Don’t read the comments. It’s a well-worn mantra for pretty much any of us who use social media for public advocacy or simply dare to share our opinions online.
But I was still appalled, if not surprised, by the noxious layers of homophobic abuse piled onto Matildas captain Sam Kerr and partner Kristie Mewis on social media as they announced one of the most joyful moments in their lives – that they are expecting their first child.
Whilst some might like to wave this sort of behaviour away as ‘par for the course’ for those who ‘choose’ to live in the public spotlight, this both excuses unacceptable online behaviour and ignores the serious mental health repercussion of such abuse on a young professional couple who already endure the weekly grind of sexist and sexualised comments faced by women sporting stars online.
It also glosses over the negative ripple effect that such abuse has on every single person who witnesses it and internalises it as ‘expected’ or ‘normal’ – whether they are members of the LGBTQIA+ community or not.
Either way, people from marginalised communities deserve better.
I am the CEO of an Australian charity called Out for Australia, doing grassroots work to support LGBTQIA+ young people in the formative stages of their careers to bring their full and fabulous selves to work. We run Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ mentoring program and every year we help more than 2000 young people. With 18.9% of Australians aged 16 to 25 identifying as something other than heterosexual, and 2.3% identifying as trans- or gender diverse we’d love to help many more.
Our charity exists because, despite younger generations being more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ and ‘coming out’ younger, they are the least likely to be out at work. The transition from education to the workplace sees many choosing to go back into the closet. Only 24% of LGBTQIA+ people aged 18 to 24 are comfortable sharing their true self with everyone they work with, less than half compared to those over 35 years old.
Should we find this surprising? After all, our society is undoubtedly more socially liberal than it has ever been, with same-sex marriage coming into law seven years ago and increasing representation of LGBTQIA+ people in the public sphere.
But if Sam Kerr, an Aussie sporting hero, is fair game for homophobic abuse on social media – what hope is there for the rest of us? When staff and students in Australian private schools can be excluded due to their innate sexual orientation or gender identity – why would young people, who may be happily out to their families and friends, have the confidence to be themselves at work?
When our LGBTQIA+ community members are subjected to targeted physical attacks, dehumanising public debate about our human rights and devastating so-called ‘conversion practices’, is it any wonder that almost half of all LGB+ people (43.9%) and one in four trans and gender diverse people (26.3%) have experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress according to figures from the ABS?
In the face of ongoing prejudice and attacks, it is incumbent on us all to identify, challenge, and stamp out discrimination wherever it rears its ugly head. That could mean something as simple as donating to a grassroot LGBTQIA+ organisations like Out for Australia, because LGBTQIA+ charities are currently underfunded, receiving only five cents in every 100 philanthropic dollars.
On a structural level it should means families, workplaces, and community groups taking positive steps to prevent discrimination and harassment before it begins. It will also take governments passing legislation to protect us from the psychological harms caused by so-called ‘conversion practices’, and from discrimination in schools.
Finally, governments can and must do more to hold social media platforms to account for the content they host. Maybe then, we could all start reading the comments. Congratulations, Kristie and Sam.