❓ A parliamentary question regarding the WA government's LGBTQIA+ inclusion strategy, specifically questioning the definitions of 'sex' and 'gender' used by Living Proud, a recipient of government funding, and whether these definitions align with the government's.
AnsweredQoN 798Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LGBTQIA+ INCLUSION STRATEGY — LIVING PROUD
798. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the WA government media
statement of 23 February 2024 with the headline ''New LGBTQIA+ inclusion
strategy to promote equality'', and specifically to the fact that the
organisation Living Proud has been, or will be, the recipient of government
funds—$900 000 across three recipient organisations—to conduct
the strategy and action plan.
(1) Has the
Department of Communities adopted the definitions made by Living Proud in the
glossary section of its ''Gender questioning'' document published
on its website? Namely —
The word 'sex' is
usually used to describe our biology — whether we are born with a penis
or vagina �
and —
The word 'gender'
describes how we are expected to act as a male or a female.
(2) Are there any documents in the Department of
Communities showing the definitions of ''sex'' and ''gender'' used by the department; and, if so, what are these definitions?
(3) If Living
Proud has adopted definitions that are not supported or adopted by the WA
government, why does it continue to receive taxpayer funding and how can the
eventual inclusion strategy meet the government's desire for inclusion
if the government is at odds with Living Proud over the definitions of ''sex''
and ''gender'', and therefore what sexes, genders and other
identifiers need to be included by this inclusion strategy?
798. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the minister representing the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the WA government media
statement of 23 February 2024 with the headline ''New LGBTQIA+ inclusion
strategy to promote equality'', and specifically to the fact that the
organisation Living Proud has been, or will be, the recipient of government
funds—$900 000 across three recipient organisations—to conduct
the strategy and action plan.
(1) Has the
Department of Communities adopted the definitions made by Living Proud in the
glossary section of its ''Gender questioning'' document published
on its website? Namely —
The word 'sex' is
usually used to describe our biology — whether we are born with a penis
or vagina �
and —
The word 'gender'
describes how we are expected to act as a male or a female.
(2) Are there any documents in the Department of
Communities showing the definitions of ''sex'' and ''gender'' used by the department; and, if so, what are these definitions?
(3) If Living
Proud has adopted definitions that are not supported or adopted by the WA
government, why does it continue to receive taxpayer funding and how can the
eventual inclusion strategy meet the government's desire for inclusion
if the government is at odds with Living Proud over the definitions of ''sex''
and ''gender'', and therefore what sexes, genders and other
identifiers need to be included by this inclusion strategy?
AnswerView source ↗
The following
response has been provided by the Minister for Community Services.
(1)–(3) The Cook government is developing a whole-of-government
strategy to drive inclusiveness for LGBTQIA+ people in Western Australia. The
strategy is not intended to be preoccupied with defining ''sex''
or ''gender''. The Department of Communities, as lead
agency under Ministers Beazley and Winton, will work closely with
non-government organisations to support the development and implementation of
the strategy. This includes providing funding to Living Proud, TransFolk and
GRAI, recognising the important role these organisations play in our community.
response has been provided by the Minister for Community Services.
(1)–(3) The Cook government is developing a whole-of-government
strategy to drive inclusiveness for LGBTQIA+ people in Western Australia. The
strategy is not intended to be preoccupied with defining ''sex''
or ''gender''. The Department of Communities, as lead
agency under Ministers Beazley and Winton, will work closely with
non-government organisations to support the development and implementation of
the strategy. This includes providing funding to Living Proud, TransFolk and
GRAI, recognising the important role these organisations play in our community.
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