NATIONAL NEWS
Latest LGBTIQ national news from Australia
People with older brothers more likely to be gay, scientists say
A new study claims to have found “clear evidence” for a theory that those with older brothers are more likely to be gay, known as the “fraternal birth order effect”. The theory has been around for decades. It suggests an immune response during pregnancy, in reaction to proteins produced by a male foetus, produces antibodies. …
As Covid causes blood shortages, Australia should let gay men safely donate
Australian gay men who can safely donate blood should be allowed to in order to address a shortage of donors due to Covid-19, an LGBTIQ group has said. This summer Australia’s Red Cross Lifeblood Service have appealed for 3,200 more blood donors. Lifeblood Donor Services executive director Cath Stone said the latest Covid wave has …
Satirical supergroup Thrillsong calls out Hillsong
Australian musicians announced earlier this week the formation of the new supergroup Thrillsong. Following the Hillsong COVID-19 restrictions fiasco, Thrillsong is ready to ‘take bookings for religious and sporting events’. Thrillsong features a wide variety of performers who will no doubt appeal to fans of different musical tastes and also perhaps religious preferences. The list: …
Religious Privileges Bill: Teachers can be fired for sexuality
A submission from Attorney-General Michaelia Cash’s department confirms everyone’s suspicions. That the Religious Privileges Bill – sorry, Discrimination Bill – will allow religious schools to fire teachers for their views on sexuality. Both the Sydney Anglican church and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference defended that ‘right’. The submission from the Attorney-General’s department said the bill …
Anthony Callea’s COVID experience: ‘This shit is real.’
Anthony Callea opened up on Instagram last night about the ‘excruciating pain’ of COVID. He said of his experience during the last few days, “This shit is real.” Anthony says he woke up at 6 am Sunday morning in excruciating pain. “My head felt like it was about to combust, my throat, well I have …
Artist Craig Ruddy dies from COVID-19 complications aged 53
Archibald Prize-winning artist Craig Ruddy died yesterday from complications due to COVID in Byron Bay. A statement on his Facebook page said Craig passed away in the arms of partner Roberto Meza Mont. “It is with the heaviest of tender hearts we let you know that last night Craig left his body peacefully at home …
The Religious Discrimination Bill Threatens Our Lives, Not Just Our Laws
The Great Backlash, the Religious Discrimination Bill is here and it is literally killing us. Lunatic laws rolling back LGBTIQ+ discrimination protections and attacking trans people have been proposed in NSW and will inevitably spring up in other states. Nationally, we face the looming threat of the Religious License-to-Discriminate Bill that will take away the …
Faith school teacher shares gay students’ struggles with vile bullying
A former teacher at an Australian Christian school became emotional while recalling how horrific bullying of a 12-year-old gay student twice drove them to attempt suicide. For the last four years, Elise Christian has been a member of LGBTIQ faith advocacy group Equal Voices. On Tuesday, she addressed a parliamentary inquiry into the Morrison Government’s …
Gaywaves inducted into the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia
Gaywaves, Sydney’s first gay and lesbian radio program, went to air in November 1979. The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) recently announced the induction of Gaywaves into Sounds of Australia, Australia’s national sound recording registry. The registry so far contains over 160 sounds ranging from a 1927 recording of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ through to Kylie …
Big problem with Morrison government’s Religious Discrimination Bill
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has introduced the controversial Religious Discrimination Bill to parliament, but LGBTIQ advocates and academics say the new draft permits “far too much harm in the name of religion”. The government unveiled the third draft of the long-delayed legislation earlier this week, after substantially watering down previous drafts. Scott Morrison told parliament …
Vandal defaces transgender pride flags flying in Hobart
Tasmania Police are investigating after a vandal defaced transgender pride flags flying on Hobart’s Town Hall. The council raised the pink, white and blue flags on Friday, November 19, for Transgender Awareness Week. The community gathered for a Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony the next day. But on Saturday, a vandal had stained the flags …
Shelley Argent’s back – and she’s very, very annoyed
Shelley Argent’s back, and following her retirement as National Spokesperson for PFLAG+ and subsequent battle with leukemia, she’s again leaping into the fray. Shelley Argent’s back and she’s pissed about the proposed religious discrimination legislation. QNews spoke with Shelley this morning. Earlier this year, Shelley received a diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. Following …
LGBTIQ publishers unite to seek deals with Google and Facebook
Over a dozen of Australia’s small news publishers, including QNews, Star Observer and OUTinPerth, have united to collectively negotiate with Google and Facebook on secure commercial agreements for supply of public interest journalism content to their platforms. In March, the Morrison government passed a law requiring the two tech giants to negotiate the deals with …
Australia’s ‘most homophobic town’ is now proudly flying rainbow flag
LGBTIQ advocates and leaders in Ulverstone in Tasmania have raised a rainbow flag, thirty years after the town was called one of the most homophobic places in Australia. The coastal town of Ulverstone, on Tasmania’s north-west coast, is home to around 15,000 people. On Monday morning, LGBTIQ+ advocates and local leaders gathered to raise the …
Tributes for Alan Jones in wake of dumping from Sky News
Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones yesterday revealed his dumping from Sky News after management chose not to renew his contract. Tributes for Alan Jones included a list of his career highlights. Cash for Comment, Cronulla Riots, Dump Her at Sea, Shove a Sock Down Her Throat, climate denial and trashing Australia’s COVID-19 response… Jones yesterday posted …
Blood Donor Report recommends end to gay blood ban
International research shows Australia can safely drop the gay blood ban. A report by Dr Sharon Dane recommends the country instead adopt a policy of individual risk assessment. Dr Dane says that would subsequently increase the available supply of safe blood. Countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Israel and Argentina previously moved to individual risk …
Nthn NSW man threatens to kill Q&A staff over LGBT support
A northern NSW man faced court today over threats to members of the ABC’s Q&A staff. The man threatened to kill Q&A staff over the show’s support and the ABC’s coverage of the LGBT community. David William Wonnocott pleaded guilty to making the threats in Tweed Heads Local Court. Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy said Wonnocott, 47, …
Professor Paula Gerber on National Coming Out Day
In the lead up to National Coming Out Day on 11 October, Monash University academic Professor Paula Gerber says we need to “raise awareness and change attitudes.” “Having laws that protect LGBTIQ from discrimination is just one piece of the jigsaw puzzle.” First celebrated in 1988, National Coming Out Day celebrates the power of visibiity. …
Why We Have Yet To See An Openly Gay AFL Player?
Where Are All The Gay AFL Players? The 2021 Olympics was a huge moment for LGBTQ+ sports, with at least 186 openly LGBTQ+ athletes in attendance. This, alongside Carl Nassib of the Las Vegas Raiders’ recent announcement that he is gay, has sparked questions about AFL players who are gay or bisexual. While LGBTQ+ rugby …
4 Effective Ways To Handle Tobacco Cravings
Without a doubt, smoking still stands as one of the leading causes of premature death for many patients. Some start smoking by using it as a coping mechanism, but there are also those who begin smoking as a choice. Either way, not all smokers would expect to reach the point of being too dependent on …
Jab or job? Can your boss insist on COVID-19 vaccination?
We asked an expert — jab or job? Can Australian employers insist on workers receiving a COVID-19 vaccination? The answer — so far — in most cases, no. Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously described jab or job as a decision for individual businesses. “Decisions to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees will be a matter for …
One in four Australians affected by suicide during pandemic
Around 5 million Australians know someone who has died by suicide during the past 12 months of the pandemic, new research has found. The findings from new Suicide Prevention Australia research, officially released on Friday (September 10), which is World Suicide Prevention Day. In the past 12 months, one in four (25%) Australians say they …