LGBTIQ adults’ national survey published
The Private Lives 3 National Report was conducted by researchers at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University and was funded by the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
The survey was conducted from July 2019 to October 2019 and asked 6835 LGBTIQ adults aged 18 and over about their relationships, families, housing, health, and more.
Findings from the report, launched today and conducted in the second half of 2019, included:
- 60.7 per cent felt accepted at work; 52.2 per cent among family; 55.3 per cent in educational settings
- 54.4 per cent were in committed romantic relationships
- 73.5 per cent indicated marriage equality would have a positive impact in their lives
- In the past year, 39.5 per cent reported experiencing social exclusion, 34.6 per cent verbal abuse, 23.6 per cent harassment and 14.6 per cent threats of physical violence
- 22 per cent reported having experienced homelessness
- In the past year, 41.9 per cent reported having thoughts about suicide; 5.2 per cent reported attempting suicide*
- In the past year, 10.9 per cent of trans women, 13.7 per cent of trans men and 6.8 per cent of non-binary participants reported a suicide attempt
- 43.4 per cent of all participants felt accepted when accessing health or support services.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Anthony Lyons said Australia had seen legal and social changes towards greater acceptance over recent years, including marriage equality, but the report highlighted that many people continued to experience stigma, discrimination, violence and abuse.
“This report contains a great deal of vital information about the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people today and is expected to inform initiatives for improving health and wellbeing outcomes,” Associate Professor Lyons said.
“We are very grateful to the many thousands of people who completed the Private Lives 3 survey, who generously allowed a glimpse into their lives and shared their experiences across many aspects of life.”
This is the third Private Lives report, following surveys conducted in 2005 and 2011. Each survey asks different questions and aims to provide a snapshot of the community at that time.
* These figures are considerably higher compared to best available data on the general population, such as the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, which showed prevalence rates of 2.3 per cent for thoughts about suicide and 0.4 per cent for attempting suicide in the general population.