Social Inclusion, Exclusion and Resilience: A Social View of Health

Working Together and Speaking for Ourselves

15:30-16:30 WHAT'S YOUR STORY? 18 DIVERSE DIGITAL STORIES THAT OPEN MINDS, STIMULATE DEBATE AND CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES

Melissa Cameron, SHine SA

PRESENTER’S BIO:

Mel Cameron works as a schools coordinator for the Focus Schools Program at SHine SA. SHine (Sexual Health, information, networking and education) is the lead sexual health agency in South Australia and Mel supports schools to develop a whole school approach to relationships and sexual health. The GLBTIQS community is one of the communities of interest for SHine SA and the 'What’s Your Story?' DVD and accompanying facilitators’ guide was developed as an educational tool to increase the awareness that many people experience negative effects from a fixed notion of gender and sexual identity.

ABSTRACT:

‘Whats your story’ is a compilation of digital stories exploring gender and sexual diversity. SHine SA, the lead sexual health agency in South Australia, is aware that there will be differences in how peoples sexual health and wellbeing are affected based on not only their sexual and gender identity but also other factors such as their cultural background, age, geographical location and economic status. It is also recognised that people of all sexualities (including heterosexuality) can experience negative effects from a fixed notion of gender and sexual identity. Recent research conducted in Australia clearly highlights the difficulties experienced by GLBTIQS young people in accessing safe and appropriate education and sexual health services. Specific issues include bullying and harassment, particularly in the school environment. As part of its work with the GLBTIQS communities SHine SA is aware of the issues which impact on individuals, particularly in relation to being marginalised or misunderstood, both by mainstream institutions and their own families. There are clearly a number of unmet needs when it comes to educational resources that reflect diversity, while raising awareness and fostering understanding. For this reason SHine SA developed the ‘Whats Your Story?’ project.  This project provided an opportunity for a range of individuals to be involved in Digital Storytelling Workshops, offering increased self-esteem and improved communication that can aid in bridging the gap between marginalisation and the wider community.  The facilitators guide (an educational resource for schools, workplaces and social service providers) has been developed to be used with the digital stories to further explore each of the stories.  This session will view the digital stories, short true life stories about personal experieces of gender, sexual identity and/or homophobia, then engage participants with some of the activities from the facilitators guide.

KEY MESSAGES:

• Negative voices don't necessarily represent the majority of normal faithful people. Faith and sexuality don't have to be mutually exclusive. Private faith may be well diferent to the agenda of the big business of the church being 'out' as both Christian and queer takes a lot of strength
• Gender norms are so permeating that families accepting or societies accepting who people really are outside rigid constructs of gender created by cultural binaries is so rare, but when people give this acceptance it's a beautiful achievement
• 'That's so gay' is homophobic, should never be accepted as innocent or non-offensive because it continues to permeate and entrench subtle shared accepted culture of homophobia

16:45-17:15 THE COLONISATION OF DESIRE

Dameyon Bonson

PRESENTER’S BIO:

I am of Aborginal & Torres Islander descent, and a Caucasian heritage.  Studies: Undertaking an undergraduate double degree in a Bachelor of Social Work & a Bachelor of Art (Aboriginal Studies).  Emploment: Service Coordination/Case Management - Disabilites SA. Aboriginal Respite Worker - Families SA.  Achievements: Healing Our Spirit Worldwide delegate Edmonton, Canada (2006). Inaugural member of FaHCSIA’s Indigenous Men’s Leadership Program (2007) & Leadership and Diversity workshops (2008).  Professionally: I seek to define 'What is Aboriginal Social Work'.  Personally: I seek to find histories of Indigenous GLBTI identities pre-colonisation.

ABSTRACT:

As a 'homosexual' Aboriginal Australian male I have spent a few moments over the years, within a colonized belief system, justifying the purpose of my existence to myself and to a lesser degree to others. Appreciatively, people can only believe what's in their means of understanding, and we often default to the explanation that fits most comfortably into our world views without disturbing the framework thereof. Within Indigenous communities I believe that homophobia is the unspoken colonial cancer. Authors Jacobs, Thomas and Lang speak of homosexuality, or indeed a 4th or 5th gender within Canadian First Nations Inigenous People, Rousso explores the Maori people, yet within Australian histories, our existence is invisible. I hope to share with you research on the sexual colonization of the First Nation People of Canada, the Maoris of New Zealand and Indigenous Australians, alongside my own narrative of existing. I believe that the continued use of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender maintains counterfeit indentities for Indigenous homosexual peoples. As part of the decolonisation of Indigenous scholarship and thinking, I suggest these terms must be discarded, alongside Indian, Native, Aboriginal and Indigenous, in favour of more empowering descriptors. However until such descriptors can be universally agreed upon, existing terms will be used, albeit cautiously, in my presentation.

KEY MESSAGES:

• Colonisation and missionary zeal have worked together to suppress and oppress indigenous sexuality within Australia in comparison with Canada and New Zealand
• Question: what are we doing to reduce discriminating behaviours within our own communities?
• Don't assume, communicate and that means listen too

HOW THE BGILT COMMUNITY CAN WORK TOGETHER

Sally Goldner, TransGender Victoria

Contact: enquiries@transgendervictoria.com

PRESENTER’S BIO:

Sally Goldner has been out of the gender closet for over thirteen years and an active participant in Melbourne's queer community for the last ten. This includes ongoing involvement with TransGender Victoria,  especially participation in achieving trans EO law in Victoria, 3 CRs Out of the Pan, VGLRL, Zoe Belle Gender Centre and previous involvement with JOY, BENT TV, Melbourne Marching Girls, ALSO Foundation and Seahorse Club of Victoria. Outside of the community, she is an accountant specialising in the not-for-profit sector.

ABSTRACT:

US talk show host Jerry Springer is (in)famous for his quote 'why can't we all get along?' At times people across and within the components of BGILT haven't got along so well. Surveys from Australia and worldwide have found gay men and to a lesser extent lesbians to be discriminatory towards trans people and bisexuals. Research proves discrimination from any source to have damage to health. However, when it comes from someone who could be close, it's reasonable to assume it could hurt more. This presentation draws on a recent series of articles by Dr Jillian T Weiss, combined with a brief overview of approaches that value diversity and approaches that haven't worked.. It considers some of the ways in which we can make our work/ organisation/ opinions truly BGILT. The results will be benefits for the direct health of individuals in the community and more effective lobbying and partnerships that can achieve more effective policy outcomes for all.

KEY MESSAGES:

• Intersex and gender/sex diverse people need their own funded/resourced support services. Sometimes, but not always, GLB orgs might be suitable homes for these services
• Intersex and gender/sex diverse people/groups need to work in partnership with GLB organisations & vice versa
• Need to ensure the intersex + gender/sex diverse community is a sustainable one; that we look after each other, nurture/share what infrastructure/knowledge we have and encourage new leadership. Sustainable networking is key (possible role for the Alliance)

DOWNLOADS:

Goldner, Sally. "How the BGILT Community Can Work Together"