ACT
Chief Minister Andrew Barr wins ACT Labor 6th term of govt
Canberrans awoke this morning to a front-page photo of Chief Minister Andrew Barr walking into an election victory party holding the hand of his husband Anthony Toms. The election saw ACT Labor build on earlier victories to win a sixth term of government. Andrew Barr and Anthony Toms entered the post-election victory party to the …
Liberal MP apologises after saying Greens candidate ‘too camp’ to win
ACT Liberal MP Mark Parton has apologised for describing his Greens electoral opponent as “too camp” to win the seat. The serving MP told Greens candidate Jonathan Davis he was “too camp for Tuggeranong” when the pair met last weekend. Tuggeranong, and the pair’s electorate of Brindabella, are located in Canberra’s south. Davis told The …
ACT passes ban on harmful ‘conversion therapy’
The Australian Capital Territory has passed a bill to ban harmful LGBT “conversion therapy” across the territory. The bill defines sexuality or gender identity conversion practices as “a treatment or other practice… the purported purpose of which is to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity”. From early next year, anyone using the practices would …
Canberra Liberals dump candidate over homophobic comments
The Canberra Liberals have dumped candidate Peter McKay over past comments about Indigenous ceremonies and LGBTIQ police officers in the ACT. The Territory will go to the polls to elect the Legislative Assembly on Saturday, October 17. Last weekend, the Canberra Liberals announced McKay (pictured) would run for the inner-city seat of Kurrajong. However just …
ACT leader Andrew Barr married his partner on their 20th anniversary
The Australian Capital Territory’s Chief Minister Andrew Barr, our first openly gay government leader, has married partner Anthony Toms. The couple tied the knot at a “small family ceremony” on Wednesday at the historical Longworth House in Anthony’s hometown of Newcastle, New South Wales. Barr posted to Instagram a collage of wedding snaps. The ACT …
ACT Government pledges ban on ‘gay conversion therapy’
The Australian Capital Territory’s Chief Minister has announced his government plans to ban “gay conversion therapy”. “Conversion therapy” refers to debunked and dangerous practices to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation or transgender identity, using psychological or spiritual means. The announcement is part of the ACT’s new “action plan” for the territory’s LGBTIQ community. …
ACT leader urges gay blood donor reforms
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced he will call for federal Labor to change the party’s platform on gay blood donors. The Labor Party hold their national conference this weekend. Australia has a 12-month deferral period on donating blood for men who have sex with another man in the last 12 months. Although meant to …
Australia’s First Same-Sex Traffic Lights Unveiled In Canberra
Pedestrian lights at a Canberra intersection have been changed from a green “walking man” to walking same-sex couples, in an Australian first. The eight green pedestrian lights are located at the intersection of Cooyong Street with Lonsdale and Genge streets in the north Canberra suburb of Braddon, where queer Canberrans gathered to celebrate the “yes” …
Greens Call For Recognition Of ACT Couples’ 2013 Same-Sex Weddings
The couples who wed when same-sex marriage was briefly legal in the Australian Capital Territory four years ago should have their original wedding dates recognised under federal law, the ACT Greens say. ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury (pictured) wrote to federal Attorney-General Christian Porter to ask if the 31 Canberra couples who married in the …
Permanent ‘Rainbow Roundabout’ Unveiled In Canberra
Canberra installed a rainbow roundabout last weekend. It pays tribute to the city’s strong “yes” vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey. The permanent artwork is on a roundabout in the inner north Canberra suburb of Braddon. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, said at last weekend’s Spring Out Pride Parade that the roundabout was about …