About This Is Oz

As one of the many outreach work of the Anti-Violence Project team at ACON, This Is Oz is about celebrating diversity and challenging homophobia and making Australia a place where everyone belongs.

This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where you can help spread the word about GLBT rights by uploading an image of yourself with your message and encouraging friends and family to do the same.

WHY DO WE NEED THIS IS OZ?

In Australia, although we’ve come a long way, unjust laws and unfriendly attitudes mean that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people don’t always get a fair go.

Some discrimination is obvious, like verbal abuse or violent physical attacks. Almost all GLBT people have experienced homophobic harassment or verbal abuse and many have been physically attacked just for being who they are. Other discrimination is more subtle, like being made to feel invisible or abnormal.

GLBT people in Australia are still fighting for equal rights, like the right to get married, or the right to adopt children, and some churches, schools and institutions can still legally discriminate on the basis of sexuality.

Homophobia and discrimination have profound negative effects on GLBT people, and especially on GLBT young people. Young people often grow up in an environment of overwhelmingly negative messages about being gay or lesbian, and school years are often the hardest. As a result, GLBT young people are more likely to start using drugs, self harm or attempt suicide.

STOPPING HOMPHOBIA STARTS WITH YOU

We can resist homophobia in all kinds of ways every day: by being proud to be who we are or by being a proud supporter of GLBT equality.

Stopping homophobia can mean voting for equal rights, standing up against homophobic jokes, challenging myths and stereotypes, or talking about discrimination and diversity with your friends and family.

Speak up for what you believe in on This Is Oz - join us in making Australia a place where everyone belongs!