Editing Australian Defence Force (section)

===Sexuality and gender identity===
[[File:Australian Army Soldiers marching in the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.jpg|thumb|alt=Colour photo of men and women marching down a street while wearing green military uniforms|Soldiers marching in the 2020 [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]]. An official Defence contingent was permitted to begin marching in the parade during 2008, and its personnel have worn military uniforms since 2013.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://news.defence.gov.au/2015/03/07/largest-ever-defence-contingent-to-march-in-mardi-gras-parade/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315025356/http://news.defence.gov.au/2015/03/07/largest-ever-defence-contingent-to-march-in-mardi-gras-parade/|archive-date=15 March 2015|date=7 March 2015|publisher=Australian Government|author=Department of Defence|title=Largest ever Defence contingent to march in Mardi Gras parade}}</ref>]]
{{Main|Sexual orientation and gender identity in the Australian military}}
Australia allows gay men and lesbians to serve openly. Openly gay and lesbian personnel were banned from the ADF until November 1992 when the Australian Government decided to remove this prohibition. The heads of the services and most military personnel opposed this change at the time, and it caused considerable public debate.{{sfn|Grey|2008|p=275}}{{sfn|Dennis et al|2008|p=264}} Opponents of lifting the ban on gay and lesbian personnel argued that doing so would greatly harm the ADF's cohesiveness and cause large numbers of resignations. This did not eventuate, and the reform caused few problems.{{sfn|Dennis et al|2008|pp=264–265}} A 2000 study found that lifting the ban on gay service did not have any negative effects on the ADF's morale, effectiveness or recruitment and retention, and may have led to increased productivity and improved working environments.{{sfn|Belkin|McNichol|2000|pp=2–3}} Few members of the ADF [[Coming out|came out]] as lesbian, gay or bisexual until the late 1990s, however, and those who did were not always welcomed by their comrades.{{sfn|Riseman|2018|pp=36–38}}

ADF personnel in same-sex relationships experienced discriminatory treatment until the 2000s. This included Defence not recognising same-sex spouses, which prevented these couples from receiving the financial entitlements available to opposite-sex couples and could be a barrier to the spouse being treated as their partner's [[next of kin]].{{sfn|Riseman|2018|p=38}} The ADF officially recognised same-sex relationships in 2005, and since 1 January 2009 these couples [[Same-sex unions and military policy#Australia|have had the same access]] to military retirement pensions and superannuation as opposite-sex couples.{{sfn|Riseman|2018|p=41}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Defence law changes recognise same-sex couples|url=http://abc.gov.au/news/stories/2008/12/18/2450532.htm?site=news|access-date=5 September 2010|work=ABC News|date=18 December 2010|archive-date=5 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105154651/http://abc.gov.au/news/stories/2008/12/18/2450532.htm?site=news|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Transgender]] personnel have been permitted to serve in the ADF since 2010, and are provided with support when necessary.{{sfn|Riseman|2018|pp=42–43}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Farr|first=Malcolm|title=Army leader General David Morrison wants to defeat sexism|url=http://www.news.com.au/national-news/army-leader-general-david-morrison-wants-to-defeat-sexism-after/story-fncynjr2-1226663795362|access-date=16 June 2013|newspaper=News.com.au|date=14 June 2013|archive-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615022637/http://www.news.com.au/national-news/army-leader-general-david-morrison-wants-to-defeat-sexism-after/story-fncynjr2-1226663795362|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the removal of restrictions on gay and lesbian personnel, harassment and discrimination continued to occur; for instance a 2013 survey found that 10% of gay soldiers had experienced discrimination and more than 30% hid their sexuality.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McPhedran|first1=Ian|title=Gay soldiers safe from harassment but hide sexuality, survey finds|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/gay-soldiers-safe-from-harassment-but-hide-sexuality-survey-finds/news-story/fd40b4ae74f3409ebe33a332675ff45f|access-date=1 January 2018|work=news.com.au|date=9 September 2013|archive-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015172513/http://www.news.com.au/national/gay-soldiers-safe-from-harassment-but-hide-sexuality-survey-finds/news-story/fd40b4ae74f3409ebe33a332675ff45f|url-status=live}}</ref> The ADF has actively encouraged the inclusion of LGBTI personnel since the mid-2010s, with its leadership highlighting the importance of the issue and the military justice system being strongly used to prevent harassment and discrimination. Defence Force Recruiting also encourages LGBTI people to enlist.{{sfn|Riseman|2018|pp=29, 43–44}} As of 2023, 4.8 percent of ADF personnel identified as members of the [[LGBT community|LGBTI+ community]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brewer |first1=Peter |title=ADFA cadets march into college, and in Sydney, Defence personnel join WorldPride week, Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8097648/cadets-march-into-college-serving-military-on-the-march-at-mardi-gras/?cs=14329 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=The Canberra Times |date=24 February 2023 |language=en-AU}}</ref>