PFLAG - Sam Dawson

PFLAG

with SAM DAWSON

from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

COFFS COAST PFLAG (PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS) IS A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT SUPPORTS EVERYBODY IN THE LGBTIQ+ COMMUNITY.

This month I wanted to tie in with IDAHOBIT Day which is short for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia. In other words? It’s a day for the whole community to go rainbow and stand out against LGBTQIA+ discrimination. Over 30 years ago on May 17, 1990 the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia celebrates LGBTQIA+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination. Transphobia Describes negative feelings or actions towards someone who’s trans or gender diverse. You may have heard transphobic language like “tr*nny”, or seen restrictions on the way that people are allowed to express their gender. Things like which uniform you’re allowed to wear or toilets you can use. Transphobia can also include abusive threats or actual physical violence, sexual harassment and deliberately excluding someone because of their gender. Homophobia Verbal homophobia is the most common form. Things like name-calling, rumours and abusive words. Phrases like “that’s so gay” which compare sexuality to words like “crap” can have a negative impact. Homophobia also include abusive threats or actual physical violence, sexual harassment and deliberately excluding someone because of their sexuality. Biphobia Biphobia is abuse towards someone who is attracted to more than one gender, and even includes when that person’s identity is erased. This can be in the form of telling someone that their sexuality is “just a phase”, or even telling them to “pick a side”. Interphobia Intersex discrimination happens when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because that person has physical, hormonal or genetic features that are neither wholly female nor wholly male; a combination of female and male; or neither female nor male. This can include exclusion or mistreatment in medical services. It’s important to continue to educate ourselves and to work at each level in our community to stamp out the negative and look at the way we treat people that we perceive are different from us. It’s so important for everyone to be their authentic selves. I believe we always take something away from each get together as we share our stories and also concerns and worries. Feel free to get in touch if this group sounds helpful to you. PFLAG is here to give help, support and information to families and friends of all gay people right here on the Coffs Coast. pflagcoffscoast.com PFLAGcoffcoast 0417 861 045

For more information on IDAHOBIT day and how you can get involved personally or at your workplace then check out this website: idahobit.org.au