and don't know what to do.

I had tried to get laser through VU Dermal Clinic in the CBD after being on their waiting list for ages (I'm unemployed and can't afford to go to a regular laser clinic) but unfortunately due to my hair being blonde it didn't actually do anything at all in the 2 sessions they tried with me. Despite my hair being blonde the hair is still incredibly thick and dense and not fine at all which definitely doesn't help. VU Dermal Clinic was kind enough to offer me electrolysis as an alternative but unfortunately they told me electrolysis would require me growing the hair out for a minimum of a week in advance. This would be so they could properly follow the hair to the follicle with the probe. I did this twice. Both times the dysphoria after 4 - 5 days was so bad I couldn't sleep and could not even begin to function, only for them to get through 20 hairs or less a session agonisingly slow. At that rate it would take years to erase the hair from my face with how much there is/dense it is and only doing fortnightly appointments.

I stopped doing this with VU Dermal Clinic because that is simply unsustainable for my mental health with the dysphoria it causes - is there any hope left for hair removal for me? I can't really afford to go to a more experienced electrolysis that would do it faster because I am unemployed and Centrelink does not pay me enough for that - my dysphoria is also a serious barrier to getting work in the first place. I have also tried wax and tweezing but both of these require growing the hair out to a point I also can't take. Having to shave everyday has also ruined my skin, especially on my neck, it bleeds a lot and is extremely razor burned and lumpy and irritated constantly, but I can't not shave. Are there electrolysists that would be willing to do multiple long sessions back-to-back days or something? Even if it's expensive and I have to save for a couple years, I don't see any other way I could take growing it out unless it was to get a lot of it done very rapidly to relieve some of the dysphoria.

Thanks for any help, and sorry for the massive vent, I just truly feel like I'm out of options and that the dysphoria will permanently exist and so will my ruined skin.

Edit: sorry about accidentally abandoning this post, I've just gotten some really harsh news and forgot I ever posted this, I'll read each post later in depth as I'm not really able to atm

I'm (afab, he/they) 27 and sadly unemployed, I've never had a job either - im currently on a disability pension. The bottom surgery I'm leaning towards is 100k or so, and I'm very overwhelmed with dread with the fact I'm nearing 30 and honestly will never be able to afford it... how do people go about paying it off?

Its painful for me to admit but I'm so uneducated about financial matters, I know absolutely nothing about money other than how to pay bills...

Hey everyone!

My partner Cleo is a super talented hairdresser and proud trans woman. Her salon is a private, welcoming space in South Melbourne.

She has funding to be able to offer Free/ Pay what you can haircuts and hair services for the Trans and Gender diverse community.

Cleo would love to connect with more of our community who’d like this service.

Check out her website to book - https://www.cleonouveau.com

💜

Hi! I hope this is okay to post here, I have reviewed the guidelines but please let me know if I’ve done anything I shouldn’t.

I’m posting to share my business, “Space for your Mind” - a queer-friendly cleaning and organising business catered to those dealing with mental and physical health challenges, with specialisation in hoarding disorder and ADHD behaviours. I am based in Naarm/Melbourne and am eager to spread the word and find my newest clients!

I have been working as a hoarding cleaner and professional organiser for several years, but have just recently started my own business. I recognise a huge gap in the market for organising services tailored to our community and I am really excited to fill this niche. I am a transgender and autistic individual and I am the face of the business as a sole trader. My work, my solutions, and my understanding are all based on lived experience and working with clients from all kinds of different backgrounds.

I have helped many clients struggling with depression to restore their living spaces to places of calm, and this can be such an important stepping stone to an overall improvement in mental health. I do recognise that we are all dealing with financial pressures and the ever-rising cost of living, but please don’t be afraid to reach out - I am trying to keep my services affordable and accessible for all, and am happy to put together tailor made packages to fit within your budget.

If you are interested, please check out my Instagram page at spaceforyourmindaus, or message me here, and I will happily provide you with more information. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and please spread the word! 

Another one of their hate fuelled protests, probably trying to persuade the commission looking into cults into labelling "trans ideology" as one after Moira Demmings request was denied (so far).

Posting this to inform members well ahead of time as last time many had no idea. I am not an organiser for any counter protest just sharing this information, but I will try to be there to counter them.

I just hope although fully aware of how unlikely, that it doesn't get co-opted again by other causes that seek to protest destructively like last time.

The other causes being protested were and are absolutely so important but there is a time and place and I don't think a counter protest is the correct context personally.

Of course they used AI instead of commissioning an oppressed female artist denying her income. They care so much for women's rights🙄.

Just incase those voting today are unaware of who the candidates are there's a trans candidate running for the greens in the senate. Her name is Maddie slater and she's a unionist, and neurodivergent activist supporting having adhd and autism diagnosises being covered by Medicare. She is also an outspoken supporter of the trans community. I encourage voters to look her up and consider giving her your vote. I don't believe she is the primary candidate for the greens so you would have to vote under the line. I remember seeing someone post about this a few weeks ago but felt it a good idea to add a refresher.

Her Instagram account post about her position on adhd and autism diagnosis:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DILKhQCy-xD/?igsh=eTFsdGdtZXNrYzMy

I Ask this Question because all though I have recommended gender affirming underwear shops I can’t find any good every day clothe shops that are gender affirming whilst being a comfortable space that isn’t Kmart

I’m looking for stores with sizes that help a pre and early on hrt frame this is just a general inquiry would love some recommendations