Leaked text messages and offensive comments: How transgender identity has been politicised this election.

It's the second week of the federal election campaign and one topic keeps being pulled into focus; transgender identity. 

In a time of floods, war and a pandemic, the lives and rights of transgender Australians have been turned into this election's political plaything, with leaders at both state and federal levels vocalising their stance.

Transgender rights were heavily debated and scrutinised in relation to the religious discrimination bill earlier this year, resulting in the bill being benched for the time being. But during the election period that conversation has continued. 

Here's what you need to know about the issue and how the transgender community are reacting. 

Katherine Deves' controversial transgender comments.

Liberal candidate Katherine Deves' since deleted controversial comments about transgender people on social media, were last week unearthed as the election campaign kicked off.

Deves, who was personally chosen for the Sydney seat of Warringah by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, is a vocal campaigner against the inclusion of trans women in women’s sport. 

Last week, now-deleted Twitter posts were re-published where she claimed "half of all males with trans identities are sex offenders" and described transgender children as "surgically mutilated and sterilised". 

She also compared trans activists to Nazis. 

Deves later issued public apologies, recognising her language has "on occasion been unacceptable".

"In my dedication to fighting for the rights of women and girls, my language has on occasion been unacceptable. It has hurt people and detracted from my arguments," she said in a statement. 

"I apologise for such language and the hurt that I have caused. I commit to continuing the fight for the safety of girls and women in a respectful way."

However, a number of Liberal party members are calling for her to be disendorsed. 

Liberal NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said Deves is not fit for office or aligned with the values of the party. Minister for Women Marise Payne has also refused to endorse the Liberal candidate.

"Political leaders should be condemning the persecution of people based on their gender, not participating in it," said Kean. 

Equality Australia has also released an open letter, calling all political parties and candidates to treat LGBTIQ+ people with dignity and "to campaign in a way that does not undermine our community’s health and wellbeing".

"Debating the lives of LGBTIQ+ people or their right to equality only serves to further marginalise people. It increases disadvantage and distress and drives negative mental health outcomes amongst some of the most vulnerable in our community," the letter reads.

"We call on all candidates and parties to reject any attempts to divide us and commit to treating all people with the dignity and respect they deserve."

READ: 

• What it's like coming out as trans in Australia.
• 'The religious discrimination bill has been shelved. But the damage has already been done.'

- With AAP. 

Feature Image: Facebook@KatherineDeves4Warringah/Getty.