Porn Used to Encourage Safe Sex (VIC): The Victorian AIDS Council’s latest ad campaign uses images from safe-sex porn to encourage men who have sex with men to practice safe-sex. The ads, according to Melbourne’s bnews were designed to be ‘direct, unambiguous and provocative.’
Tranznation Survey (VIC): An online survey of trans* people in Australia and New Zealand has found that a significant number have been unable to obtain documentation reflecting their correct sex because of inflexible surgical requirements. The Tranznation study also found that 90% of respondants had experienced discrimination, whilst 20% had been physically attacked.
Police ‘Too Busy’ (NSW): The Sydney Lord Mayor has written a ‘please-explain’ to the NSW Police Minister following police handling of a savage gay bashing in early December. The victim had his skull and leg crushed during the assault, and was later subjected to abusive text messages sent by the attackers. Despite the seriousness of the offence, Surry Hills police stated they were ‘too busy’ to review CCTV footage, and repeatedly turned the victim and his boyfriend away from making a statement at the station.
GLBT Families (VIC): Stopping short of adoption rights, Victoria has moved to legalise assisted reproduction and surrogacy for same-sex couples. Lobby groups have welcomed the legislation saying that NSW is currently falling behind in providing same-sex couples and their children with the important security that comes from legal recognition.
Lesbian Breast Cancer Risk Higher (NSW): A new initiative of ACON and the NSW Cancer Council has been launched following findings that the lesbian population as a whole has the highest concentration of breast cancer risk factors. The Lesbians and Cancer Project provides peer support to lesbians diagnosed with breast cancer and their partners.
New ACON Board Members (NSW): ACON has welcomed aboard two new board members – Siri Kommedahl, a fundraising expert from the USA, and Jason Bradshaw, a community-minded telecommunications executive – to replace two longstanding board members who stepped down at the 2007 Annual General Meeting.
Same-sex ‘divorce’ rights (VIC): Victorian Attorney-General Robert Hulls has state and Commonwealth backing to enable separating gay and de facto couples. Previously, de facto couples were required to fight it out in the more costly and complicated State Courts.
100 relationships registered (TAS): Tasmanian Attorney-General Steven Kons announced Tasmania has registered 100 de facto couples, 77 same-sex and 23 heterosexual couples since the Relationship Act was passed in 2003.
