Step forward for LBTI women
Australia鈥檚 peak national GLBTI health organisation has hailed the inclusion of lesbian and bisexual women in the latest National Women鈥檚 Health Policy as a 鈥渂ig step鈥�.
National LGBTI Health Alliance chair Paul Martin welcomed the inclusion of LBTI people in the policy and the recognition that sexuality, sex and gender identity can affect women鈥檚 health.
鈥淲e are very pleased that the specific needs of lesbian and bisexual women have been recognised so clearly in the policy, and, to a lesser extent, the needs of transgender and intersex people,鈥� he said.
The policy recognises lesbian and bisexual women as one of five groups of women who could be at a higher risk of poor health and also looked at the impacts of discrimination and marginalisation.
鈥淭o promote health equity among women we need to focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally and linguistically diverse women, rural and remote women, women with disabilities, lesbian and bisexual women,鈥� the policy states.
National LGBTI Health Alliance executive director Gabi Rosenstreich said evidence clearly shows lesbian, bisexual women, transgender and intersex people are at higher risks for poor mental health, more likely to experience violence, smoke and use illicit drugs.
鈥淎s acknowledged in the policy, these risk factors are socially determined, caused by stigma, discrimination and social exclusion, which in turn create barriers to service access,鈥� she said.
Rosenstreich said more could be done to address specific needs for the trans and intersex community.
鈥淭rans and intersex Australians probably face the highest risks of any Australians in relation to mental health and suicide and we are very pleased that this has been mentioned in the policy document,鈥� she said.
鈥淗owever, we would have liked more explicit reference to the needs of trans and intersex people, and not just in relation to mental health… the Tranznation [2007] study showed that transwomen have poorer general health ratings than other Australians.鈥�
The policy is only the second released of its kind – the first National Women鈥檚 Health Policy was released in 1989.
Health and Ageing Minister Nicola Roxon said the policy provides a comprehensive approach to looking at the health needs of women, which can vary across the country.
鈥淚t is 20 years since the first national women鈥檚 healthy policy and there have been significant changes in the way women live their lives,鈥� Roxon said.
Following the release of the policy, the Gillard Government announced an additional $5.3 million in funding to support the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women鈥檚 Health.
