Uniting Church’s LGBTIQ+ network supports ending conversion therapy
The Uniting Church’s LGBTIQ+ network has voiced their support for recommendations released in a new report aiming to end harms caused by conversion therapy. The report (Preventing Harm, Promoting Justice – Responding to LGBT conversion therapy in Australia) conducted by La Trobe University and the Human Rights Law Centre highlights the damage inflicted by the practice […]
Report identifies harm caused by conversion therapy and urges reform
A new report released today outlines the harm caused to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people by the practice of conversion therapy, and its pervasiveness in Australia’s faith communities. Preventing Harm, Promoting Justice: Responding to LGBT conversion therapy in Australia examines the lived experience of 15 LGBT Australians who have struggled with their sexuality or […]
Liberal MPs call for greater protections for religious freedom
A number of Liberal MPs are speaking out ahead of the long awaited release of the government’s Ruddock Review into Religious Freedom and calling for additional laws to protect people of faith. The Australian published an opinion piece over the weekend from Dan Teham, the Minister for Social Services. Tehan argues that the country needs to […]
It could be weeks before we know what is in the Ruddock Review
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been handed the Ruddock Review into religious freedom in Australia, but it could be weeks before we know what its recommendations are. The Prime Minister has thanked the review for their work but admitted it will be some time before the report’s findings are made public. “I look forward to […]
IDAHOBIT: Beyond Marriage Equality – Towards Freedom
May 17th each year marks International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia: IDAHOBIT (Encompassing all LGBTIQ+ bodies, genders, relationships, sexualities, attractions, identities and experiences). Originally known as the International Day Against Homophobia, IDAHOBIT was established to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation in 1990. […]
Tanya Plibersek: Labor has no plans to stop gay teachers from being fired
The federal Labor party has declared that it has no plans to introduce protections that would prevent LGBTI people being fired from their jobs if they work for a religious organisation. Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek made the declaration in response a pre-budget submission released by the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC). In their submission the NCEC […]
Submissions to Ruddock religious freedom inquiry will not be published
The federal government inquiry into religious freedom has come under fire once again, with news that submissions will be kept secret from the Australian public. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office today revealed to the Sydney Morning Herald that the panel would not publish the submissions – which are ordinarily freely available to the public. “Submissions […]
just.equal raise concerns over Ruddock’s religious freedom inquiry
Australian LGBTI advocacy group just.equal have launched a petition to combat any roll back of anti-discrimination laws following the passage of marriage equality. The group are concerned that the Prime Minister’s inquiry into religious freedom, led by former Liberal MP Philip Ruddock, may see protections for LGBTI people revoked. “The current religious freedom movement has […]
Marriage equality bill passes House of Representatives
Senator Dean Smith’s Marriage Bill has passed through the lower house of parliament, bringing marriage equality into Australian law. Following the ‘Yes’ result of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey the co-sponsored bill has been hotly debated for the last two weeks, but remains unchanged by amendments from conservatives and The Greens. Amendments put forward […]
Bishop threatens to abandon registering all marriages if Yes vote wins
A Western Australian Anglican Bishop is threatening to stop registering all marriages should the YES campaign be successful in the marriage postal survey. Gary Nelson, the Bishop of the diocese of North West Australia, has told The West Australian that he will stop all marriages, if he’s not satisfied with the details of the legislation that […]
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