While some parts of the world celebrate Pride month in June, here in Australia we celebrate Pride in November but Pride is for more than just one month a year. The more we can learn about people’s experiences the more empathy and understanding we can show.
The 2016 Census counted 1,260 sex and/or gender diverse people in Australia, 26% of those identified as transgender. This count is not considered to be an accurate count, due to limitations around the special procedures and willingness or opportunity to report as sex and/or gender diverse. People who have been treated with disrespect, abuse and discrimination because of their sex or gender may be unwilling to reveal their sex in an official document.
In this episode of The Hidden World of Women, I spoke with Melissa who is a transwomen from Melbourne Australia. I will admit, I had some broad understandings of some of the issues that trans people would face in Australia but it was interesting to discuss issues with Melissa that wouldn’t have occurred to me. It’s not as simple as just saying ‘my outside doesn’t match who I am on the inside, so I’m going to live as a woman now’. I thought there would be difficulties with having to come out to friends relatives and colleagues but I didn’t consider the surgeries that were possible or the level of interest that strangers would show. 30-40 hate prank phone calls in a night from a stranger? What? Why? Who does that?
Thank you Melissa for your time and sharing so openly. If listeners want to get in contact with Melissa you can find here here:
W: www.melissagriffiths.com.au ;
Facebook (The Real Melissa Griffiths -@melissachloegriffiths): https://m.facebook.com/melissachloegriffiths/ ;
Melissa Griffiths Transgender Supermodel Advice Page. https://m.facebook.com/mgtgsupermodeladvice/
Instagram (#/@melissacgriffiths): https://www.instagram.com/melissacgriffiths ; Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagriffithsgga/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/melissaracing
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZOwq_qiJi7N3pZNlbI6kw
Supports available include:
WAAC www.waac.com.au
Freedom centre for people under 26 who are GLBTQIA Support for LGBTIQA+ young people | WAAC
PFlag for parents of GLBTQIA+ www.pflagwa.org.au
Trans folk of WA Trans Women - TransFolk of WA
Switchboard (Victoria) Switchboard Victoria
Globe (Victoria) GLOBE | Connecting & Nurturing LGBTIQ+ Communities (globevictoria.com.au)
If you are looking for support
Crisis care: 1800 199 008
Lifeline: 131114
Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800
The Hidden World of Women is a podcast brought to you by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Services. Help us get the word out about the podcast by hitting subscribe and sharing it with people you know who may be interested.
And don’t forget if you want to keep up to date with what we are offering at Women’s Health and Wellbeing Services www.whws.org.au
Check us out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/womenshealthandwellbeingservices
We also continue to add content to our Youtube page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCju-8oH3lDHZYi18wvgSJTQ
WHWS (and this podcast) rely on donations to support our community. If you would like to make a donation you can head to our Give Now page. https://www.givenow.com.au/whws
Or check out The Hidden World of You our online learning platform https://hiddenworldofyou.com.au/
E65 - What's it like being blind? part 2 - The Hidden World of Women
E64 - What's it like being blind? part 1 - The Hidden World of Women
E63 - Talking SheEO's International Women's Day 2024 - The Hidden World of Women
E62 - Returning to Uni with late diagnosed ADHD - The Hidden World of Women
E61 - What’s it like being a stripper? - The Hidden World of Women
E60 - Decluttering - The Hidden World of Women
E59 - Frocktober - The Hidden World of Women
E58 - What is a Doula - The Hidden World of Women
E57 - Vulva Cancer Survivor and Activist - The Hidden World of Women
E56 - Working Women, Maiden of Metal - The Hidden World of Women
E55 - Working Women, Driving Mining Trucks - The Hidden World of Women
E54 - Working Women, Beauty and Burlesque - The Hidden World of Women
E53 - Pride, exploring sexual identity - The Hidden World of Women
E52 - Menopause - The Hidden World of Women
E51 - Surviving Breast Cancer - The Hidden World of Women
E50 - Turning 50 - The Hidden World of Women
E49 - Women in Sport, Women’s Health Week - The Hidden World of Women
E48 - Incontinence - The Hidden World of Women
E47 - Parenting a child with Muscular Dystrophy - The Hidden World of Women
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