United Nations expert slams Australian media over treatment and ‘betrayal’ of trans people

GRA inquiry: Tell the women and equalities committee about trans equality

A United Nations expert has slammed the media in Australia for positioning trans youth as a “new social fad or ideology”.

Victor Madrigal-Borloz is an independent expert for the UN on preventing violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. He hit out at the Australian media in an article for The Guardian.

In the article, Madrigal-Borloz said he is consistently moved by “the courage and perseverance” of the trans community in the face of “profoundly incorrect” media narratives.

“I wish to state in the strongest terms possible that such narratives are not only profoundly incorrect, but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes which delegitimise the identities of trans people and ultimately impede access to their human rights,” Madriga-Borloz wrote.

United Nations expert Victor Madrigal-Borloz hit out at media that portrays being trans as a ‘social fad’.

He continued: “Australian trans youth are not being influenced by social media as part of a social fad, and classifying trans-inclusive healthcare as ‘experimental’, ‘gender engineering’, or as part of a broader political agenda is reductive and offensive to a deeply personal decision which is often made at great risk to a person’s own safety.”

If they listen to only a fraction of the stories that I have heard, they would no doubt recognise the struggle that is their everyday life, and that is worthy of respect and solidarity.

Elsewhere in the article, Madrigal-Borloz pleaded with people to listen to the real, lived experiences of trans people and their families.

“If they listen to only a fraction of the stories that I have heard, they would no doubt recognise the struggle that is their everyday life, and that is worthy of respect and solidarity.”

He also pointed out that gender diversity has always existed.

He also wrote that gender diversity has always existed and hit out at the prevailing narrative presented by some journalists which presents trans people’s existence as a fad.

Furthermore, he criticised policy makers’ refusal to engage with trans and non-binary people, and pointed out that they continue to face disproportionate rates of violence.

“I am of the view that some aspects of the public debate in Australia misrepresent the lived realities of trans people, particularly trans youth,” he continued.

He concluded: “Trans lives are not sinful by definition, are not disordered by definition, and certainly are not immoral by definition. Stigma automatically associating trans people with sin, illness and crime must be dismantled.”

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