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The Gay and Lesbian Switchboard operates Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 6-10pm, Wednesday 2- 10 pm, and Friday, Saturday, Sunday 6-9pm
Tasmanian and regional callers: 1800 184 527.
ECQLS = East Coast Queer Life Support is a non political GLBTI support network established in the North-East Tasmania to co-ordinate and provide referral & network services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning people of all ages in the region. For more information, ecqlstasmania@gmail.com
Queer is a reclaimed word that is most commonly used today to describe anything relating to sexuality and gender diversity.
We use it to encompass everyone and everything that could be described as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, curious, asexual, pansexual, polysexual, queer, or questioning - infact anyone who does not fit into the norms of the mainstream sexual or gender minority.
The word is used often as an empowering, umbrella term to describe the diverse spectrum of communities recognised as being minoritised or socially disempowered due to their gender identity or sexuality. It is also a collective social identity which has many meanings to many people depending on who you ask.
In the past the word queer has been used as an insult although "gay" has replaced it's usage in recent years in places most commonly assoicated with verbal abuse and opressive language. People of all ages choose to identify as "Queer" and it's usage is ever changing.
