LGBT Wedding Album
Approximately 250 couples have joined a new initiative that has LGBT Australians organising their wedding photos despite the country’s marriage ban. The Potential Wedding Album was launched in late October with almost 200 initial supporters posting their photos and messages. Albums contain photos of 100 couples in each. The aim is to print and send each album to Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other parliamentarians ‘to highlight the couples who are treated unfairly by the marriage laws in this country’, according to the website. Check out www.thepotentialweddingalbum.org
Homophobia Poll Results
One in three Queenslanders believes homosexuality is immoral, rendering the state the least gay-friendly state in Australia, according to a new poll. The national survey also found two-thirds of the state’s population was opposed to same-sex couples adopting children. The Roy Morgan research poll has been conducted over the past two years, polling 1,400 residents from each of the 150 federal electorates in the country. Western Australia averaged around one in four people with 29 per cent of the state believing homosexuality was immoral.
Argent Recognised for Efforts
Gay rights advocate Shelley Argent was named Queensland Senior Australian of the Year 2011 for her resilient campaigning on equal rights for the LGBT community. As the President of PFLAG, Argent also speaks on the behalf of the organisation and has written a series of educational booklets for families of gay people. Since her son came out to her in 1998, Argent has dedicated her time to ensuring the wider community have a greater understanding of gay and gender/sex diverse people.
Drug No Condom Replacement
The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations has welcomed the results of an antiretroviral drug study that showed a reduction in HIV acquisition by 44 per cent in Men who have sex with Men (MSM). Truvada, an antiretroviral drug was used in the first human study to show pre-exposure prophylaxis to be effective in reducing the sexual transmission of HIV. However, AFAO executive officer Don Baxter warned that the drug was not a replacement for condoms.
Ivanhoe Says No
A young lesbian couple attracted international attention after an all-girls school banned the pair from attending a school formal together. Melbourne’s Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar refused to let Hannah Williams, 16, attend her Year 11 formal with her 15-year-old girlfriend Savannah Supski. The private school said the aim of the event was to create a co-educational environment where male guests were invited. School officials said students of Supski’s age weren’t allowed at the event, although Williams disputed that claim and said younger people had been allowed in the past.
