The Human Rights Commission is handling complaints with care while a law firm and a choir are dedicating themselves to shifting narratives around the LGBTQIA+ community.

Providing a free, accessible dispute-resolution service to deal with complaints about discrimination and vilification, ACT Discrimination Commissioner Karen Toohey says the Human Rights Commission strives to meet the needs of the public.

The commission deals with complaints on the grounds of sexuality, gender identity, sex characteristics and HIV status.

“We deal with complaints about access to health services, gender identity and sexuality conversion practices, privacy and human rights complaints,” she says.

“The process enables LGBTQIA+ community members to try and resolve their concerns through a confidential complaint-handling process.”

Closely involved in developing recent ACT laws to prohibit sexuality and gender identity conversion practices, Commissioner Toohey says the commission provides a complaint mechanism for people who have concerns about these practices.

“We know from community members that some of the current public discourse around trans rights is having a negative impact on access to health services and other public services,” she says.

“We deal with complaints about access to health services and provide people with guidance on what matters might fall within the remit of the discrimination and vilification provisions, protecting people from unfavourable treatment due to gender identity or sexuality.”

The commissioner says this enables people to self-advocate or, where they choose, to use the complaint process to resolve their concerns.

The commission regularly engages with LGBTQIA+ individuals and organisations to ensure people are aware of the services provided.

ACT Human Rights Commission. Lower ground, 56 Allara Street, Canberra. Call 6205 2222 or visit hrc.act.gov.au

Shifting narratives in the legal system

One of the most urgent legal challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community is domestic and family violence, says partner and family lawyer, Daniel Magnussen.

“At Farrar Gesini Dunn (FGD), we recognise that the legal system has been historically shaped around heteronormative structure, often failing to reflect the reality of LGBTIQ relationships, families and experiences.” he says.

“We established our legal service which is a dedicated practice designed to provide specialist legal advice tailored to the unique needs of LGBTIQ individuals and families.”

The firm specialises in family law, family and domestic violence, prenups and binding financial agreements, gender identity and transition matter, surrogacy and adoption, LGBTQIA+ children’s rights and estate planning.

Fellow partner and family lawyer Kasey Fox says their firm has taken a pledge to raise awareness about domestic and family violence in the LGBTQIA+ community.

“For the past two years, we’ve hosted an awareness breakfast to recognise LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day and highlight the need for better protections and support services,” she says.

Daniel says inclusivity is at the core of their practice by ensuring that clients feel safe, respected and heard.

According to Kasey, studies show that up to 62 per cent of LGBTQIA+ people will experience domestic, family or intimate partner violence in their lifetime but are less likely to report it or recognise it.

“At FGD, we are working to shift these narratives by providing a specialist legal service that ensures our clients can access tailored advice and supporting survivors or domestic violence by ensuring they receive legal protections.”

Farrar Desini Dunn. 1/10 Rudd Street, Canberra. Call 6115 9000 or visit fgd.com.au

Choir offers visibility and advocacy through its songs

Founded 32 years ago to provide social interaction and share the joy of singing, the Qwire choir is a proud LGBTQIA+ organisation run by volunteers.

“Our Qwire founders insisted that we be non-auditioned and welcoming of everyone, which remains at our core,” says musical director Callum Tolhurst-Close.

Volunteer run and offering visibility and advocacy through their songs, Callum says Qwire has sung at commitment ceremonies, weddings, funerals, naming day ceremonies for their transgender members, community commemorative events including World AIDS Day and candlelight memorial services.

“Being part of celebrating new lives and giving honour to lives ending has always been important to our commitment to being visible and loud,” says Callum.

With more than 160 members, convenor James Collier says Qwire provides a great deal of informal support to its members in a practical and emotional sense.

“Almost everyone in Qwire has a story that starts with being encouraged by the visibility of others to our younger selves,” says James.

Starting the year with a bang, Callum says Qwire will perform a new interpretation of Henry Purcell’s 1689 opera Dido and Aeneas in a concert titled These Precious Hours: Dido Reimagined.

“This performance reinterprets The Aeneid text as a queer love story and the opera, which will be performed in its entirety, will be accompanied by contemporary works responding to the themes of the opera.”

Canberra Qwire, Hall Street, Lyneham. Contact enquiries@canberraqwire.org.au or visit canberraqwire.org.au