Five minutes with Brian Pang, Anti-Discrimination NSW

Published 27 May 2024

To mark International Day against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May, ADNSW Assistant Policy Officer Brian Pang joined the Canterbury Bankstown LGBTQ+ Inclusion Network for a panel discussion of the topic “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all”.

We caught up with Brian afterwards to find out more about why IDAHOBIT is important to them.

Why is IDAHOBIT important to you?

IDAHOBIT gives us an opportunity to celebrate the diverse world we live in, and to raise awareness about discrimination and its impacts. It gives us an opportunity to take action, and talk about our stories. These stories are intersectional, personal and unique - and they are worth telling and hearing.

Everyone needs to be safe, seen and included. Government bodies have a role to play in this, as do each of us as individuals.

When we only focus on legal definitions of discrimination and queer existence, we often miss discussing a crucial part of what our gender identity and sexuality means to us. It informs how we feel about ourselves, our body and our personhood. It informs whether we feel seen and respected by others, and whether it is safe and fair for us to participate in life. When discrimination occurs, it can feel violating in all these aspects.

The panel discussion I was part of this year highlighted the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalised communities, as well as taking actions to foster solidarity and create inclusive spaces for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. We are making progress towards equality, freedom, and justice for all but we need to take care of each other while we do this ongoing work, and join together to challenge discrimination and prejudice.

What can someone do if they experience discrimination because of their sexuality?

Reporting is important. Currently, in NSW it is unlawful discrimination if someone is treated less favourably than somebody else because of their homosexuality or being transgender.

If you’ve experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, vilification, or victimisation in NSW, you can contact Anti-Discrimination NSW for free confidential information about your rights and how to make a complaint. If you make a complaint to us, this is a free service and we will try to help you and the other party find a way of resolving the matter. Our website has lots of information as well as some case studies.