November brought the news that even more politicians were supporting marriage equality, concern was raised over local activist group Equal Love and study showed that female sexuality was potentially very fluid.
Having avoided questions about her personal thoughts on marriage equality through most of the year, Deputy leader of the Liberals Julie Bishop said she didn’t have any problem with it.
Later in the month Jarrod Bleijie, Queensland’s former Attorney General, who dismantled that state’s civil unions legislation, announced he had changed his mind about marriage equality and was now a supporter for change.
An Italian soccer chief denied being homophobic after he was caught on tape asking for ‘gays to be kept away from him’.
Cate McGregor was announced as Queensland’s nominee for Australian of the Year.
A U.K. study found that almost all women find pictures of naked women are attractive.
Local activist group Equal Love defended transferring money donated for marriage equality to other campaigns run by inter-linked board members.
Transgender right activist Aram Hosie was nominated for Human Rights award., as was Marriage Equality activist Rodney Croome.
Germaine Greer won the Golden Gloria Award for her transphobic comments earlier in the year.
The federal senate passed a motion rejecting the government’s proposal for a plebiscite on marriage equality. The Tasmanian parliament passed a similar motion.
Catholic Archbishops were found to have a case to answer in relation to breaching Tasmania’s anti-discriminatin laws. Their booklet ‘Don’t Mess with Marriage‘ referred to gay people as being not whole people and suggested that children in rainbow families were not as healthy as children raised by straight parents.
WA Labor leader Mark McGowan announced he’d be marching in the 2015 Pride Parade, the first time a leader of a major party had joined in the parade.
There was debate around the sexualisation of children, and gender roles, when Mattel created an advertisement for Barbie that featured a camp boy playing with the doll.
Actor Charlie Sheen revealed that he was HIV positive.
Concern was raised for missing WA man Rigby Fielding, police later launched a murder investigation into his disappearance, He remains missing.
Anna Winther, a 29-year-old Norwegian woman who had been living in Western Australia for several years, was one of the victims of the devastating Esperance fire. Winther was recognised as a campaigner for LGBTI rights.
The Safe Schools Coalition was rolled out in Western Australia.
The Palmer United Party announced their idea for solving the marriage equality debate suggesting that the government should get out of the business of regulation marriages altogether and just leave it to the churches. The idea didn’t get much traction.
Nick Cater, head of the Menzies Research Centre, suggested that supporters of traditional marriage might need more government funding that the proponents of marriage equality, as there was more media support for marriage equality.
Game changing HIV preventative treatment PrEP was approved in the USA and France, here in Australia the treatment is awaiting approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and approval to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. While trials in the treatment have been conducted in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, no trials have taken place in Western Australia. The Greens called for the Australian government to get a move on with introducing PrEP to Australia.
Conservative WA politician Rob Johnson vowed to run as an independent if the Liberal party dumped him from his seat. The former Police Minister has a long history of arguing that homosexuality is wrong.
Federal senator for The Greens, Robert Simms told parliament the Australian Christian Lobby’s contribution to Australian society was homophobia and bullying. “The ACL should be held to account for the homophobia that they fan in our community. They should held to account for the brazen lies that they tell and the misinformation that they spread.” Senator Simms said.
In a letter to their supporters the Australian Christian Lobby declared that marriage would be a major issue of the next election. Previously the group had labeled it a low priority issue for Australians.
In another speech the senator repeated his call for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to show leadership on marriage equality.
