Brisbane Queer Film Festival Unveils Its 20th Anniversary Lineup
The Brisbane Queer Film Festival is this year celebrating its 20th birthday and has unveiled its 2019 program of queer feature films, documentaries and short films. This year’s theme of the long-running festival is “Reflection” to highlight the power of films to create awareness, change and acceptance not just within the mainstream society, but within the queer community …
Rainbow Flag On Brisbane Church’s Sign Defaced With Swastika
Vandals have spray-painted a Nazi swastika over a rainbow flag on signage belonging to the LGBTIQ-friendly Metropolitan Community Church in New Farm, Brisbane. The church’s senior pastor Alex Pittaway said the vandals had painted the large grey swastika over the flag on their street-facing sign on Wednesday night. He told QNews Magazine he’d reported the …
Instagram Denies Removing ‘Gay Muslim’ Comic After Indonesian Pressure
An Instagram account featuring comics depicting gay Muslims’ struggles in Indonesia has been deleted following outrage from authorities in the country. The Indonesian-language comics, posted by user @Alpantuni, depicted a gay protagonist and explores his identity and the bigotry and abuse he faces for being gay in the country. The Ministry of Communications wrote to …
The Veronicas Are Headlining Brisbane’s Big Gay Day 2019
Brisbane-born pop duo The Veronicas have been announced as the headliners of this year’s Big Gay Day street festival in Fortitude Valley. The event, now in its 19th year, will take over The Wickham on Sunday, March 10 and transform the neighbouring street into an inclusive festival to raise money for six local LGBTIQ organisations. …
On Valentine’s Day, 13 Japanese Same-Sex Couples Sue For Marriage Equality
Thirteen Japanese same-sex couples have marked Valentine’s Day with the filing historic lawsuits challenging the country’s ban on marriage equality. The lawsuits, filed in Tokyo and other courts around the country by five lesbian and eight gay couples, argue that the law violates same-sex couples’ constitutional right to equality. Japan’s constitution states “marriage shall be …
Yes, Emojis Can Be A Form Of Sexual Harassment
Whether it’s an eggplant, peach or even a love heart, emojis are supposed to be a fun way to communicate and even flirt. But workers are warned against sending suggestive emojis to colleagues. It could cost their job and leave them defending a sexual harassment claim. Emojis include suggestive objects like eggplants and peaches, which …
55,000 Petition Signatures Delivered To Canberra To Call For End To School Discrimination
LGBTIQ organisations Minus 18 and Equality Australia have delivered a 55,000 signature Change.org petition to federal senators calling for students and teachers to be protected from religious discrimination. The petition comes ahead of an Senate vote this week on a Labor bill to scrap exemptions allowing religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis …
Western Australia Finally Delivers Marriage Equality For Transgender People
Transgender people in Western Australia will be able to stay married to their partners when they affirm their gender on their birth certificate under legislation passed by the state government on Tuesday. Under the previous law, trans people needed to be unmarried before their birth certificate can be updated, essentially requiring them to make a …
It’s Official: Australia Will Be Competing In The Eurovision Song Contest Until 2023
Australia has locked in a spot in the Eurovision Song Contest until 2023, it’s been confirmed. SBS and production partner made the announcement on Wednesday, ahead of our fifth competitor, Brisbane-born singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, heading to Israel in May. Eurovision executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand said the organisation “couldn’t have imagined quite how popular [Australian] …
Tony Abbott Roasted For Trying To Take Credit For Marriage Equality
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been criticised for trying to claim credit for the legalisation of same-sex marriage, despite campaigning against it for years. “When all is said and done, I helped to make the thing happen,” the former prime minister said in a new interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. “I set up …