Engender Equality invites Tasmanian fathers and care givers of trans or gender diverse people to participate in our Dads for Gender Diversity Project.  Rigid ideas in our community about gender, and what it means to be a man and father, mean that dads face unique challenges to understand, affirm and to support their ‘child’s’ gender identity.  This project is about bringing dads together to explore their experiences of parenting their trans kids, to support, challenge and inspire each other to affirm their young person’s identity, and to create a resource that can assist future trans young people, their fathers, partners and families.

Why is this important?

• Family support and connection is the most important contributor to trans and gender diverse young people’s wellbeing
• Parental affirmation of gender identity is critical to protect the health and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse young people.
• Available research suggests that affirmation in the home and advocacy in the community for trans and gender diverse young people is largely conducted by mothers. This inequity increases the pressure on women to meet their family’s needs and limits the support available to their young people.
• Dads committed to supporting and affirming their trans and gender diverse young people have few role models and examples of other fathers doing this work that they can draw upon.

About the Project Manager

Don Pitcher is a father of two adult LGBTIQA+ daughters and has significant professional experience in working alongside parents of trans and gender diverse people through Working It Out, Tasmania’s gender sexuality and intersex support, education and advocacy service.  Don’s recent master’s thesis was a qualitative study focusing on the experiences of Australian fathers of trans and gender diverse young people.

Our funding partner

The Violence Prevention Innovation Lab is designed and led by Our Watch and funded by Minderoo Foundation.

The Innovation Lab is funding organisations such as ours, to identify and trial promising approaches to the primary prevention of violence against women. If we can work with young men and boys to help promote a broader, healthier idea of masculinity, we can end violence against women.

To participate, or for more information contact don@engenderequality.org.au, or phone (03) 6278 9090.