Readily available and aggressively marketed online, exposure to pornography is now mainstream. For children and young people growing up online, it can be difficult to avoid. Regular consumption has become normalized, particularly among young men.

At the same time that pornography has become more mainstream, it has also become more hardcore. The most popular online pornography commonly depicts sexualized aggression and violence, including gagging, choking, forced sex, hidden camera and incest themes.

Pornography is not just images on a screen; it has become a default sex educator for many children and young people. Porn is shaping their sexual imaginations, expectations and experiences – with serious implications for their capacity to negotiate free and full consent, for mutual respect, sexual health, gender equality and mental wellbeing. There is growing concern internationally that pornography is contributing to cultural conditions that support sexual pressure, coercion and assault.

Children and young people need support to navigate this new reality.

Drawing on international research and her interviews with young people, experts and pornography industry professionals, Maree will explore how pornography’s influence on children and young people has become an issue we cannot afford to ignore.

Every child and family deserve to have access to the care and support that they need to thrive. Yet when it comes to LGBTIQA+ healthcare responses, particularly for children who are transgender and gender diverse, the otherwise accepted needs and safety of a child are dislocated and too often dangerously replaced by political point scoring, fostering a moral panic and conflating a religious debate.
There are many historical and cross-cultural examples of diverse sexualities and genders, including in First Nations communities in this country. These examples help us understand that LGBTIQ+ young people are not an aberration but have always existed and are here to stay.
Recent studies and coronial data collection demonstrate that the suicide in LGBTIQ+ communities and specifically for LGBTIQ+ youth is significantly higher than the general population. There's nothing inherent about LGBTIQ+ people and our communities that makes us more vulnerable to poor mental health. However, a lack of support, a lack of health care, and discrimination do contribute to high rates of suicide and poor mental health outcomes.
We all have a role to play in driving down suicide and poor mental health in all our communities and when it comes to LGBTIQ+ children and young people we need to address the specific drivers and have a targeted response. Although the challenge is staggering, LGBTIQ+ communities and their families are continuously demonstrating resilience and there is a hopeful future if we can listen to those with a lived experience and prioritise the healthcare needs of LGBTIQA+ young people.