Brighton Council’s 2050 Vision sees Brighton becoming a thriving place with a proud community, where all residents benefit from a good life at every age in a comfortable home with a sustainable environment, supported by a caring Council.

Part of achieving this vision involves making sure that we foster an inclusive approach which empowers all regardless of who you are and where you come from. One group that we know experience challenges in our community are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (trans), intersex, queer/questioning, and asexual people (LGBTIQA+).

Around 4.5% of Australia’s population are LGBTIQA+. In Brighton, this equates to nearly 900 people. While many LGBTIQA+ people live happy and healthy lives, ongoing discrimination and stigma against this group mean that they have poorer health, reduced outcomes at school and work, and greater housing instability than the wider population.

We wanted to consult our community to better understand local experiences and needs. While national and state-wide data on LGBTIQA+ populations provide a background for the health and wellbeing experiences of LGBTIQA+ people in Brighton, more detail about their experiences in Brighton will help identify areas for community development.

Most LGBTIQA+ participants felt welcome in Brighton, but concerns about safety and inclusion persist, particularly for trans and non-binary residents.

Key recommendations identified were:

1. LGBTIQA+ inclusion training for council staff and Elected Members
2. Greater visibility of LGBTIQA+ inclusion in public spaces
3. Provide more gender-inclusive public amenities

Participants also highlighted the need for improved mental health services and anti-discrimination efforts in the area. See the full list of recommendations here.

For more detail about the consultation and who participated, see the LGBTIQA+ Community Consultation Report.