Investigating the unrelated deaths in unison will help shape recommendations to reduce suicide rates among trans and gender diverse Victorians.
An inquest into the apparent suicides of five trans and gender diverse Victorians undergoing a gender affirmation process will take place later this year.
A directions hearing will be held on 13 October before inquest proceedings commence over the course of three days in late November.
Although no connection has been made between the deaths, combining them under one investigation will lead to better recommendations to help prevent future suicides, according to Victoria’s coroner Ingrid Giles.
Ms Giles also issued an order outlining how the five people should be publicly referred to during the inquest.
“In July 2023, I assumed carriage of the investigation into the deaths of five young people who were undergoing a gender affirmation process prior to passing, and who had died by way of apparent suicide,” the order said.
“In order to assist the court in referring to the deceased persons in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner in these proceedings, the loved ones of the deceased were consulted in relation to the names that were in use by the deceased prior to passing, and which had been chosen by the deceased to correspond with their gender identity.
“I have determined it appropriate to refer in this proceeding to each deceased by what the evidence supports as their chosen name, even where this had not been legally changed.”
All five individuals whose deaths will be investigated were born between 1987 and 2001.
The inquest comes after a nationwide survey of LGBTQIA+ people showed that one in two trans Australians had experienced some form of hate and one in 10 had experienced violence.
The survey, which featured around 3100 responses, also found that 80% of participants reported an increase in online anti-trans hate in the past three years and 90% had seen hateful messages or comments online in the previous 12 months.
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