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    <title>topic Welcome! Read this to learn more about this section of the Forums in Sexuality and gender identity</title>
    <link>https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/sexuality-and-gender-identity/welcome-read-this-to-learn-more-about-this-section-of-the-forums/m-p/607684#M6634</link>
    <description>&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"&gt;Hello and welcome &lt;SPAN contenteditable="false" data-emoji-short-name=":slight_smile:" data-emoji-id="1f642" data-emoji-text="🙂" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="emoji" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true"&gt;&lt;SPAN class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":slightly_smiling_face:"&gt;&lt;span class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":slightly_smiling_face:"&gt;🙂&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;This is the Sexuality and Gender Identity section of the Beyond Blue Forums. This is a safe space to discuss sexuality and gender identity and share with others who have a lived experience of how these factors impact their mental health and wellbeing.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;We welcome all conversations here and want to know how you feel and what has helped you to be your best self.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;A few important tips and rules for this section are below. What is important is that this is a welcoming, kind and supportive space for everyone.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;OL class="ak-ol" start="1" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="orderedList" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;Its purpose is to&amp;nbsp;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;provide people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer or questioning (LGBTIQ+) a safe space&lt;/STRONG&gt;&amp;nbsp;to talk about how issues relating to gender identity and sexual orientation impact on mental health and wellbeing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;This includes discussion of and support around chronic illnesses such as HIV&lt;/STRONG&gt;&amp;nbsp;which disproportionately affect gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;As this is a safe and affirming space for LGBTIQ+ individuals,&amp;nbsp;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;please note this is not an appropriate space for debating the "rights and wrongs" of homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender fluidity itself.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/STRONG&gt;This includes use of terms such as "lifestyle" and "choice".&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;This sub-forum is and always will be a safe and supportive place for LGBTIQ+ people concerned with what we all need to do to stay well. That said,&amp;nbsp;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;others are welcome provided they respect that this is primarily a LGBTIQ+ space.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;/OL&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;Thank you and welcome&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;Beyond Blue&lt;/P&gt;</description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2025 01:31:18 GMT</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>BeyondBlue</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2025-05-23T01:31:18Z</dc:date>
    <item>
      <title>Welcome! Read this to learn more about this section of the Forums</title>
      <link>https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/sexuality-and-gender-identity/welcome-read-this-to-learn-more-about-this-section-of-the-forums/m-p/607684#M6634</link>
      <description>&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"&gt;Hello and welcome &lt;SPAN contenteditable="false" data-emoji-short-name=":slight_smile:" data-emoji-id="1f642" data-emoji-text="🙂" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="emoji" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true"&gt;&lt;SPAN class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":slightly_smiling_face:"&gt;&lt;span class="lia-unicode-emoji" title=":slightly_smiling_face:"&gt;🙂&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;This is the Sexuality and Gender Identity section of the Beyond Blue Forums. This is a safe space to discuss sexuality and gender identity and share with others who have a lived experience of how these factors impact their mental health and wellbeing.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;We welcome all conversations here and want to know how you feel and what has helped you to be your best self.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;A few important tips and rules for this section are below. What is important is that this is a welcoming, kind and supportive space for everyone.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;OL class="ak-ol" start="1" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="orderedList" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;Its purpose is to&amp;nbsp;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;provide people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer or questioning (LGBTIQ+) a safe space&lt;/STRONG&gt;&amp;nbsp;to talk about how issues relating to gender identity and sexual orientation impact on mental health and wellbeing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;This includes discussion of and support around chronic illnesses such as HIV&lt;/STRONG&gt;&amp;nbsp;which disproportionately affect gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;As this is a safe and affirming space for LGBTIQ+ individuals,&amp;nbsp;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;please note this is not an appropriate space for debating the "rights and wrongs" of homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender fluidity itself.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/STRONG&gt;This includes use of terms such as "lifestyle" and "choice".&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;LI data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;This sub-forum is and always will be a safe and supportive place for LGBTIQ+ people concerned with what we all need to do to stay well. That said,&amp;nbsp;&lt;STRONG data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong"&gt;others are welcome provided they respect that this is primarily a LGBTIQ+ space.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;/LI&gt;
&lt;/OL&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;Thank you and welcome&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"&gt;Beyond Blue&lt;/P&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2025 01:31:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/sexuality-and-gender-identity/welcome-read-this-to-learn-more-about-this-section-of-the-forums/m-p/607684#M6634</guid>
      <dc:creator>BeyondBlue</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2025-05-23T01:31:18Z</dc:date>
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