Country Overview
Australia
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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Australia is generally progressive in legal protections for LGBTIQ people, but laws vary by state and territory. Nationally, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as “intersex status” and “appearance or mannerisms or other gender‑related characteristics,” is banned. The Federal Court of Australia also affirmed in August 2024 that trans people are protected from gender identity discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, interpreting “sex” in this law as fluid and encompassing “broader ordinary meaning.” Same-sex marriages have also been legally recognized since 2017. Trans people can change their legal gender markers, but surgical intervention is required in certain states.
Surveys show that a majority of Australians believe that society should accept same-sex sexuality and that trans people should be able to change their legal gender markers. However, LGBTQ people still face verbal and physical abuse, including from family members, because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Intersex minors are still subjected to medically unnecessary genital surgeries in most of the country. However, in 2023, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) passed the Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill, aimed at protecting intersex people from unwanted or harmful medical intervention.
*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.
View this regionSouthwest Asia and North Africa
In the Southwest Asia and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
Americas
Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
Global
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Human Rights Research
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