True Colours Recommences
Uniting Care West have announced the recommencement of the True Colours social support group in 2008, meaning that GLBTI young people, their friends and families in Albany and Bunbury will again be able to access support and resources.
The group, which was established in 2005, works on an inclusive model that encourages GLBTI young people and their straight friends to talk about their identities outside of the stereotypical attitudes towards sexuality. (more…)
EU Backs Gay Adoption
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last month handed down a landmark ruling that has deemed the refusal of French Authorities to allow gay and lesbian adoption of children a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. The convention is binding on all 47 members of the Council of Europe who ratified it. (more…)
Graham Brown New Head of AFAO
The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) has elected a Western Australian, Graham Brown as their new president for 2008/09. Brown, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Health Promotion Research at Curtin University and the former Western Australian AIDS Council Education Officer, will take the position from outgoing president Ian Rankin. (more…)
Abstinence-Only Not the Only Way
U.S. Congress expected to remove abstinence-only restriction on funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
America’s International HIV/AIDS program, PEPFAR was launched by President George Bush in 2003 and has since committed billions of dollars in funding to developing nations, with a focus on health professional training, HIV testing and education programs. However, since PEPFAR’s introduction, the programs which it funds have been widely criticised by various international HIV/AIDS groups, due to the restriction that says all PEPFAR-funded programs must allocate at least 33% of funding to abstinence-only education. (more…)
Telstra Ahead of Government on LGBTI Reforms
As politicians stew on the idea of altering legislation that discriminates against gay and lesbian couples, Telstra, one of Australia’s largest employers has announced landmark policy changes that could benefit up to 10,000 LGBTI employees Australia wide – and they are keen to work with other organisations who want to do the same. (more…)
Democrats Table Same-Sex Entitlement Bill
On August 14, the Australian Democrats tabled a bill that aims to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s (HREOC) Same Sex, Same Entitlements Report, which outlined over 58 areas of legislative discrimination against same-sex couples in Australia. The Same-Sex Entitlement Bill was moved in the Senate by Democrats Leader Lyn Allison, but consideration of the Bill was stymied when the Government cabinet blocked attempts to examine elements of the Bill. (more…)
Education: the Budget and the Humanities
The Federal Government’s May budget has been billed as an Education Budget. While more funding has been allocated to education, there has nevertheless been a national trend away from the Humanities and many Australian universities may drop studies and departments focusing on women and queer studies. (more…)
Pan-African Conference Addresses LGBTI Human Rights Abuses
Countries like Nigeria, where some areas of the nation punish homosexuality by public stoning, have given Africa a global reputation as one of the most homophobic continents in the world. In an attempt to address the growing international concern over breaches of human rights against LGBTI people, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) held their first Pan African Conference in Johannesburg from May 5-8. (more…)
End of an Era: Blair Steps Down
Ten years after pledging to make Britain a fairer and more tolerant country, last month Tony Blair announced he would stand down as Prime Minister to make way for his successor Gordon Brown.
Despite considerable pressure from religious groups Blair was a strong supporter of the LGBTI community, and many of his policies were a progressive change from his more conservative predecessors. Under his government the British gay and lesbian community successfully lobbied to eliminate discrimination in a number of areas including adoption laws. Perhaps the most notable LGBTI legislation passed under Blair was the Civil Unions Legislation, which gave same-sex couples rights similar to married couples. In his statement to Parliament marking the passing the of the bill, Blair said: (more…)
Australia Funds HIV/AIDS Initiatives in Asia Pacific
The Federal Government last month committed substantial injections of funding into HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment. The money, which will not only be used to fund both campaigns in Australia and the wider Asia Pacific have been praised by health organisations nation-wide. (more…)
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