Written by Viktoria Valore – CBR Gals Chair for the Advocacy Subcommittee
Since CBR Gals has been consciously connecting and advancing Canberra’s women and gender-diverse individuals, amplifying their businesses and fostering meaningful connections. Most recently our vibrant community has hosted inclusive monthly events, such as the Gals Evolving Bookclub at Queenies Kingston, providing a safe space for thoughtful conversation over nibbles and drinks. We also celebrated International Women’s Day with unique gatherings like the CBR Gals Sunset at Rosas, featuring friendship speed dating and themed conversation cards to promote genuine connections.
CBR Gals is the cool older sister every Canberran needs. We stand up to bullies, call out the garbage, and maybe even tell you where all the cool kids hang out.
Today’s blog is by your most beautiful sister (obviously) – Viktoria, Chair of our Advocacy Subcommittee. Trans Day of Visibility is around the corner, and as your cool older sister in the Canberra community, CBR Gals wants every trans woman and gender-diverse pal to know one thing: when we say all women, we mean it. You belong here — we see you, we celebrate you, and we’ve got your back, today, tomorrow, and every other day.
Inclusion: Embracing Every Sister and Sibling
CBR Gals is all about creating a space where every woman and gender-diverse person feels at home. I mean have you seen our events? They sell out faster than Facebook and their DEI initiative. For us, these spaces mean recognizing that trans women are women. Full stop.
Trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse friends are an integral part of our sisterhood. Sadly, not all groups are welcoming and this creates isolation for vulnerable groups. And really, that’s not what being a feminist is about.
So hear us when we say at CBR Gals, inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our backbone. Want to make new friends? You’re invited. Want to join our book club? You’re invited. Just want to get your photo taken with Viktoria? Weird, but also super flattering. You’re invited.
Visibility: Why Representation Matters
Trans Day of Visibility (celebrated every year on March 31) is all about being seen and heard. It’s a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans and gender-diverse people. A day to shout from the rooftops that everyone deserves to live openly and joyfully. Visibility is powerful. For many gender-diverse people, growing up without role models or representation can feel isolating. If you never see someone like you around, you might start to wonder if there’s a place for you at all.
We don’t want to contribute to that problem. As a feminist organisation we want all women, and gender diverse people to know we see them. You’re visible to us, and we will advocate and encourage you to share this space.
“Feminists know that women with ambition are called “monstrous” or that women who are not heterosexual are pathologised. We fight those misrepresentations because they are false and because they reflect more about the misogyny of those who make demeaning caricatures than they do about the complex social diversity of women. Women should not engage in the forms of phobic caricature by which they have been traditionally demeaned. And by “women” I mean all those who identify in that way.“
– Judith Butler, “Judith Butler on the culture wars, JK Rowling and living in “anti-intellectual times”
Advocacy: Stand up, Support, & Show up
CBR Gals (Being you’re cool older sister) means not only inviting you in, but also standing up for you when it counts. Advocacy is a big part of what we do at CBR Gals. Did you see the amazing call out of Tradwives the amazing Ellie did for Teacher Tuesdays? Of course you did! (but here’s the link just in case you can’t find it)
We breathe equity, and equity is active. It’s something you do. So how can we all support our on Trans Day of Visibility and beyond?
First off, we can all support by continuing to educating ourselves. No one expects you to know everything, and it’s not like they teach you this stuff at school. Growing is good. The more we learn about trans experiences and the issues that affect the community, the better allies we become. From understanding the importance of pronouns to learning about everyday challenges (like accessing healthcare or just being able to pee without fear), knowledge is power. And when you don’t know something, being curious and listening is key.
Secondly, Speak up. If you hear someone make a hurtful joke or comment, call it out. Use your voice to counter misinformation whenever you can.
Lastly, Show up. You can also use your presence to show support. Come to our events and if you have a friend or family member who is a trans, or non-binary person who might be shy, bring them along too. We want everyone to feel like part of our Canberra Community! (And if anyone gives you trouble, you point them out to your cool older sister Viktoria. I’ll probably just cry at them, but my gosh they’ll never forget it!)
Call to Action: How you can get involve
Look, I get it, we didn’t get taught this at school. But like the cool and (did I mention beautiful?) older sister I am, I’m here to take your hand and help you be the best ally you can. And for the trans chicks, and Enby’s (Non-Binary) peeps here follow along, because I’m your sister too, and this next part will be on the test! Trans Day of Visibility is the perfect time to put all this love and support into action. Here are a few ways you can join in and uplift the community as feminists.
- Join the CBR Gals mailing list. Sign up here to stay in the loop on all our events (consider it your personal invite to everything!).
- Donate to keep events affordable – If you want to help more women and gender-diverse folks come together, consider donating to CBR Gals. Your support helps us keep event ticket prices low (or free) to ensure accessibility.
- Be an ally, every day – Support your trans friends and family by learning and listening. Celebrate their achievements, stand up against transphobia, and make sure they know you’re in their corner. Show up to community events, share resources, and keep the conversation going beyond one day.
- Tap into local support – Meridian ACT and A Gender Agenda (AGA) are two Canberra organisations that support trans and gender-diverse people. They’ve got your back whenever you need community or advice. (Links below)
This is what feminism is about, supporting your sisters to achieve equity.
On Trans Day of Visibility, let’s celebrate our trans friends and gender-diverse siblings openly. Let’s cheer on their successes, listen to their stories, and commit to being allies in action, not just words. If in doubt, remember that at CBR Gals, we’re here for all women, always. And when we say all women are welcome, we truly mean all.
Cool Gal Nerd Stuff: Numbers
- 0.9% of Australians aged 16 and p report a gender different from their sex recorded at birth (that’s an estimated 178,900 trans and gender-diverse people nationwide)
- This jumps to about 1.8% for young adults aged 16–24 (and some estimates say up to ~3% of teenagers). In other words, roughly 1 in 100 adult Aussies are trans or gender-diverse; so chances are you know someone in the community even if they aren’t out to you.
- Of the estimated 178,900 Australians aged 16 years and over who have a trans experience:
- 37.5% are trans men (Someone assumed female at birth or AFAB)
- 29.3% are trans women (Someone assumed male at birth AMAB)
- 32.7% are non-binary people (Someone assumed either male, or assumed female at birth or AFAB/AMAB)
Cool Gal Nerd Stuff: Bibliography
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS): Experience of Discrimination in Australia
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/measuring-what-matters/measuring-what-matters-themes-and-indicators/cohesive/experience-discrimination - Gender Equality Commission Victoria: Gender & LGBTIQ+ Employees in the Workplace
https://www.genderequalitycommission.vic.gov.au/intersectionality-work/chapter-5-gender-and-LGBTIQ-employees - Monash University XYX Lab: Safe Spaces for Diverse Women
https://www.monash.edu/mada/xyx-lab/projects/safe-spaces-understanding-and-enhancing-safety-and-inclusion-for-diverse-women - Meridian ACT: Health & Social Support for LGBTIQ+ Communities
https://www.meridianact.org.au/ - A Gender Agenda (AGA): Rights, Advocacy & Support for Gender-Diverse People
https://genderrights.org.au/ - Williams Institute Study on Transgender Economic Disparities
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/
Viktoria is the Chair for the CBR Gals, Advocacy Sub Committee. Professionally she is the Chief Operations Officer for a tech company in the Aged Care/NDIS space. In her free time she can be found around Canberra, probably buying comics or eating ice cream with her beautiful girlfriend.