On Sunday 12 April, local grassroots activist group Queer Liberation Boorloo (QLB) hosted a rally to support Transgender Day of Visibility, calling for greater action from lawmakers and solidarity among communities.
The event brought together a range of individual speakers and representatives from local organisations to speak to their experience as trans and gender diverse people living in Western Australia.
Warning: This article contains details that may be distressing to some readers.
The event began with Welcome to Country from Aunty Lyn and smoking ceremony from Uncle Hedley and Herbert Bropho, who also shared stories about his family and the importance of oppressed communities standing side-by-side in our fight for justice.
Marking QLB’s second official gathering for Trans Day of Visibility, QLB’s event MC gave an overview of the landscape since last year’s event.
“We gathered last year demanding that trans kids have their human right to healthcare respected and the politicians get out of the doctor’s office. Since then, in addition to Queensland, the Northern Territory has removed access to healthcare,” they said, to cries of ‘shame!’ from the crowd.
“We demanded that our government here in WA implement the Equality Act Reforms, ban conversion therapy, and make vilification of queer people a crime. All things the government has promised. Legislation still sits in an office drawer at Dumas House, gathering dust.
“We have seen hate campaigns flourish in the hate haven of WA, with the vilifying letters targeting the queer community and the hate seekers in Subiaco.
“Trans people today do not feel safe, just being out and proud has meant more and more exposure to hateful harassment. Of course we don’t know how bad it’s gotten in any provable statistic way, because across Australia, even where appropriate legislation exists, police do not report on or collect statistics of hate crimes against LGBT people.”
“We have a lot to be angry about. We have a huge battle ahead of us. So we’re going to hear from a number of people from different aspects of the trans liberation. Where we stand today and how we’re going to win it.”
First to speak was Kali, a 17-year-old transfeminine person, member of the WA Socialists and QLB Secretary, who shared her experience as someone who was able to affirm her gender from a young age.
“I was lucky enough to have the ability to transition when I was very young. I first realized I was trans when I was 13. By 15, everyone knew me by my real name and identity. And by 16, I was helping organize these events,” Kali said.
“But that’s not to say being a young trans person is easy. I transitioned in 2023 against the backdrop of the murder of Brianna Jai, a trans girl only two years older than myself, killed for the crime of being trans. Transitioning young doesn’t exempt you from any of the transphobia either.
“Whether it was fighting with schools just to use the bathroom, or the same stock standard hiring discrimination we’ve grown accustomed to, or the fact that any trans people under 18 who don’t meet specific requirements still cannot legally access any form of gender affirming care in WA.
“I’m not the only one this constant transphobia against young trans people affects. Last year, Queensland’s Liberal National Government ripped life-saving medical care out from under the feet of 491 trans kids. Every single trans kid on the public system for gender-affirming care had this taken away with no care for their safety or well-being.”
Kali notes the Queensland decision was followed shortly by the Northern Territory government as well.
“Not only have the Liberals cancelled this care that hundreds of trans children relied on, but for months, they had their own report into best practice care for transgender children. And they still are yet to investigate the health ban’s impact on youth suicides, although youth murders would be more accurate.
“Doubling down on this, when I confronted Matt Canavan, the Queensland parliamentarian who was one of the driving forces behind this healthcare ban, who’s now disgracefully leads the Nationals, and asked if he thought youth suicides are an issue, he refused to say yes.
“This is the view governments have towards trans kids. Trans kids like me. Politicians like Matt Canavan do not care whether we live or die. Trans kids needs real, accessible, affordable, safe, and self-controlled healthcare. That is how dire the state of trans rights in WA is.
“Our demand is healthcare. Our demand is to let us be safe. And yet, not only is this demand not met by WA’s so-called left-wing Labour government, the Queensland and Northern Territory governments are actively working against it. So shame on Roger Cook, shame on David Crisafulli, shame on Matt Canavan, and shame on Anthony Albanese. Because every single one of them claims to care about young people. But time and time again, they prove they don’t. At least not if we’re trans.”
Kali was followed by QLB co-convenor Nova Sobieralski, who focused on threats to civil liberty and the right to protest.
“It’s worth noting that those in our community most affected by police violence are our brotherboys and sistergirls, the Indigenous transgender community. Close the Gap Day was on the 20th of March, the day prior our government debated the post and boast law, which the parliamentary inquiry into the legislation and every relevant organisation who commented on the legislation reported increase incarceration of indigenous young people,” Nova told the crowd.
“The police will have the tools to prosecute people as young as 10 with jail time for their social media activity. Some would like to pretend that the police are a neutral arbiter of justice, an apolitical organisation that does not take a stance on questions of race, queerness, or class. But nothing could be further from the truth.
“The police are the foot soldiers of the capitalist state. Their job is to enforce the laws written by and for the upper crust of society, for business owners and the well-off. In this pursuit of class domination, the police arbitrate clashes between the rich and poor in favor of the rich, and in so doing, weaponize differences in the working class like queerness.”
Nova went on to draw parallels between the current relationship between police and LGBTIQA+ communities to the history-making protest that we now know as Sydney Mardi Gras.
“In 1978, the first Mardi Gras ended in violence as police bashed queer protesters. In 2026, Herzog protests ended in violence as police bashed Palestinian protesters. None of us are free until we’re all free.
“The job is not to make queers alone less susceptible to police violence, but to stamp out police violence, period. Solidarity is the only solution, and it’s sorely lacking in some sectors of the queer NGO scene.”
Nova also drew attention to WA’s Public Order Legislative Amendment Bill, which could see greater restrictions on public protests and gatherings.
“The Public Order Legislative Amendment Bill is currently before Parliament and is taking submissions to be sent to review. When it was announced, [Police Commissioner Col] Blanch took to media to defend the legislation.
“This legislation would crush the right to anonymity, making it illegal to wear face masks unless for genuine artistic, religious, or health reasons. Anonymity has been important to the queer community, especially in the face of rising hate and discrimination.
“There’s a famous photo of a protester in the 1978 Mardi Gras protest, hooded from head to toe, holding a sign saying, I am a closeted gay teacher. That would be illegal under this new legislation.”
Nova was joined by a special guest to punctuate their speech with a urine-inspired tune directed towards law enforcement.
Lua, a sex worker and member of multiple local community groups, rose to speak about the inextricable connection between queer, trans and sex work communities.
“Today, we’re all here as trans people to be seen and to be heard. Yet in 2026, various legislation across so-called Australia increasingly silences and tries to disappear us.
“To this day, sex workers are being murdered and raided in their workplaces. We are being de-platformed, banned from existing online, de-banked, denied housing and other basics like access to healthcare, including gender-affirming care.
“While we are silenced, academics, journalists and government-funded orgs frequently use our community as debate topics, often using moral panic to disguise and distract from more urgent political failings and to weaken and divide our communities without ever meaningfully, directly consulting us.
Lua says sex workers, like queer and trans communities, are committed to continue their fight for equality and justice.
“Our industry is made up of every minority group. WA sex workers are calling on our allies to recognize the role that they can play in supporting us. We ask that you listen to sex workers and what they have to share and when you have the opportunity to, speak up, use your voice, your votes to amplify us and I’m thankful that we are given direct opportunity to speak at events like this.”
“I can guarantee you all, whether it’s been disclosed to you or not, sex workers have been fighting alongside you, and they always will.”
Lua was followed by an appearance by “The Divine Tim Nicholls”, with a sketch inspired by John Waters’ Pink Flamingos, parodying the Queensland Health Minister for his decision to ban gender-affirming healthcare in his state.
Transfolk WA’s Nate Jarvis was next to speak. New to the role of Executive Assistant at the local community organisation, Nate spoke to diversity among trans experiences.
“Everyone’s gender identity and experience of transition is different. I came out at 30 after what was probably 25 years of consideration, reflection, and deliberation.
“The moment I felt most assured of my decision to pursue top surgery and later hormones was in accepting that my body was beautiful as it was, and that I was already fully trans, and that pursuing the transformation of my body was an act of self-love. It was about believing that I deserved to feel comfortable in my own skin, and to not have to think about my body and my gender all the time.
“It was about liberation, not conformity. Having access to healthcare, having access to the healthcare we need shouldn’t be a privilege, but at the moment it is. Accessing gender affirming healthcare doesn’t make us trans. Healthcare isn’t what makes us valid.
“We have trans and gender diverse siblings all around the world Transgender identities are completely, utterly, absolutely, and entirely valid, despite not having access to the health care they need. We have always existed and we will always exist.
“We deserve the health care we need, not because we are trans, but because we are human. We deserve to thrive because we are human. And trans kids deserve access to the health care they need, and they deserve to feel safe and to experience joy because they are human and because they are children.
“Being visibly trans or gender non-conforming in the world today is a privilege and a protest. It is an example and an invitation. Being visible is both vulnerable and liberating. Trans and gender diverse folks come in all shapes and sizes and exist across all races, cultures, and walks of life.
“Simply by existing in the world, we let everyone know that there are so many beautiful, fun, interesting, and unique ways to be human. We have much to celebrate. As we celebrate our visibility though, let’s also commit to becoming the next generation of trans and gender diverse people who help make the world a better place.”
Nate also celebrated the launch of Transfolk WA’s Gender Affirming Mutual Aid Fund, which holds $10,000 thanks to the generosity of Homopolitan’s Rave Relief fundraising Pride party.
“Transfolk WA’s recently launched Gender Affirming Mutual Aid Fund. Launched on Trans Day of Visibility, we have a $10,000 fund generously raised by Rave Relief in 2023 to support trans and gender diverse people affirm their gender.
“We recognize that gender affirmation looks different for everyone. So recipients are trusted to use the funds however best supports their needs. We have 10 $300 grants with three First Nations designated and seven $1,000 grants, two of which are First Nations identified.
“This fund is open to anyone who is trans, who is experiencing financial barriers, and who lives in WA.”
Finally, Youth Pride Network representative and queer Palestinian person Amani, shared his story as a young queer person living at the intersection of many communities and identities.
“I’m Imani, which means my faith in Arabic. I’m a proud Palestinian-Australian and I’m a trans guy. I’m studying paramedicine and I love skateboarding. I kind of suck at it though,” Amani joked.
“I have a beautiful girlfriend who’s over there. She’s a really cool shirt. And I have a cute pet mouse, his name is Bob. And I think those details me are especially important around transgender visibility.
“A lot of the time, trans people aren’t seen as individual people with hobbies and lives and aspirations, which it is a stereotype, repainted by the media as sort of like mentally ill threats to an apparently peaceful society.
“Trans visibility means not just knowing we exist, but seeing us as people, real people, like everyone else, with hobbies and goals that make the world a better place. So I’ve been asked to speak in solidarity for Palestine, because none of us are free until we’re all free.
“It’s the same kind of bigotry we see in transphobia that we see in racism towards Palestinians. The right wing paints Palestinians as non-people. They paint my brothers and sisters in Gaza as collateral damage that doesn’t really matter. They treat us as less than human. And I’ve had people tell me they thought trans people were weird or didn’t really exist until they met me.
“I’ve heard people say that Palestinians don’t really exist, which really confuses me because where’s my family from then? Sometimes it feels like my entire identity is up for questioning by everyone.
“That’s why we need visibility for trans people, Palestinians, and every group that’s been treated like they don’t matter.
“Every one of the thousands killed by Israel and the US mattered, and every single one of you matters. So I ask you guys, queer people and allies, to firstly fight for yourselves, your rights, and to be seen for the amazing people that you are.”
Speakers and the dozens gathered in Pride Piazza then raised their banners to march through the streets of Northbridge in a passionate display of resistance, solidarity and pride.
