Now

1. Write to your Federal MP and election candidates

Send the LGBTIQ+ election priorities document (via web link) and ask for a meeting and commitment. Use the letter below as a guide.

Find local representatives by postcode at https://polity.xyz.

Other election candidates will be known once the election is called

2.  Write to the relevant federal leaders, ministers and shadow ministers

Importantly: Health, Aged Care, Mental Health—but is there someone you have an existing relationship with? Use the personal touch.

Prime Minister and government ministers

Leader of the Opposition and shadow ministers

3.  Share on social media

There are nine priority actions listed in the LHA election platform—that’s an average of one topic a week. Follow LHA for posts to share to your networks:

Twitter: @LGBTIQHealthAu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LGBTIQHealthAu

Instagram: @LGBTIQHealthAu

Next Week

4.  Support the LGBTIQ+ election virtual ‘town hall’ forum

6:30pm 5 May - Online and at the Pride Centre, St Kilda, Victoria

Help send a strong message with large numbers participating by promoting and attending.

REGISTER HERE

Across May

5. Seek out an opportunity for personal contact

As the election gets close, candidates and parties will hold campaign events. Hand over a copy of the election priorities document and make a face-to-face request for commitment and action. Click here to download it.

Dear <enter candidate name here>

Achieving LGBTIQ+ Health and Wellbeing — election commitments

I write to seek your support for actions to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ communities in the next Parliament.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA), the national peak organisation working to promote the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people and communities, has identified nine priorities in consultation with its member organisations.

Evidence overwhelmingly shows that LGBTIQ+ people experience significant health and wellbeing disparities compared to the general population. This can be attributed primarily to the discrimination and violence that LGBTIQ+ people are exposed to because sexuality, gender and bodily diversity are socially stigmatised.

LGBTIQ+ people are a priority population in a range of existing national health and wellbeing strategies, and there is currently a lack of national coordination of goals and targets.

As its central priority, LHA is seeking a 10-year National LGBTIQ+ Health and Wellbeing Action Plan drawing on existing national strategies. This requires a dedicated Office within the Department of Health to oversee development, implementation and monitoring of the plan.

The other priorities are:

• Count LGBTIQ+ people and communities in data collection for health planning.
• Invest in sustainable LGBTIQ+ community-controlled health and wellbeing organisations.
• Prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ communities.
• Protect the human rights of people with innate variations in sex characteristics.
• Ensure the rights and needs of LGBTIQ+ people in the next national plan to prevent all forms of family, domestic and sexual violence.
• Deliver gender affirming care in the public health system.
• Provide equality and opportunity for LGBTIQ+ people with disability.
• Ensure safe and culturally appropriate aged care services.

Full details are available at https://www.lgbtiqhealth.org.au/electionpriorities.

Could you please respond and let me know your support for these priorities?

Yours sincerely