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While research has provided a significant picture of the lived experiences of transgender and sex/gender diverse (TSGD) Australians, it remains incomplete because population samples rarely include TSGD people from Australia's Northern Territory. The Northern Territory is twice the size of France but is populated by only 210,000 people. The territory's environmental and demographic features make it very distinct from Australia's other six states and mainland territory. Most notably, it possesses a "frontier" mentality and is considered to be one of Australia's most homophobic states and territories. This paper publishes the results of an online survey conducted as part of an ongoing research project into the health needs of TSGD individuals, such as availability of medical and support services that specialize in, and are "friendly" to, TSGD people, especially in remote areas of the territory, colloquially referred to as out bush. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Growing numbers of Australian trans and gender diverse people desire to become parents, yet many who do so experience a lack of support and recognition. This article reports on an online survey completed by 160 trans or gender diverse people. The survey included general demographic questions, in addition to questions related to (1) current parenting arrangements, (2) modes of family formation, (3) the desire to have children in the future, and (4) support or discrimination from families of origin. In regard to the findings, only a minority of participants (39) were already parents; however 21 participants indicated that they desired to have children in the future. Participants who were already parents were older than those who were not, and conversely, participants who desired to have children in the future were younger than those who did not. Discrimination from family of origin was negatively correlated with support for parenting, while support from family of origin was positively correlated with desire to have children. The paper concludes by suggesting that support from service providers is important for this potentially vulnerable group who may not experience support from their families of origin and who may perceive themselves as having limited pathways to parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents for the first time the results of research conducted in 2001 titled Australian Transgender Survey 2001 (ATS2001). Sixty-six transgender Australians participated in a qualitative research methodology—namely, an online survey—and were asked to reflect on their sex/gender and transgender identities and lived experiences, especially in regard to their views on hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgery, and the medical profession. Participants were also asked about their aspirations for the future of transgenderism in Australia. This project was unable to mirror the findings of other research, thus, making a unique contribution to the extant literature. ATS2001 indicates that participants are satisfied with the results of sex reassignment surgery while simultaneously being critical of the medical profession. Participants were also asked to reflect on their aspirations for the future. Some aspirations, such as uniformity across Australian states and territories with regard to recognition of one's sex/gender and a reduction in the cost of "sex reassignment surgery," have not been realized. Other aspirations have been realized, such as the passage of anti-discrimination laws, being able to change the sex/gender on official documents, being able to marry, and social acceptance and adoption of sex/gender categories other than man, woman, and transgender, have occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]