Victoria Registers – Victorian Parliament, taking a cue from Tasmania, has instituted a registry of same-sex relationships. The registry will lend legal support to claims of same-sex couples whose relationships are called into question. Victoria’s move bolsters the cause of lobbyists calling for the Federal Government to coordinate a national registry.
Shall We Dance… Sorry Fellas – The Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane has drawn criticism for a school policy that dictates boys may only bring female partners to their Year 12 formal. Under pressure from local gay advocates the school has said it is willing to address the issue in student council, but has stated its primary intention is to look after the wider school community’s ‘best interests.’
Tasmania’s Religious Loophole – Exemptions to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act for religious organisations allow religious-affiliated schools to refuse to enrol students on the grounds of religious background. Tasmanian gay activists have called for the exemption to be eliminated, as it is an opportunity for schools to discriminate against students based on their sexual orientation.
Mum’s the Word – NSW has announced that under new law reforms lesbian couples who have used IVF or sperm donation to conceive can have both mothers legally recognised as parents. Gay rights lobbyists have welcomed the legislation, even as they continue to campaign for further legal recognition of same-sex parental rights.
Is it Safe to Drop the Soap? – The Sexual Health and Attitudes of Australian Prisoners study has sought to gauge the impact of condoms on prisoner health by comparing the system in NSW, which distributes condoms in prison, with the system in QLD, which does not. Despite suggestions that the presence of condoms in prisons may encourage rape, many experts and prison officials have expressed a belief that dispensing condoms will be an invaluable safeguard for prisoner health.
Kirby Demands Apology – At the liberal St James Church in Sydney, Openly gay High Court Justice Michael Kirby declared that gay people deserve an apology for past sodomy laws and spoke out against the homophobic rhetoric he was subject to from his own Anglican community.
Road-Tripping Registrar – The ACT government is considering introducing a mobile registrar to perform same-sex civil unions. This ‘love bus’ is a seeming compromise between gay and lesbian activists seeking greater relationship recognition and the Federal Attorney General who opposes official ceremonies.
Bitter Coffee – Melbourne gay and lesbian newspaper bnews has dropped Gloria Jeans advertising, following reader complaints that Gloria Jean’s support of Mercy Ministry and Hillsong Church, marked the business as anti-gay.
Compiled by Holly Brown
