More young people than ever identify as LGBTQ. But is it easier to be queer today?

What’s it like to grow up queer in Australia today? Well, for one thing, you’d be part of a growing cohort of peers openly identifying as queer. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of Gen Z Australians who identify as LGBTQ increased from 16 to 29 per cent, says YouthSense, which describes itself as “a free insights community ..

. dedicated to youth engagement”. Enfys (left) and Jemma, are part of Minus 18’s youth leadership program.

Credit: Penny Stephens You’d also be more likely to see yourself reflected in popular culture. Representation in the media – across TV, film and music – is growing, while events such as Pride Month and Mardi Gras become increasingly mainstream. On the other hand, you’d be more likely to see yourself reflected in the headlines, as debates around the rights of those in the community grow increasingly polarised and hostile.

Rates of poor mental health among LGBTQ Australians – no doubt fuelled by vitriolic debate – also remain high compared to the general population. Micah Scott, chief executive of Minus 18, an Australian charity that supports members of the LGBTQ community, says the youth of today are more confident advocating for themselves. “There’s an expectation for the rest of the world to keep up and to understand and include them, which is incredible to see,” he says.

In part, Scott says, this comes from growing disillusionment with a society that wasn’t built for them to succeed. “Younger generations are opting .