Capital of Equality Community Consultation Survey Analysis Report
Summary
In 2022, the Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs surveyed 427 LGBTIQ+ people living in Canberra to better understand their experiences.
The survey showed that LGBTIQA+ communities in the ACT are very diverse, including:
- most people said they were women (49%), followed by men (33%), and non-binary (15%)
- 28% were transgender or gender diverse
- 2% were born with variations in sex characteristics
- the most common sexualities were gay (33%), queer (33%), followed by bisexual (27%), lesbian (26%), pansexual (13%), and asexual (8%)
- 3% were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 22% were people of colour, and 32% had a disability.
Main insights
Progress since 2019
The community reported more legal protections and better representation, but safety in public spaces remains a major issue, especially for trans, gender diverse, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Discrimination
LGBTIQ+ discrimination is still common and often happens along with racism, sexism, and ableism. Over one-third of respondents said these barriers made it hard to take part in activities, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people facing the most challenges.
Calls for change
The community wants better healthcare, mental health support, and trans-inclusive services. They also want stronger legal protections, especially for trans rights and for LGBTIQ+ young people in schools.
Published: May 2023