The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) is committed to providing a safe space for all members of our community, through our collectives, autonomous spaces, advocacy service, and more. However, 2025 has already proven itself to be a challenging and hostile year for members of our student body.

US President Donald Trump’s recent sweep of executive orders have caused great fear for Queer people across the globe. Amongst a host of other policy changes targeting the United States’ Queer community, Trump is forcing trans women into men’s prisons and leaving them vulnerable to v-coding, attacking the ability of trans people to travel, and has banned gender affirming care for people under 19, not just minors. All of these changes come at a time when various other jurisdictions are attempting to ban gender affirming care in its entirety for all people. This is erasing trans people: this is eliminating our existence.

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Protesters marching at a Melbourne Protect Trans Youth rally on 8 February 2025

Australia needs strong political leadership to stand and support our nation’s queer community; however, both major Australian parties—Labor and Liberal—have pledged to develop a strong working relationship with the Trump administration. This poses a scary prospect for the future of the Australian queer community and we are witnessing these executive orders spread into Australian policy, such as Queensland’s attempt to ban gender affirming care for minors. We need to make sure that access to gender affirming care is accessible, supportive and free from stigma.

The University of Melbourne Student Union stands with queer people of all nations, we will continue to oppose attacks upon our community in all forms.

- UMSU Queer & UMSU President