Do you really want to hurt me?

Almost eight in 10 LGBTIQ+ Australians say they are at times the victim of hurtful language. In fact, in the last 12 months more than two thirds LGBTIQ+ people were called ‘fag’, ‘dyke’ or ‘tranny’.

Shockingly, more than 25 per cent of Australian LGBTIQ+ adults say the first time they were the victim of hurtful language specifically about their gender or sexual identity, the perpetrator was a friend or family member. 

“When we support those on the receiving end of hurtful language and encourage them to contribute their voice to the conversation, we promote harmony.”

Take ‘That’s so gay’. Flippant? No. It has become part of the vernacular but as a throwaway line used to denote something negative or stupid. Some 44 per cent of people admit using this phrase without realising the LGBTIQ+ community don’t like hearing it. Yet those using it don’t necessarily understand the lasting damage it can do to others’ feeling of self.

That’s the thing though, isn’t it? Many people don’t intend to say something hurtful.

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Words can hurt. Sometimes it’s intentional and sometimes it’s not. Yet names, words, phrases can inadvertently cause others to feel vilified, unwelcome or, even worse, threatened and unsafe.

But in a world where diverse opinions and beliefs help us learn and grow as a society, we don’t want anyone to feel silenced.

The challenge is to help people realise the possible impact of their words. When we support those on the receiving end of hurtful language and encourage them to contribute their voice to the conversation, we promote harmony.

The charts below outline some of the lived experience of LGBTIQ+ Australians. 

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What can we do?

All of us have a role to play in ensuring our family members, friends, colleagues and members of the community feel safe. Awareness of the impact of this language is a step in the right direction and calling it out when we see or hear it can go a long way in helping people feel safe and welcome.

Darren Sibson is an ANZ News contributor and is part of the leadership group for ANZ’s Pride Network.