Shelley Argent says ‘open season’ has been declared on LGBTIQ youth
OPINION | Shelley Argent is the National Spokesperson of PFLAG Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. As National Spokesperson for parents with LGBTIQ sons and daughters, I ask “Who will protect them, our sons and daughters? What are their rights?” We hear about the needs of the religious, but what about their freedoms and […]
Poll shows Australians don’t support religious bodies right to discriminate
A Galaxy / YouGov poll, commissioned by the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has revealed that 63% of Australians do not believe religious organisations should have the right to discriminate against LGBTIQ people, unmarried mothers, divorcees and de facto partners. The figure rises to 68%, including 48% of people who are strongly […]
Concern that religious freedom legislation has been leaked
Conservative group Family Voice Australia has reportedly emailed its members detailed information about the government’s planned religious freedom legislation indicating that the proposed legislation has been leaked. The Star Observer discovered that the group’s leader Charles Newington emailed their members outlining the specific legislation details. “Three pieces of legislation are to be introduced: a Religious Discrimination Bill; […]
Rex Patrick asks if religious debate shows Australians are too sensitive
Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick has asked if calls for religious freedom legislation are trying to solve the perception of a problem, rather than actual problem. In a new interview with Guardian Australia, the South Australian senator says the problem might be that Australians are just becoming “too sensitive” about things. If the Labor party ends up […]
Advocates welcome Porter’s commitment to protect state laws
LGBTI equality advocates have welcomed a commitment from federal Attorney-General, Christian Porter, that proposed religious discrimination and freedom laws will not interfere with existing state and territory discrimination protections. But they remain concerned about “the devil in the detail” of federal legislation, and have called on Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese to give an iron-clad […]
Religious discrimination laws might make Chaplaincy program illegal
Constitutional law expert, Associate Professor Luke Beck from Monash University, has highlighted that the introduction of religious discrimination laws might put the government’s school chaplaincy program on the wrong side of the law. Speaking to ABC radio in Perth on Tuesday the academic said the Chaplaincy program, which is only open to Christian applicants, may […]
Advocacy group urges LGBTIQ people to speak up on religious freedom
LGBTI groups and individuals are being urged to make their views known to the Federal Government about proposed religious discrimination and freedom laws. Advocacy group just.equal is concerned that the government has announced a consultation process involving MPs and religious groups, but it has not been clear if LGBTI groups will also be consulted. Just.equal […]
A mental health survival guide for the religious freedom debate
Psychologist Colin Longworth shares some ideas on how to cope with the constant debate surrounding ‘religious freedom’ and whether it’s okay to tell gay people they’re going to hell. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York on 28th of June 1969 and coincidentally we have debates in Australia about whether […]
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