National

Local Boys Claim Mardi Gras Prize

WA filmmakers Nathan Keene and Will Faulkner walked off with the top prize in this year’s Mardi Gras Film Festival’s short film competition, My Queer Career.

Keene and Faulkners’ film, Disarm, beat 7 other finalists to walk away with the $3000 prize money, and automatic entry into the prestigious international Iris Prize Festival based in Cardiff, Wales, the UK’s biggest film festival. (more…)

Surrogacy Granted To Queensland Same-Sex Couples

Queensland has joined most of the nation in allowing altruistic surrogacy however those seeking a commercial surrogacy, even overseas, still face criminal prosecution.

It took 17 hours of Parliamentary debate for the legislation to be passed, which allowed heterosexual and same-sex couples, as well as single parents to seek a surrogate birth.

Shadow Attorney General Lawrence Springborg led the debate for the Liberal National Party, which was opposed to same sex couples and single parents becoming intended parents, as well as opposing the issuing of birth certificates in which two women were named as parents. (more…)

National News Briefs - February

Missing In Gay Marriage Action
Openly gay Labor senators Louise Pratt and Penny Wong were among 26 senators to miss the vote on same-sex marriage in Canberra. In a crushing blow for gay marriage advocates, the Marriage Equality (Amendment) Bill was defeated 45 votes to five. Only the Greens were in favour. The low turnout was due to ‘dissent’ within the major parties, according to Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich. ‘The fact that 26 senators were absent from (the) debate is an indication that there is dissent in the ranks of the major parties, dissent which we believe will only grow,’ he told the Sydney Star Observer. The AME vowed to make same-sex marriage an election issue. (more…)

Natalie Wears It With Pride

Performer Natalie Bassingthwaighte has joined forces with the Wear it with Pride campaign to raise awareness about federal Government law reforms for same-sex couples. Her new single, Love Like This, and its video will be the centre of the campaign when it launches on February 2, with all profits from sales being donated to the gay and lesbian community. (more…)

Midsumma Victorious

Melbourne’s 22nd annual Midsumma Festival has been hailed a success with record numbers attending the two premier events, Carnival Day and Pride March.

Cloud cover and a few spots of rain didn’t deter crowds at the official opening of the festival, Carnival Day on January 17.

‘Numbers would have easily exceeded 30,000-40,000 people. I cannot believe the number of people who were here throughout the day,’ Midsumma general manager Adam Lowe told Southern Star. (more…)

National News Briefs - February

MARRIAGE BAN COSTLY
According to recent figures released by Australian Marriage Equality (AME), Australia’s ban on same-sex marriage is costing the country over $700 million. Using a formula developed by economists in the United States, AME multiplied the average cost of weddings in Australia with the percentage of same-sex couples who would marry if given the choice. According to AME spokesperson Alex Greenwich, the figure was a conservative one as it did not include spending on honeymoons or visitors from overseas who would come to Australia to marry. ‘Taxpayers, as well as businesses, are being hit by marriage discrimination,’ he said. ‘The Rudd Government’s continued discrimination of gay and lesbian Australians is not only hurtful, it is also a very expensive prejudice to maintain.’ (more…)

Beyond Blue Pledges Help For GLBTI Community

After almost a decade in operation, Australia’s national depression initiative, Beyond Blue, has taken its first major steps towards addressing the alarmingly high levels of depression and anxiety reported in the GLBTI community.

Meeting in Melbourne on December 17, more than seventy invited representatives were in attendance for the GLBTI Mental Health Round Table convened by Beyond Blue in association with the National LGBTI Health Alliance. (more…)

New HIV Medication To Ease ‘Pill Burden’

In an Australian first, people living with HIV now have access to a medicine which combines three treatments into a once-daily tablet for the cost of a single PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) prescription.

ATRIPLA became available to people living with HIV (PLWH) as of January 1, 2010 and will have both financial and organisational implications on day to day management of the virus. (more…)

National News Briefs - January

VALE BILLY MAY
World-renowned entertainment producer William H. ‘Billy’ May died on New Year’s Eve at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. Mr. May’s death follows a recent illness, according to the Southern Star. He and partner Malcolm Cooke produced more than 40 theatrical productions, including the musical Always, the love story of King Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson. His last award-winning creation, Walking With Dinosaurs – The Live Experience, is currently touring North America and Europe. In his younger years he worked with Sonny and Cher and the Osmond Brothers. His funeral was held on January 12. (more…)

National Year of Action Starts With a Bang

Protests in capital cities across Australia on November 28 marked the beginning of the National Year of Action for same-sex marriage.

The protests came just two days after the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee recommended rejecting the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009, which would give same-sex couples equal marriage rights. (more…)