In Your Face

TW: Mentions of hate groups, violence against Queer people

I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which I am writing, which is the Woi Wurrung of the Kulin Nation/s. I further acknowledge that no land in Australia has been ceded. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Howdy, my name is Vitoria. I was born and raised on Gumbangirr land in NSW, and I am a proud Genderqueer (Transgender) La Trobe student. Throughout my life, I have witnessed victories such as same-sex marriage and Third-gender Recognition on birth documents, yet I have faced discrimination.

Like many Trans people, I have experienced discrimination both on and off-campus in spaces such as bars, social groups, and the Agora. The most recent of these personal attacks was when a student called me slurs "Tra**y" and "F*ggot." The effect this has had on me as one of the LTSU Queer Officers is profound, and it has made me want to stand up and fight back. Discrimination has no place in our university, and the current grievance processes do not help.

The last two months have been a nightmare, with Naz*'s openly displaying hate symbols, figures such as Andrew Tate pushing hate speech onto the general public, and Queer rights declining across the globe. The current grievance processes at La Trobe University do not work for students. They are both invasive and confronting, making students relive trauma instead of finding solutions. Should students of any background have to face this systematic abuse? And what can we do to combat this issue?

Participating in politics and student unionism has given me a voice to speak and fight for my community. There are many political groups at LTU, but only one union for students, the La Trobe Student Union. Our Student Union is the peak representative body for students, running services like the food bank, which has become an essential service on campus.

So, how can you get involved with the Union? The easiest way to get involved with the Union is by going to the website and signing up to become a member and volunteer. Signing up will keep you informed about what the Union is doing and how you can get involved.

The idea of this level of discrimination in 2023 should make everyone question what is going on in our city, country, and the world. The fight for Trans rights is at the heart

of the LTSU this year, and the more students that get involved, the better chance we have at real change.

In solidarity,
Vitoria-Iris Ryan-Elaine Cooke LTSU Queer Officer.