Help to Adopt – The NSW Government has announced a parliamentary inquiry into whether same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt, and The NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby is asking the community for help.
The Lobby needs stories from real people for its submission, including foster carers, gay or lesbian sole parents; lesbian and gay step-parents; and adult or adolescent children with lesbian or gay parents. Details: ghassan@glrl.org.au or (02) 9571 5501.
Fight for Marriage Continues – The fight for gay marriage has gained momentum in the new year, with Sydney Star Reporter reporting that Australian Marriage Equality are renewing their vow to lobby the federal government to stop gay and lesbian couples being forced to prove their status when accessing entitlements.
“If we had marriage, the difference would be that you wouldn’t have to go through a whole process when trying to access services, you would just have to show the relevant people your marriage certificate and you wouldn’t have to have friends or colleagues interviewed to prove your relationship,†said AME spokesman Alex Greenwhich.
Internet Censorship Expands – Illegal online sharing of online gay and lesbian films could be wiped out by expanded filters as part of the Government’s internet censorship scheme.
The scheme has reportedly already gone beyond the scope presented to voters to include non-web online tools such as peer-to-peer sharing. This will affect Gay Torrents and Gay Torrent News. Both services are both hidden behind protected websites.
Same Same Top 25 – Olympic diving champion Matthew Mitcham has topped Same Same’s annual list of the 25 Most Influential gay Australians. Last year’s winner, Justice Michael Kirby, was again a public favourite, as were federal politicians Bob Brown, Penny Wong and NSW state MP Penny Sharpe. Actor Portia di Rossi, MTV host Ruby Rose and singer Sam Sparro made the grade, as did tireless rainbow family campaigner Felicity Marlowe. WA award recipients included MLC Giz Watson, WAAC CEO Trish Langdon and former Freedom centre co-ordinator, Meredith Turnbill.
Rainbow Families Register with Medicare – Following last year’s historic Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — General Law Reform) Act, same-sex couples and their children have been able to register as a family for the Medicare Safety Net from January 1. Same-sex couples now receive the same entitlements as opposite-sex couples.
Equality Act Delayed until 2011 – A recommended inquiry into a federal equality act that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity has been delayed until 2011 – after the next federal election.
The Senate mooted the inquiry amid complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission about homophobia in the media or commercial services being turned away because federal protections don’t go that far.
