Homophobia is pushing Launceston's LGBTQ community out of the region
LGBTQ residents and families are leaving Launceston due to persistent discrimination, bullying, and targeted harassment.
Elizabeth Eyre is a queer mother of two LGBTQ children. Homophobia broke her family, she said.
She moved one child to the mainland due to bullying. She fears she may have to do the same for her other child.
Transgender advocate Amilie Courtney, 17, left the city. Pride flags in Launceston's city centre were torn down and cut with a knife on the day the council announced an LGBTQ support plan.
Joseph McLennan moved to Launceston and at first had 30 friends: doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. None remain in the city now.
Joseph McLennan described being spit at and called slurs on the street. No one stood up for him.
Launceston City Council unanimously approved an LGBTQ+ Action Plan that day. It is designed to build inclusion, fairness, belonging, and taking part for LGBTQIA+ people across the city.
- 30
- Friends who left
- 17
- Transgender advocate's age
Why it mattersDiscrimination strong enough to force families to leave shows a failure of belonging. The council is now working to fix it.
AustraliaThis reflects a broader challenge in regional Australia where LGBTQ people face barriers to staying and building lives in smaller communities.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 28 d ago
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