Hi,

I'm currently living in Europe, but am planning
to move to Brisbane once I scrape enough cash to do so
amongst things like FFS & other surgeries. I've heard many
good things of Brisbane in terms of trans acceptance.
I would like to hear the perspectives of the Australian MtFs.
Honestly, the only thing that concerns me is my safety &
I acknowledge that I much like my mother am paranoid,
but my resoning goes as follows: if people accept ones such
as myself the chances of getting assaulted are reduced significantly,
because as acceptance increases so does tolerance.
Life's already too difficult without having to look behind
one's shoulder all the time.

Welcome to Susan's Place. I live in the United States but several of the staff members and many regular members live in Australia and have reported no difficulties transitioning or living post transition in that country. Naturally there are places in any country were you need to be careful but as far as I know, our members have not reported any issues. In addition, the medical care seem to be good and available in most of the country. Members from Australia should be checking in soon and may have more to add.

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Australia is not a bad place to be trans. Medical care is fairly accessible. People are generally pretty accepting, in that I rarely have any issues in day to day life..

When I was there, I was living as a married, hetero woman, so experienced no trouble, but apparently it can happen.

Here are two links:

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/face-facts-lesbian-gay-bisexual-trans-and-intersex-people

https://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140119053928AA2rOga

Rachel85 wrote that Australia is a great place for transgender acceptance

"I also happen to be living in Sydney which also happens to have the biggest population in Australia and also arguably the most diversity (although maybe not exactly where I am living now! ), so maybe I'm just lucky.

In fact after reading many posts from around the globe I would say that we Aussies are doing alright. We have laws, good healthcare and other than the ignorant redneck types (which I'm sure are everywhere anyway) most people I've come across are pretty alright."

Hi Alisaxy

I live in Adelaide and my experience has been fine. I am new to be out and about as Liz and usually attend only Dr's appointments and Psychologist appoints those types of places. These are all public spaces but even on the rare occasion that I have been in out I have not in any way felt threatened. You need to take sensible and safe precautions. But any woman in Australia would be advised to do that. I have seen plenty of other trans people out and about their business with no difficulty at all. Yes people stare...unfortunately Australians aren't the most subtle.

I would like to think that most of Australia embraces it's LGBTQI community and their is evidence to support this they are not exactly making life easy for everyone. Their are still some fairly stupid idea's but we are ion the news and we are making progress. Different states can have different local laws but on the whole I think Australians are a pretty tolerant bunch, not necessarily anything more, but on the most part tolerant. I fear for and ensure my safety in terms of being a woman/trans woman and on the whole as long as you are sensible I think you will find Australians a pretty accepting bunch and compared to some places an absolute paradise.   

Liz

Thank you all for your kind answers. Indeed, safety is the only thing that concerns me,
I'm okay with people not being accepting as long as they keep it verbal at most. Not too
long ago I decided to not engage in any personal relationships with cis-people on any level any longer,
except for my brother whom I love with all my heart, so a widespread tolerance is all I need.

I think that the Mayang Prasetyo murder ordeal however tragic was a good litmus test for relatively low
transphobia, at least as Brisbane goes. I think it's genuinely sweet that people were outraged about that
insulting news article (you know the 1) & were all too eager to voice that same outrage to the newspaper in question. That really says a lot to me.

I think the fact that Australia is close to the countries like Malaysia & Thailand helps a lot because people like us
are really nothing new in those countries. I'm also glad to hear that Australia recognizes the "third gender" whilst I myself do not identify as such it really helps all of us in the end.

As for "passing" I think I'll do fine albeit not trying to present as a woman right now & waiting out for the electrolysis (most of the facial hair is gone by now with laser anyway), the FFS, the vocal and one more (you know the 1), so that's yet another reason to feel safer.

That's what I look like btw:





I guess we'll see each other in Australia once I get there then.

I live in Sydney and have been out full time for nearly two years. In that time I have barely had any issues of concern. I would imagine that all major cities in Australia would be similar, certainly in the central and inner suburbs. In the regional small towns it may be a different story, but I can't give a real view on that as I don't live there.

You will find friends and idiots everywhere- it's probably best (if at all possible) to live a central/inner neighbourhood and in a job that's got a good mix of genders. Australia does have relatively strong anti-discrimination laws at state and federal level. Although it's out of time on marriage equality........

Hi Hon,

I'm in Adelaide and I know a few hundred TG people in Australia or maybe more! I was in Brisbane last year and had no issues, nice city I really liked it.

I have had no issues, I know some people who have but it usually involves alcohol and night clubs and not being aware of your self.

I know both MtF and FtM who have transitioned in small country towns and they have had no problems. In the large cities as I said as long as you are aware, as any woman needs to be, you should be fine.

However, employment is not easy anywhere at the moment so unless you have an in demand skill set you will find it hard to get a job. Part time hospitality industry seems to be an area but again employers can afford to be picky at the moment.

Brisbane is I think the third most expensive city outside of Sydney and Melbourne. Accomodation can be very expensive.

@rosinstraya @Cindy

Employment is not part of the equation. My brother & I are working on building a business to make us completely independent. Let's just say our talents, intelligence & resourcefulness help a lot. As for making friends: I'm not interested in having any personal relationships with cis-people, so that's not part of the equation either.

When I get to Brisbane if at all I'm going to have enough money to not care how expensive it is. Success is pretty much the only thing on my mind at the moment, so let's hope what they say about making one's dreams become reality is true: it's all about perseverance & hard work.

If you've got the money, Sydney is a good place to live. Its a lot bigger and can be better for business, depending on what it is.