A new report on the health and wellbeing of transgender people was launched in Melbourne last week.

The report, Tranznation, is a joint effort by the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and La Trobe University; and was undertaken after a previous survey on the health of GLBTI people failed to adequately represent the trans community.

“[The] Private Lives 2005 project was aimed at the GLBTI community but they only provided male and female boxes to check for gender, and that raised a lot of concern for the transgender community,” said Sally Goldner spokesperson for TransGender Victoria.

“Our preferred option is that it is best not to ask people about their gender unless necessary and that it should also be an option to leave the box blank.”

The findings from Tranznation indicate that 53% of transgender people have experienced two symptoms of depression, compared with the national average of 6.8%; a statistic which has prompted Transgender Victoria to call for immediate legal and social reforms for people who identity as transgender.

“The results in regards to depression are critical,” Ms Goldner said.

“It is horrendous, but now that we have [the report] it gives us a tremendous amount of muscle to flex to say, ‘let’s do something about this’.”

“However, the report also showed that 65% of transgender people are extremely or mostly happy with their lives now, and that shows that if you can get past the depression and be yourself, you can shine,” she added.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title
Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Email
Website
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment