Will you stand and wave our flag as we did yours?

Over the last few months in Australia there’s been a lot of waving of rainbow flags. And with good reason, the campaign for Marriage Equality certainly was worth it. The Australian LGBTIQ+ community came together with the support of many allies to win human rights and equality in terms of our relationships being equal before the law.

As a community we were subjected to a campaign of public opinion, our lives, our very existence, was left wide open to be debated in the public realm by anyone and everyone. Such was the pitiful excuse for leadership from the ruling governement.

No matter how much the powers at be try to tell everyone it was an overwhelming success, that the public debate was respectful and decent. It wasn’t. It was horrible. It was impossible to open a newspaper, a news website or a social media feed without seeing unbridled bigotry towards LGBTIQ+ people.

The homophobic and transphobic diatribes were relentless. And heaven forbid how you would be if you actually visited any comment feeds on these sites. A strong and robust emotional suit of armour was certainly required. The actual campaign was about 8 weeks, it felt like 8 terrible years.

There is a question in the air of ‘was it worth it?’ There isn’t an easy answer to this. In a sense on Thursday afternoon at a smidgeon before 6pm Marriage Equality became law in Australia, and in that sense, yes, the pain was worth it.

The cost though is incalculable.

Not just a financial cost but a human cost. The LGBTQI+ community bared an intense and hurtful period where our very existence was continually called into question. Many service agencies made note of the sharp increase of LGBTIQ+ people seeking out mental health and support services. I am sure the cost to the health care system was massive, both in financial and in human cost.

The cost is incalculable and the LGBTQI+ community continue to pay it. Because the campaign may be over but the bigotry sure hasn’t stopped.

From the very start of the campaign the tactics of the No side of the campaign were very clear. They set their sites very clearly against the Trans community. The very first thing we say was a TV commercial with a mother claiming their child’s school had told her son he could wear a dress if he liked.

Add after add targeted the Trans and Gender diverse communities directly. Attacking us at every turn possible. Throwing around lines such as Radical Gender Theory, GenderFluidity, SafeSchools like weapons. Our own language and programs developed to support us were weaponised against us.

Somehow we endured and have emerged from this campaign scared but victorious. Legislation has happened and Marriage Equality is now the law of the land.

Here’s the thing though, the trans and gender diverse communities in this country are hurting. We stood and waved our flags and your flags because this was about equality, this was about human rights. I as a trans person now, though, ask, plead and hope wholeheartedly that the rest of the LGBTQI+ communities are ready to stand with us and wave our flags with us. Becuase as much as you needed us, perhaps even more so, we need you.

It’s telling, perhaps, that at my workplace, a very LGBTIQ+ safe and supporting workplace, that on the 15th November something like 70–80 people crammed into a ‘Rainbow Room’ to hear the results of the horrendous non binding postal survey. Shouts and cheers and tears and hugs abounded when the result was announced. It was a most memerable moment, perhaps one of the most memorable and important moments of my lifetime. It was wonderful.

But, here’s the thing, the telling thing.

Just 5 days later on November 20th Transgender Day of Rememberance, at that same workplace, that same supportive workplace, we gathered in a room that comfortably holds a few hundred people to pause and remember those trans humans who have lost lives due to transphobia. On that day in that place we had a small select group of perhaps up to 30 people gathered to take stock and remember.

The contrast as a trans woman who did what they could to support the campaign over the previous few months, was stark. It was another reminder that the T in the acronym is still very much fighting for acceptance in a way the L and the G in particular do not have to anymore.

What is evident currently in Australian society is that the LG part of the community have achieved much. The BTIQ+ have still a massive fight for human rights ahead of them.

Already it is clear that the defeated No campaign who had already targeted us T people throughout the campaign are already turning their bigotry and hate against us even more pointedly. They squarely point to us as the ‘Consequence’ of marriage equality. It is a certaintly that the fight for Trans and gender diverse rights is truly upon us. Already we have seen the targeted campaign against the anti LGBTIQ+ anti-bullying program Safe Schools targeted, and the target on that program just got bigger with the loss of their hateful fight against Marriage Equality.

What is certain is tht Marriage Equality should be rightly and roundly celebrated. This is a significan and wonderful victory for our community. What is also certain is that their are many fronts still to fight. Intersex Trans and Gender Diverse rights is a key front where attack from the right is already happenning.

As we celebrate marriage equality, as we drink it in, bask in it, get ready for all the weddings, let’s do so with the biggest of smiles and warmest of joys.

But too, please, remember, the Trans community in particular is hurting and needs support. Throughout this campaign we stood side by side waving your flag and ours, as our existence and rights were targeted relentlessly we stood with you waving the flags in solidarity, even when the attacks on us went unanswered by many in the wider LGBTIQ+ we continued and continue to stand side by side with our siblings, our tribe.

The question then, is will you stand by our sides, waving our flag and your flag in solidarity with us. Will you stand with us? Will you call out the bigotry and hatred against us where and when you see it? Will you stand in solidarity for our human rights.

We’re hurting, we need you. Please, pick up a pink and blue and white striped flag and wave it with us.