Rainbow Rights launched in 2016 as Western Australia’s new organisation to promote LGBTI rights, but many have noticed in recent months the organisation has been silent, noticeably absent from the debates over surrogacy, discrimination in schools and changes to the gender reassignment laws.
When over 40 LGBTI rights groups published a joint statement on the leaked recommendations of the Ruddock Religious Freedom Review, Rainbow Rights were notably absent from the signatories.
OUTinPerth contacted Rainbow Rights to enquire if the organisation was continuing and also spoke to numerous former board members, many who had resigned before completing their terms of office.
Former board members said they had left the organisation because they felt it was politically biased and dominated by members of the Labor party and had developed a toxic culture.
Rainbow Rights told OUTinPerth that the organisation has been struggling in recent times and regretted that they had not been able to contribute to the joint statement on the religious freedom review.
“Rainbow Rights WA regrets that we missed the deadline to join the strong list of signatories to the recent Joint Statement on the Religious Freedom Review. We have been a part of the conversation that has resulted in the issuing of these statements and will continue to do so.” the organisation said in a statement.
The group said they were very proud of their work to change public perception, end discrimination, and achieve social justice for LGBTI+ people and their families in WA.
“We have enjoyed a number of successes including the campaign to ensure the expungement of historical gay convictions and marriage equality.” the group said.
Fatigue after working on long campaigns and health issues affecting individual members were cited as reasons for the organisation’s hiatus.
Organisation president Jonathon Mann said while the group had been quiet on some issues it had been contributing to discussion via its social media channels.
“Rainbow Rights WA has been on a hiatus in regards to projects recently, we have been continuing our Facebook page which provides an LGBTI focused news stream that informs thousands of people about recent developments in the LGBTI space.” Mann said.
Rainbow Rights rejected suggestions that their organisation was politically biased.
“The members of RRWA and its board constitute a broad range of our community. membership of political organisations does not preclude the involvement or participation of RRWA. Our membership includes people of many political affiliations including the Greens, the Labor Party, Shooter and Fishers Party.” the group said.
OUTinPerth asked who the current members of the board were, but no information was provided, and there is no listing on the group’s website.
Former Rainbow Rights board member Andrew Gillon recently commented on his time with the organisation saying advocacy groups need to be politically neutral.
“We need unbiased, politically unaffiliated groups acting on our communities behalf in meaningful and results driven ways.” Gillon said during a discussion on OUTinPerth’s Facebook page.
“Rainbow Rights WA was supposed to be that, but devolved into a Labor party springboard for a few people’s personal careers in less than 12 months, and from what I have seen and heard (or not seen or heard) have achieved nothing of note from their own actions, preferring to cling to Mark McGowan’s coattails than take action of their own.” Gillon said.
Graeme Watson. Image: Rainbow Rights committee members Jonathon Mann, Katrina Montaut and former board member Neil Buckley with Labor’s Mark McGowan, Lisa Baker and Simon Millman in 2016.
