Law reform & health care for trans people

In 1999, Sally Goldner and Kayleen White founded Transgender Victoria (TGV).

Their goal was to achieve justice, equity and quality health and community outcomes for trans and gender diverse people, their partners, families and friends.

TGV came to be after the disbandment of the Gays & Lesbians Against Discrimination (GLAD) activist group in the late 1990s.

In less than 20 years, TGV has achieved great success in its campaign for equality for trans and gender diverse people.

In part one of this two-part series, law reform and the healthcare needs of trans people in Australia will be explored.

Gay blood is good blood

One in three Australians will need donated blood in their lifetime.

Its uses range from treating cancer patients to severe bouts of the flu, and we’re told it’s always in short supply.

In the month of August, the Australian Red Cross estimated a need for an additional 3000 donations to meet demand.

Yet when Adam Rustov, a 22-year-old Melbourne man recently went to a Red Cross Blood Centre to donate blood, he was denied the opportunity to do so.