LGBTIQ+ Health Australia welcomes the important insights and recommendations from the nation’s largest survey into attitudes around gendered violence released today.

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) today released the four-yearly National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS), which measures understanding and attitudes regarding sexual violence, and domestic and family violence (ncas.au).

“The survey found that understanding and attitudes have improved since the 2016 survey, but progress is slow, particularly in the recognition of non-physical abuse and coercive control,” LHA Deputy CEO Zed Tintor (they/them) said. “Only 66% of respondents recognised that controlling a partner by forcing them to hide that they are transgender is always a form of domestic violence.

“There is growing evidence that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience family and sexual violence, and less likely to recognise it, report and seek support.

“The report highlights that intersecting forms of discrimination are likely to increase the prevalence and severity of violence. These produce barriers to seeking help or worse outcomes for particular groups, including LGBTQ+ women,” Tintor said.

NCAS is the first major national survey to use the Australian Bureau of Statistics Standard for Sex, Gender, Variation of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables, also known as the ABS 2020 Standard. “To better understand the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ populations, LHA has been working for full adoption of the ABS 2020 Standard in major studies and supported ANROWS to understand the data from this survey,” Tintor said.

“The ABS 2020 Standard is an important tool for data collection about the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people. This survey provides information that would not otherwise be known about the attitudes to violence against women by LGBTQ+ communities,” said Tintor.

“Lesbians typically had a higher understanding of violence against women than heterosexual respondents. Lesbian, gay, bisexual or pansexual, and asexual, queer or sexuality-diverse respondents had higher rejection of gender inequality and rejection of violence against women.

“The NCAS report concludes that there is a need to work collaboratively with LGBTQ+ advocates and communities to address underlying drivers of violence and foster more inclusive understanding of gender and sexuality.” Tintor said.

Media contact: Zed Tintor | Pronouns: they/them | Mobile: 0499 770 482 | Email: [email protected]