Click the image to view the LGBTIQ+ communities survey report
Canberra is Australia's Capital of Equality
The Capital of Equality Strategy sets out how the ACT Government will continue to make Canberra the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming and inclusive city in Australia. This means ensuring Canberra is a place where LGBTIQ+ people, their families and communities are visible, valued and respected. Our whole community benefits when all Canberrans can contribute and participate to their full potential.
Over the next four years the strategy will guide the ACT Government’s focus on:
- Fostering understanding and awareness of LGBTIQ+ people and issues so that barriers to equality can be removed.
- Delivering more inclusive and accessible services.
- Continuing reforms to ensure equal rights are reflected in law, data and policies.
Learn more about the Capital of Equality Strategy on the Capital of Equality, ACT Government LGBTIQ+ Strategy page.
The ACT LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council is now recruiting to fill current and expected vacancies, including the roles of Chair and Deputy Chair.
Learn more here: LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council
The ACT Government introduced the Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill 2023 on 22 March 2023. This Bill aims to protect the rights and choices of intersex people. The legislation seeks to do this to reform medical treatment for people with variation in sex characteristics.
Find out more about the Bill and how it aims to protect intersex rights
The Capital of Equality Grants Program has been redesigned to better respond to community needs. The program aims to support and strengthen Canberra’s LGBTIQ+ communities. $700,000 has been allocated to the 2023 and 2024 grant rounds.
The Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020 came into effect on 4 March 2021. To make a complaint or to find out more, visit the ACT Human Rights Commission website.
The ACT Government is committed to ensuring all Canberrans are treated equally and our laws should reflect these standards.
The Act makes it a criminal offence for conversion practices directed at protected persons, and anybody affected can make a complaint to the Humans Right Commission.
The Act defines protected persons to mean 'a child or a person who has impaired decision-making ability in relation to a matter relating to the person's health or welfare'.
The government first announced plans to legislate to prohibit conversation practices in May 2018. This prohibition was also included in the Capital of Equality First Action Plan 2019-2021.
To inform the development of the Bill, a direct consultation was held with stakeholders most likely to be affected by this change. This included the education, disability, religious, health, LGBTIQ+ and legal sectors.
A summary of the feedback received from stakeholders during consultation can be found in the What We Heard Report (PDF 784KB).
The Bill was introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly on 13 August 2020, and came into effect on 4 March 2021.
A statutory review of this legislation was conducted in 2024. The report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 21 March 2024. Access the report here (PDF 586KB).
Conversations about conversion practices may bring up strong feelings and questions. Be assured you are not alone, and that there are many services and support groups available to assist. Some options for advice and support include Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Westlund Counselling on 02 6257 2855.
The Canberra Inclusive Partnership is a new program providing targeted, peer-led services to support and strengthen LGBTIQ+ Canberrans.
Services include:
- 1000 hours of peer-led psychosocial support services to LGBTIQ+ people and their families; and
- 100 hours of training and tailored support to build the capacity of mainstream service providers to deliver inclusive and appropriate services to LGBTIQ+ people, their families, and communities.
This investment will help peer-led LGBTIQ+ agencies like Meridian (formally Aids Action Council) and A Gender Agenda meet evolving community needs over the coming years, tackle new and emerging issues and be more active and visible in the Canberra community.
About the Office of LGBTIQ+ Affairs
The Office of LGBTIQ+ Affairs coordinates and supports strategic government projects and policy to promote Canberra as the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming and inclusive city in Australia. It is located within the Policy and Cabinet Division of the Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.
The Office:
- coordinates a whole of government approach for promoting Canberra as the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming and inclusive city in the country
- engages relevant areas of government with subject matter expertise to implement legislative reform, promote inclusive events, and appropriately targeted services for LGBTIQ+ people
- supports and engages with the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council on matters where the government is seeking advice and guidance
- provides policy advice to the Chief Minister on LGBTIQ+ matters.
Please note: LGBTIQ+ is respectfully being used as an umbrella term inclusive of people of diverse sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics or sexual orientation. The acronym is not intended to limit this to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and/or queer.
For further enquiries please contact the Office by email LGBTIQOffice@act.gov.au.