The Carswell Forum 2025 provides a platform for intersex rights

The inaugural Carswell Forum 2025 was held on September 19 at the Royal International Convention Centre in Bowen Hills, Queensland. Organised by Brisbane Pride and the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance, the event was a landmark initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among community members, activists, and government representatives.

In Honour of Phil Carswell

Named in honour of Phil Carswell, a pioneering AIDS activist and champion for LGBTQIA+ rights in Queensland, the forum celebrated his legacy of community empowerment and social justice. Phil Carswell was an incredible man- a man with a heart for social justice, with a deep compassion for humanity and with an extraordinary ability to build connection, clarity and understanding. The Carswell Forum gives us a chance to recognise the invaluable example he set for us all- in harnessing our strength, coming together in solidarity and fighting for change and justice.
President of Brisbane Pride, James McCarthy said that
“Phil Carswell taught us that change happens when communities lead by placing lived experience in every conversation.”

Panels of Power with Lived Experience in every conversation

Throughout the day, presenters and panels spoke passionately about the lived realities of Queensland’s LGBTIQA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities. The forum tackled urgent issues including domestic, family and sexual violence, racism, rights and responsibility, holistic health, and community cohesion. Mental health support and the challenges faced by regional and rural communities were central themes, with speakers emphasizing the importance of lived experience in shaping advocacy and service strategies. The event was positioned as a springboard for future action and policy development, with hopes of becoming an annual fixture in the state's LGBTQIA+ calendar.

“Health and Wellbeing” Panel highlights intersex issues

Moderated by Margie McCumstie, Training and Communications Coordinator at InterAction, the “Health and Wellbeing” session explored what whole-of-life health and wellbeing looks like for LGBTQIA+ people. Margie guided a powerful discussion on the intersections of HIV legacy, intersex rights, mental health, and community resilience with panellists Jacob Harland, Evie Ryder, and Dr Bernard Gardiner.
Jacob Harland, a community advocate and volunteer with Brisbane Pride and BootCo, spoke candidly about the importance of meaningful support beyond medical treatment for people living with HIV. He shared his own experience of diagnosis and the critical role of safe, affirming spaces in supporting mental wellbeing.
Evie Ryder, a social worker, filmmaker, performer, and team leader at Gayawur Rainbow, highlighted the gaps in public and community health systems and the need for inclusive, community-led care—particularly for trans individuals.
Dr Bernard Gardiner, Vice President of the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health and one of the courageous 78ers, reflected on lessons learned from decades of HIV advocacy. He emphasized how grassroots campaigning and persistent messaging helped grow support for HIV initiatives, and how similar strategies could strengthen efforts in mental health, gender affirmation, and intersex healthcare.

Intersex Issues and Call for Solidarity

Margie McCumstie spoke with conviction about the urgent need to uphold bodily autonomy and informed consent for people with innate variations of sex characteristics, especially in early life and adolescence. She shared InterAction’s recent involvement with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which presented a comprehensive report detailing the lived experiences and rights violations faced by intersex people worldwide.
Margie reminded attendees that the ACT remains the only jurisdiction in Australia with legislative protections against unnecessary surgical intervention on intersex infants and children—protections that do not yet exist in Queensland. While Queensland has updated its Protocol for Obtaining Informed Consent for Health Care Procedures, it does not specifically address intersex surgeries or prohibit medically unnecessary procedures performed without the individual's consent.
She also referenced the Darlington Statement and alarming statistics around suicidality within intersex populations, underscoring the need for psychosocial support through services like InterLink. In a powerful call to action, Margie urged the audience to stand in solidarity:
“We need people to understand what is happening to intersex babies and children. The intersex population figures are estimated to be around 1.7% of the population, but as there is so much shame and stigma, a large proportion of the 1.7% do not feel empowered to use their voice. We not only need more intersex people to be empowered to speak out, to be courageous enough to fight, but we need more people to understand the issues, we need more allies, we need more people to care enough to be outraged and to stand in solidarity with us for change.”

The Carswell Forum: Impact and Future

The Carswell Forum 2025 delivered a powerful message: that community-led advocacy is essential, and lived experience must be at the heart of policy and service design. Speakers from diverse backgrounds, especially First Nations, intersex, trans, and regional voices, highlighted the need for grassroots leadership in LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Mental health emerged as a critical priority, especially in rural and remote areas, with calls for trauma-informed care and psychosocial support. The forum highlighted the urgent need for inclusion of regional voices and the importance of intersectionality in addressing systemic racism and ableism. The “Racism, Rights and Responsibilities” panel looked at how race, gender, disability, and sexuality intersect to shape lived experiences and speakers advocated for more inclusive frameworks that address systemic racism within LGBTQIA+ spaces. In the “Health and Wellbeing” panel, calls were made for integrated health strategies that go beyond HIV/AIDS to include mental health, gender-affirming care, and aging support. The need for legislative change to protect the bodily autonomy and self determination of intersex people was also central to the conversation. The importance of peer-led initiatives was also highlighted.
Above all, the event will serve as a launchpad for ongoing collaboration, and it is anticipated that the Carswell Forum will become an annual fixture driving policy reform and community empowerment across Queensland.