The Minister for Mental Health Helen Morton (pictured) has assured the WA Parliament that trans* people are not turned away from homeless refuges because of their gender identity.
The Minister gave her assurance whist answering a question regarding the provision of services for trans* people from Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren.
McLaren disagreed with the Minister’s assessment of the challenge, arguing that trans* people seeking crisis accommodation are regularly facing additional hurdles due to their gender identity.
“Transgender people have been denied crisis accommodation or been forced into accommodation that aligns with their biological gender rather than their gender identity. I’m sure the Minister is well-intentioned but in practice these guidelines often don’t apply”.
The Minister also acknowledged that the state’s new mental health bill does not have any specific reference to people who identify as trans*, but contains an underlying principle of accepting diversity.
Dani Wright, Coordinator of the Freedom Centre said the lack of a specific reference was problematic.
“Whilst the Charter of Mental Health Care Principles could be interpreted to provide for transgender people, they do not adequately provide for transgender nor intersex people. The current inclusions “gender and sexuality” are commonly interpreted as just meaning to not discriminate against women or gay people,
“The level of ignorance and marginalisation that transgender and intersex (and bisexual) people experience requires specific provisions for their adequate inclusion and protection” Wright said.
