Seven Outs Minister
NSW minister David Campbell was forced to come out last month after Channel Seven aired footage of the parliamentarian visiting a gay sauna in Sydney. The former Transport minister stood down from parliament just minutes before the story went to air on May 20. While the MP hadn’t breached any ministerial responsibilities, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally told ABC that Campbell shouldn’t have used his government car to travel there. The Premier said the married father-of-two had kept his sexuality secret for 20 years. Seven’s news director Peter Meakin defended the story saying it was in the public’s interest to know.
NSW Couples Recognised
Same-sex couples in NSW will now be officially recognised by authorities after the state government passed new legislation that has been labelled ‘another step forward’. The legislation was put before the NSW government on May 11 and passed with 62 votes to nine. The following night, the NSW Upper house passed the bill with overwhelming success of 32 votes to five. Openly gay NSW MLC Penny Sharpe told Sydney Star Observer that the Relationship Register legislation was another step forward for same-sex rights. ‘The register is another welcome reform for same sex couples in NSW,’ Sharpe said. Unmarried heterosexual couples will also be eligible to register with NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages as part of the legislation.
Aker Creates a Storm
Footballer Jason Akermanis told gay players considering coming out to stay in the closet last month. In his Sydney Morning Herald column on May 20, Akermanis wrote that gay players considering outing themselves should ‘forget it’ and that a player coming out ‘could break the fabric of a club’. He also said that being the first AFL player to come out would be too big a burden for any player. ‘I believe the world of AFL footy is not ready for it. To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons’.
AME vs ALP
In a backlash against the Federal Government, Australian Marriage Equality (AME) launched a pointed campaign last month against the ALP. The same-sex marriage organisation began their appeal throughout the electorate of Sydney by distributing flyers that outlined the ALP’s current ban on same-sex marriage. AME National Secretary Peter Furness said that supporters of marriage equality are frustrated with the ALP’s refusal. In 2009, a national galaxy poll found 60 per cent of Australians supported same-sex marriage while a Senate inquiry received a historic 11,000 submissions in favour of the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill.
Glory for Tony
Tony Abbott has won the first ever Golden GLORIA award for his comments over feeling threatened by the LGBTI community. Over 2,000 votes were cast for the mock awards that exposed the most Outrageous, Ridiculous and Ignorant comments made during the year. 150 people showed up on the steps of the NSW Parliament House to hear the GLORIA’s announced on May 17 in conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia. Other ‘winners’ were the Footy Show for their Elton Johns skit and Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby for his comments linking homosexuals with sex offenders.
Related articles
National News Briefs – May
National News Briefs – March
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