Javi Strudwick faced several obstacles at school after coming out as transgender two years ago, aged 17.
While his peers used the student bathrooms, Javi did not feel comfortable using the girls' toilet anymore, so he was instructed to walk to the administration block and use the unisex adult ones.
Javi, who grew up in NSW's Blue Mountains, said he was not taught what being transgender was in school, and didn't have the language to express his identity.
"You feel alienated, and you don't feel like you belong, because you're different, and you don't know what that means. That's such a horrible thing to go through," he said.
This week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced at Sydney's WorldPride Human Rights Conference that Australia would spend $3.5 million as "a start" to support organisations advocating for LGBTQ rights in the Asia-Pacific.
"As amazing as the announcement is, we still have so much work to do in our own backyard," said Ben Woodbury, a gay man who grew up in Windsor, in Sydney's north-west.
"Money should be spent here making this country safe, so that anyone of any sexuality from any community feels they can be who they are without fear of discrimination."
The 31-year-old said gender or sexually diverse Australians were still "heavily discriminated against" in many pockets of our society.
In February, mental health support service Beyond Blue recorded a 64 per cent increase in the number of gender and sexually diverse people contacting it, when compared to the monthly average.
Rupert Saunders, the national clinical advisor for mental health organisation headspace, supporting 12 to 25-year-olds, said more than a third of clients accessing online and phone support identified as LGBT+.
"The number of young [gender and sexually diverse] people seeking support for their mental health at headspace has been consistently increasing over time," he said.
"Factors such as social exclusion, discrimination and feelings of isolation can increase the likelihood of young [gender and sexually diverse] people experiencing mental health challenges."
Despite having supportive teachers, Javi said he encountered plenty of challenges at school after coming out.
"I do know some people who called me slurs and said stuff about me and the LGBTQIA+ community, which is a shame."
Ben's life completely changed after he came out, too.
He was raised as a Plymouth Brethren and told a church member his secret aged 18.
"We didn't grow up with access to the internet, books, media, or anything like that," he said.
"I didn't know other gay people existed until I secretly read a newspaper and saw an advertisement for gay escort services."
When praying failed to make him straight, and after surviving a suicide attempt, Ben left the church.
Despite losing his relationship with his family — who are still members of the church — Ben said he was finally happy because he could be himself.
"I found people who were accepting of gay people. A place where I could feel safe and loved."
The WorldPride Human Rights Conference, which began on Wednesday and finished on Friday, shone a light on the journey of the Queer community and its vision for the future.
It was billed as the "largest-ever convergence" of political representatives, philanthropists, human rights defenders and LGBT+ community members held in the Asia-Pacific.
It included over 60 local and international speakers.
