VIC
Victoria Police’s top cop apologises to LGBTIQ community
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has apologised for the force’s “unnecessary and unacceptable harm” to the LGBTIQ community. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton delivered the formal apology to the community and LGBTIQ police officers on Monday. “I acknowledge that there have been times in our history with the LGBTI community when Victoria Police has fallen …
Win for transgender people in Victoria’s Lower House
A bill to allow transgender and gender diverse Victorians to change the sex marker on their birth certificate without surgery has passed its first vote. Trans rights advocates cheered the passage of the amendment to the state’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act in the state parliament’s lower house on Thursday. Equality minister Martin Foley …
Backlash against Anglican same-sex marriage push
A group of Melbourne Anglicans have said a push by a bishop to bless same-sex marriages would strain church unity “to breaking point.” Bishop Parkes of the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta will put the proposal to his synod at the end of the month. He wants to be allowed permission to bless same-sex couples who …
Lesbian police officer loses AFP discrimination claim
A police officer who was repeatedly denied a transfer to the same city as her female partner has lost her discrimination claim against the Australian Federal Police. Detective Sergeant Kathryn Richens claimed the Australian Federal Police discriminated against her due to her relationship with female officer Senior Constable Emma-Kate McPherson. She had sought more than …
Homosexuality causes autism priest cancels Australian retreat
Father Dominic Valanmanal claims he cured children of autism through prayer. He stated previously that people ‘addicted’ to adultery, masturbation, homosexuality and porn have a high risk of bearing autistic children. Further, Valanmanal said children with autism were ‘like animals’. “Adultery, masturbation, homosexuality, porn — if you are addicted to these, I say to you …
High LGBTIQ suicide rates ‘totally unacceptable’
The head of the royal commission into Victoria’s mental health system has described high rates of suicide among LGBTIQ people as “totally unacceptable”. Chairperson Penny Armytage made the remarks to the commission on Wednesday. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people aged 16 to 27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide, figures show. Transgender people …
Trans and gender diverse rally in Melbourne
Victorian trans and gender diverse people and friends will rally this Sunday July 14. The rally will celebrate the trans community and also call on the Parliament to pass law reform. Activists are calling for parliament to amend the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 in Victoria. Specifically, they want easier access to correct …
Breastscreen Victoria receives Rainbow Tick
BreastScreen Victoria’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and accessible cancer screening has been recognised with a Rainbow Tick. The organisation’s BreastScreen Coordination Unit received the Rainbow Tick. The tick recognises the provision of inclusive and progressive services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people. Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and Quality Innovation Performance developed …
Much loved Liaison officer takes own life
Victoria Police LGBTI Liaison Officer Senior Constable Brenton Erkens-Goss took his own life on Friday. One of over 100 Victoria Police LGBTI Liaison Officers, Brenton worked diligently to tackle prejudice-motivated crimes and family violence. Further, he worked to build rapport and trust with the LGBTI community. The loss of the officer came about because he …
Victorian Pride Centre cornerstone laid
The 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots saw the Victorian Pride Centre cement LGBTIQ pride into the Australian landscape. The centre chose the anniversary to lay the cornerstone of South-East Asia’s first Pride Centre. Previously, in early 2018, the centre announced the winning design for an architecturally iconic building on the site. The centre planned …