The ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) have released “Estimates and characteristics of LGBTI+ populations in Australia” https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/estimates-and-characteristics-lgbti-populations-australia/latest-release on 19th December 2024.
Media reviews of this include “How many Australians are LGBTIQ+? We now have an idea” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/how-many-australians-are-lgbtiq-we-now-have-an-idea/fxjqd4vdk and “One in 20 Australians are LGBTI+ with rate higher among young people” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/19/abs-australia-lgbti-population-data-release-first-ever “Advocates say the landmark ABS findings show LGBTI+ people are a substantial part of Australian society”
The ABS have managed the numeric assessments capably, but been inept/incompetent (i.e., silent) on the broader social context, especially over time, which means their estimate is too low, as it does not allow for older people who have habits of hiding for safety or have suppressed their sexuality/identity to avoid being bashed (and that still happens now, and was both endemic, savage, and unpunished in previous decades - which leaves lifelong scars.
In other words, the ABS have not estimated how many LGBTQIASB+ people there are in Australia: they have identified how many LGBTQIASB+ people there are in Australia who currently feel safe enough to be out - even if via online forms with some uncertain anonymity.
It is a very important point that people don’t change their sexuality/gender identity as they age (which is one of the many vicious lies thrown at LGBTQIASB+ people in the past - e.g., “oh it’s only a phase that you’ll “grow out of”” - which is utter, self evident BS).
What is being shown by the higher percentages for younger people is the benefits of things like the existence and improvement of protective laws, reduced social stigma/discrimination, and increased awareness.
Knowing that LGBTQIASB+ people exist, and one does NOT have to be the same as cisgender/heterosexual people helps (a) keep young people alive, and (b) allow people to be themselves.
To some extent, this brings to mind the increase in reported proportions of left handedness after the BS lie that being left handed was wrong/evil was countered, which resulted in an increase from around 1% of the population to 10%.
If that is not, the natural, expected increase will result in another moral panic over seeming increases of LGB sexuality rates and a worsening of the current transphobic hysteria and lies about trans and gender diverse children by life threatening bigots.
A proper estimate of the number of LGBTQIASB+ people in Australia should be based on the percentages for the youngest cohort - 9.5% (8.5 - 10.5%), not the adopted percentage, as that will give a truer indication of what will be required for future planning.
PS - see also
“‘Generational change’: why more young Australians are identifying as LGBTQ+” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/20/australia-abs-first-lgbtq-gay-and-lesbian-population-data “Adrian Murdoch, the general manager of brand and business development at Minus18, says he doesn’t think there is “just suddenly more and more [of us]. I think we’re just getting a real reflection because people finally feel comfortable to express that.” Murdoch says the “generational change” was born from safety and acceptance. “This increase in LGBTQ+ young people, I liken that to the example of people who are now known and openly left-handed,” he says.”
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
- there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”;
- I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below, and there’s also Instagram.
Note that I am cutting back on aspects of my posts - see here.
(Gnwmythr is pronounced new-MYTH-ear)
Remember: we generally need to be more human being rather than human doing, to mind our Mӕgan, and to acknowledge that all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering” (just as binary gendered [men’s and women’s] sporting teams are either both given the gender descriptor, or neither).#PsychicABetterWorld and candles for Viva La Résistance à Tr_ mp! and may all that I do be of value and actively BPM used for and by the nonphysical BPM
Copyright © Kayleen White 2007-2024 NO AI
I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence
(AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or
other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to
reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise replicate any part of
this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s
may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.
Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative
Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
.jpg)
