5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ACON 40 is a time for reflection and celebration. It’s also a call to action. We’ve put together five things you should know about LGBTQ+ health—use them to expand your understanding, challenge assumptions and help create a healthier, more inclusive community.
U=U: Today’s HIV Treatments Stop Transmission
When someone living with HIV is on effective treatment, the virus becomes undetectable and cannot be passed on. This is known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) and it is backed by decades of evidence. It’s a scientific breakthrough and a human rights message that challenges fear and stigma. As of 2024, 99% of people living with HIV in NSW have undetectable viral loads. Yet too many people still have fears about HIV that were formed in the 1980s.
ACON works to ensure people living with HIV get the care and support they need, because U=U saves lives, protects our communities, and brings us closer to ending HIV transmission.
Learn more: endinghiv.org.au | acon.org.au
Gender Affirming Care Saves Lives and Improves Them
Gender affirming care is about offering trans and gender diverse people more options to live in ways that are consistent with their gender identity. For trans and gender diverse people, gender affirming care is essential. It improves mental health, supports wellbeing, and helps people live with confidence and pride. But barriers like cost, delays, and discrimination persist. Access matters and care must be safe, respectful and inclusive.
ACON’s work, including the online TransHub platform, supports trans and gender diverse people to navigate healthcare and connect with affirming information and services. Because when care reflects who you are, everything changes.
Learn more: acon.org.au | transhub.org.au
LGBTQ+ Mental Health is Important – And So Is Who You Talk To
Most LGBTQ+ people live in a world that doesn’t always understand our identities or diversity of expression can be tough. While many in our community’s experience trans or queer joy, LGBTQ+ people are nearly six times more likely to experience and be diagnosed with depression, and transgender and gender diverse people aged 18 and over are 5½ times more likely to experience and be diagnosed with depression. This is not because there’s anything wrong with being LGBTQ+, but because of cultural norms and systems of discrimination, harm and exclusion. When sexuality and gender diverse communities are supported by people who genuinely understand our lives, who see us, respect us, and create space for us to show up as we are, things can change. Affirming LGBTQ+ mental health care, especially when delivered by and for us, can be life-changing.
ACON works to provide counselling and peer led services to members of our community and to make the entire system more inclusive of our experience. We also work to connect members of community looking for other people who are like them.
Learn more: acon.org.au
Inclusion in Action: Creating Spaces Where Everyone Can Thrive
Inclusion goes beyond visibility. It means creating environments where LGBTQ+ people are respected, safe and able to thrive. When workplaces, healthcare services and sports communities take this seriously, everyone benefits. Inclusive settings lead to better mental health, stronger engagement, and improved outcomes across the board. They also attract and keep diverse talent, foster trust and help build more connected teams and communities. Real inclusion requires ongoing effort, shaped by lived experience and built into everyday actions, policies and culture.
Learn more: prideinclusionprograms.com.au
Tailored Support Works: Alcohol Harm-Reduction for LGBTQ+ Women
Cis and trans LGBTQ+ women use alcohol at higher rates than their peers and often want support but rarely find services that reflect their lives. ACON’s Drink Limits pilot, generously shared with us by Thorne Harbour Health, showed strong engagement and real results among LGBTQ+ women. It proved that support grounded in lived experience really works. But we need funding to keep it going. Tailored harm-reduction, as well as support for women in areas such as cancer control and social connections, aren’t luxuries, they’re essential care.
It’s time to invest in programs that empower, not erase.
Learn more: betweenthelines.org.au
What You Can Do Now: Support LGBTQ+ Health and Equality
For four decades, ACON’s work has been powered by community. You can be part of that by talking with friends, learning more about our work, attending events, volunteering your time, or donating. Every action helps grow our impact. Whether you’re reconnecting or just discovering us, there’s a place for you here. Join us in building health, dignity and equality for all LGBTQ+ people now and into the future.
Get involved: acon.org.au
