From my time navigating the structural homophobia in Indig health what I’ve learnt is this, you can not use anti-racist methodologies. Mob take it personally when you highlight how their org is outwardly operating in a homophobic way. It’s like ‘but I voted “yes”.

There is not nearly enough self reflection on their own org behaviours, the same that is asked of non-Indig orgs to reflect on racism, when it comes to Indig Q community engagement. Anti-racism asks to de-personalise the exp, yet mob can’t seem to engage anti-homophobia w/out it.

No more is visibility is enough. Representation is not enough. Engagement needs to be Indig Q health - our whatever sector - subject matter experts. I.e Indig Q representatives. Being Indig Q on a advisory group/board doesn’t make you that expert, unless you do Indig Q work.

I’ve seen “engagement” by Indig orgs @ conferences etc where the keynote speaker is Indig Q, but they aren’t working in Indig Q space - which is 100% fine. H’ever the Indig Q box gets . I’ve seen it as well where an Indig Q is the MC. Again the Indig Q engagement box gets .

If this was non-Indig org behaviour. If this was how non-Indig were “engaging” with Indig mob, way we’d call it tokenism, we’d call it racism. Racism are heterosexism are twin experiences for Indig Q mob. Both are determinants of health. Both are suicide/self harm risk factors.

I cover off on this in more detail & other topics during my #WorldSuicidePreventionDay online yarn up, “An introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ( #Indigenous Australian) LGBQTI+SB #suicideprevention  . Tix on sale now. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indigenous-lgbtiqsb-suicide-prevention-an-online-introduction-tickets-117616471031 #WSPD2020