We spoke with trans people and trans allies for their perspectives. This is what they said.

Iain Jeffrey (they/them)

When I was a child, I was often seen as too ‘girly’ for the boys, and too much of a ‘boy’ for the girls. It made me so aware of the impacts that gender roles and expectations had on the way we interact with the world. I felt like I didn’t belong in these clearly defined boxes that were left for me. I felt like I wanted something else, that seemingly didn’t exist.

Discovering that you challenge these ideals in your very existence is both a thrilling and terrifying realisation. I always knew I was different, and people had no issue pointing out how different I was, but it took time to realise this could be a source of power. Challenging the status quo is often seen as an act of rebellion, but when who you are challenges the status quo, life can feel overwhelming.

Deciding to embrace your own, authentic self, is the day that you decide to truly start living. Living as an openly non-binary person in a world that loves to try and sort everything into black and white allows me to see joy in nuance. Embracing aspects of femininity, masculinity and finding my place in my own interpretation of gender has not always been easy but it has always been rewarding. Today, I live my life as authentically as I can, bringing my Queer joy, love, and passion to everything I do. I hope by doing so that I inspire others to also live as authentically as possible and celebrate who they are. I feel proud to be who I am, and to always show myself to the world as empowered.

Dylan Mooney (he/him)

The Indigenous and LGBTQI+ communities are resilient peoples that are thriving and growing. Through so much adversity, we have overcome all the obstacles that have been thrown at us, and we will keep empowering each other and grow in strength for a better future for us.

As a queer Indigenous man, I struggled with my identity growing up. When I hit university, I knew I was gay. I came out to my family and they were supportive, so it was a really positive outcome for me. Because of that, being proud of who I am and where I come from is important. I want to bring that positive reality back to the LGBT community through the people I draw.

My practice blends comic-style characters and contemporary queer culture with ancient Indigenous artefacts and storytelling. I also aim to depict members of groups often overlooked or under-represented in the broader art world. The most recent series of mine, Still Thriving, included seven large-format portraits that focus on love in queer communities, extending upon my Queer, Blak, and Here series to include female, transgender, and non-binary members of the Indigenous community. The characters featured in the artworks were inspired by my friends, family, and Yuwi ancestors. Hopefully, other Indigenous LGBTQI+ mob can resonate with my work.

Pride is us holding these spaces for ourselves. We’re giving ourselves agency to tell our own stories.

Image by Sam Biddle

Abbey Rich (they/them)

There is nothing of equal measure, for me, then the feeling of being seen in trans literature. The feeling of being held, of your experiences reflected in the words on the page. The feeling of safety, when you are feeling so defeated, so erased in your everyday life. You are reminded you are not alone. There are small moments of joy, of representation, of really being seen. They are real and they are mighty. Mighty enough to hold you up in the moments that make you feel like existing in your truth is impossible. They offer a refuge while the world remains hostile to us.

It is within these pages; we can find stories that speak to the complexities of our experiences and the diversity of our identities. We can find writers who share our struggles and triumphs, who validate our existence and affirm our worth. In the last few months as violence and hate soars to new heights I have sought comfort here, hoping that those who hate us could read those same words.

Abbey also answered these questions for us.

What is something that someone did for you that you appreciated during your journey?

I remember when I started telling my friends I’m non-binary. I sat in a friend's car as she dropped me home from somewhere and when I told her, she immediately was like yep got it, would you like me to tell our other friends so you don’t have to do that emotional work or would you like to tell them yourself. I asked her how she felt about it and she was like oh yeah it makes sense and I totally support you. This felt huge. I had felt trans for my whole life but never had the right words and never felt ready to really live it. Her support made me feel like it was going to be okay, that my friends would support me no matter what. Of course it hasn’t always been that easy but it gave me the confidence to be real.

What’s something that we should all do to support trans people?

Using correct pronouns is a huge part of feeling seen and understood. I don’t want to speak on behalf of all trans people but for me, if you’re using they/them for me then I know that you see me for who I am.

Why is Trans Day of Visibility important to you?

Especially right now, as so much awful stuff is going down we can continue to uplift each other and still celebrate despite the horrendous public discourse.

Why do you put such a focus on supporting the next generation of trans people?

It’s such a cliche but when I was growing up trans people weren’t visible in the same way, especially in a pretty conservative town I grew up in. If I can be an example to others, to be seen and respected as an artist and also as nonbinary it might help someone else's journey. Also trans people are bloody beautiful and incredible, so we should all be supportive!

Why do you think it’s important for organisations like TPG Telecom to show visible support for trans people?

It helps bring trans people to the mainstream, we need organisations like TPG Telecom to say hey trans people are not only welcome here but should be celebrated. This visibility can help change the discourse.

Katherine Wolfgramme (she)

I transitioned from male to female. From childhood my brain believed it was female even though my body was male. This was terrifying for a child, and I wanted to die.

Thankfully parents now have access to education in regards to gender dysphoria, to help them make informed decisions to keep their transgender children safe and happy, after all that is all parents want for their children.

Slowly, slowly as the transgender population becomes more accepted by the broader community, we are able to live peacefully and safely and happily, this can only happen if we become more visible, because through visibility we become more human.

Katherine also answered these questions for us.

What is something that someone did for you that you appreciated during your journey?

I could not have survived thirty years without the support and love of my allies and friends within the Gay Community who have shown love and been supportive even when the broader community said they shouldn’t, to pinpoint one person would be to exclude thousands of other people.

What’s something that we should all do to support trans people?

The best allies give transgender people a platform to enable transgender people to be heard, speaking for someone is admirable but allowing them to speak for themselves empowers them and allows an opportunity for greater understanding. Allies can give employment opportunities and respect the humanity of transgender people by respecting them as people and that their journey could be vastly different to your own.

Why is Trans Day of Visibility important to you?

As a Community Mother and elder, I want to protect all LGBT children, particularly transgender children as they are bullied in the school ground and told that they are not equal, they are not human enough and they are not good enough.

I hope one day in the future we won’t need dates like this to remind people of our humanity.

Why do you put such a focus on supporting the next generation of trans people?

Because children are the future, and all children deserve a better future. This is why I have come forward and this is why I am visible, stand with me on International Transgender Day of Visibility and help me protect the next generation.

Why do you think it’s important for organisations like TPG Telecom to show visibility.

I feel showing support to the transgender population sets a positive example to other organisations to follow suit and helps to empower transgender people who are emotional and financially vulnerable and face discrimination daily.

Image by Leila Feith

Nevo Zisin (they/them)

I grew up with almost no transgender representation whatsoever. When I was 16, I watched the film ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, which is filled with sexual assault, transphobia and murder. This was the very first time I saw myself on screen, and this was the only future that felt possible for me. My trans identity equalled tragedy, I had no idea how much joy was possible.

Through community and learning the divinity and sacredness of being trans (in fact various expressions of gender have existed in many different cultures for tens of thousands of years and in many are revered), I have come to see my trans identity as a gift. Now, there is not a day where I wake up and don’t feel immense gratitude for being trans. I love who I am, and I love the life I lead.

But it is not always easy to live that life to its fullest. Without protections, visibility for trans people can be life-threatening. Anti-trans rhetoric and disinformation is rife in Australia and globally. If we care to make trans people visible, we must also ensure that they are protected. Trans people aren’t going anywhere, we are here, we have always existed and we will continue to exist forever.

We do not need to be fully understood to be worthy of love, care, belonging and fundamental human rights, just as we all are. Using correct pronouns and showing up as an ally to trans and gender diverse people isn’t a matter of political correctness gone wild, it is suicide prevention, it is creating a world where all of us can be our full and beautiful selves. I want every trans person to wake up each day proud of who they are, and able to imagine a brilliant and happy future. Happy Trans Day of Power.

Jason Darcy (he/him)

This is a journey that has been evolving over the last decade or so for my family.

It starts in 2012. My daughter Cian (I will refer to them as their legal name going forward which is Kian pronounced Ian with a K, identifies as Trans/Masc, Non-Binary and uses the pronouns They/Them) was about 11 years old. They were a vibrant, energetic child who loved their friends and enjoyed school. Kian was not a “typical” girl but wasn’t really a tomboy either. More like their mum! Typically, they wore gender-neutral clothing, hobbies and loved to read and draw beautiful pictures.

Navigating puberty

Then puberty landed on our doorstep with the force of a hurricane. Our social, confident child disappeared. In its place, we were left with a child who was struggling with life. We all remember puberty, bits and pieces change, we smell different, and our minds get consumed with all the realities it brings. Hormones are a crazy beast and are difficult to navigate at the best of times. Unfortunately, puberty for our child bought on a whole world of gender distress. The “clinical” term is Gender Dysphoria. Basically, this means that being in their body is not comfortable, their skin “doesn’t fit”. This brings along with it some serious mental health issues like self-harm and unfortunately, studies show that roughly 48 percent of transgender youth end their pain. Studies also show that nearly 25 percent of gender diverse people are also Neurodiverse. This means that while they are being treated for their “gender dysphoria” and other mental health concerns, there are also underlying issues that also need to be addressed such as neurodiversity. Such is the case in my family.

I remember my wife sitting me down one night after work and trying to explain what was happening. I was confused and I admit, I struggled trying to process the information. Is this why my child was so unhappy, self-harming and mentally not coping with life? What does having a transgender child look like? How will I help my child navigate life? What about that tattoo I have with their birth name on it? With the tattoo, I had the Chinese animal that represented the year of their birth put around their name and a new tattoo with their new legal name and the Chinese animal that represented the year they affirmed. They loved it.

It was at this point that my wife set up a private facebook page for parents who were struggling and needed a safe place to ask questions and find comfort when they felt lost and confused. A common theme was families not being able to access services for their child. She would be an ear to listen and help guide them on their journey with their child and link them to services in their area. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the discussions there were some incredibly hurtful and discriminatory words that were being sent to her so she doesn’t post anything and will only accept members who are genuine, and discussions are always private.

Helping Kian become their authentic self

Growing up in Canberra, I thought, yes, we are a progressive state, we are accepting and tolerant and surely, we have the medical infrastructure my child is going need to progress on their journey. Well two out of three was great but trying to find the medical assistance they needed was almost impossible. Sydney was our closest option at the time which was challenging. The major capital cities on the east coast have Gender Clinics where all the medical services are housed in one facility. It means that the community don’t have to travel interstate for treatment. They don’t have to keep telling their story over and over to new doctors and specialists which causes great anxiety. Not to mention the time I had to take off work to travel interstate for their appointments. My wife was part of a working committee that were trying to establish support services here and was involved with the ACT local government in talks for this piece of work to move forward. There are plans in the works for Canberra to have their own gender clinic but as yet it is not fully established. Funding will always be prohibitive for Canberra as we are considered too small for specialists to relocate here.

Navigating the legal challenges, my wife spent many hours researching the legal minefield we found ourselves in. You see, for a person under the age of 18, a family solicitor was needed to go to court and advocate on behalf of the person to have any form of medical intervention. Can you imagine starting puberty, all those changes happening and knowing that there was a short -term solution to halt the process? Having to go to court and tell a judge that this is something you desperately need, and relying on that person in authority, who often had no concept of what was being asked having the control over your body? But also, the individual also needed to have the clearance from a specialist approving such interventions. This process with the specialists takes years. They must be sure that the young person is indeed suffering gender dysphoria. Hours and hours of clinical time is spent with the person, talking, and evaluating and taking into consideration that the individual is also living “as their authentic self”.

Can you imagine having to take your child out shopping for a completely new wardrobe? From the tops of their head to the tips of their toes and not to mention all the toiletries. I remember seeing Kian in some of his new clothes when he came home from shopping and thinking, wow he looks fabulous! I even tried on a couple of his shirts, and we posed together for a photo. I think that was the moment it all came together for me. I found that as a parent, it is so important to validate their journey. I may not understand it but I support my child in everything they are going through. We have had minimal pushback from family, and incredibly it was their great grandmother who passed away at 103 years old who was one of his biggest supporters! It is so important to support your child other wise they become a statistic and we as a family are determined for that not to happen.

Thankfully, in 2013 there was a landmark ruling that no child would have to go to court to seek “permission” to access puberty blockers. This is because of one amazing family who stood up for the rights of their child Georgie Stone. The trail that this family blazed was nothing short of incredible. I know our family were overjoyed by the decision. This meant that Kian and other kids like him could now put a hold on puberty until they decided how their transition was going to proceed without any medical repercussions. Thank you Transcend for your amazing advocacy and guidance for our children.

Supporting the trans community

When our child started high school, he was the first person to do so. The school was amazing! The principal asked that I just provide him some literature outlining what having a transgender child in the school would mean. Then, with Kian’s permission the teachers in his year were all briefed on what this might look like going forward. It meant that there was no discrimination, they were able to use any bathroom they felt comfortable using (that’s actually a huge deal as you will see in a minute) and the teachers used his new legal name. The school also nominated Kian for an ACT government award that was presented to him by our local member. It represented their resilience and being his authentic self in the face of adversity. There was only one exception in the school that wasn’t positive, and that relief teacher was not welcomed back because in defying the rules set out by the school, they were breaking the law. The only issue they have had in public was a member of the public reporting them for using a bathroom but when the security guard came and realised what was going on the member of the public was asked to leave. It is so important that gender diverse people are treated fairly and with respect because they are human beings just like you and me.

In the beginning of their journey there were little to no resources. Thankfully, now, there are many organisations that offer support including Transend, ACON, A Gender Agenda, QLife and the sexual health clinics in your state. These organisations are very helpful in assisting in accessing health and support services in your area.

I remember an instance when a work colleague approached me wanting to discuss a sensitive matter. He was looking for advice on how to approach a situation that he had never been exposed to outside of his usual Christian groups. He had recently found out that his long-time friend from Tafe was a transgender woman. We had a lengthy discussion about what it means that his friend is now using different pronouns and dressing differently. It all boiled down to, are they still the same friend that you have known for years? Are they someone who still, underneath the veneer, the same friend that you want to have in your life? This colleague was struggling but eventually went and visited his friend interstate. He said it was such a positive experience and that nothing has really changed except for their name and how they dressed. It doesn’t mean you have to go and fly a flag; you just need to be there and support them. I was so happy that it was a positive experience for them both.

Trans Awareness Week - #ChangeTheCourse

I must admit that it is a pleasant feeling knowing my child can go out into the workforce and not have to feel that they can’t be themselves. We as a family fully support TPG Telecom’s #changethecourse campaign for Trans Awareness Week because it means that people are listening and having discussions. It means that gender diverse employees are working in a safe environment. Many organisations in Australia prohibit the noninclusiveness of anyone from the LGBTIQ+ community now. My hope is that there comes a day when every person is treated equally and is included in this journey we call life.