NATIONAL NEWS
Latest LGBTIQ national news from Australia
This group wants to help LGBTIQ engineers bring their whole selves to work
Companies across the engineering sector have launched a new LGBTIQ networking group with a really important goal in mind. The new group, named InterEngineer, was launched last week to bring together the industry’s LGBTIQ professionals and allies. Each year, the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) surveys employees and business on workplace inclusion. However the 2020 …
Young LGBTIQ people at greatest risk of domestic violence
LGBTIQ+ Australians under 25 are 4.5 times more likely to be at risk of domestic and family violence than those 25 years and over, according to new research. Equality Australia and Drummond Street Services’ Centre for Family Research and Evaluation in Victoria have released a research report on domestic and family violence affecting LGBTIQ+ people, …
World AIDS Day: Expanded Medicare access to fight HIV in Australia
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced all Australians with HIV will get access to their life-saving antiretroviral medicine, regardless of their Medicare eligibility. Hunt announced the initiative this morning at a virtual parliamentary breakfast to mark World AIDS Day today. “Today, more than 28,000 Australians are living with HIV. It is very pleasing that …
SOGI conversion practices consultation launched in Tasmania
The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute this week launched a public consultation on banning conversion practices. Tasmanian LGBTIQ equality advocates welcomed the SOGI conversion practices consultation. The TLRI’s Issues Paper, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conversion Practices canvasses a number of issues. They include the definition of conversion practices, the ideology behind it, the harm caused and …
Heroes of the pandemic: Ryan Sta Maria, resilient & bighearted
The COVID-19 that paralysed much of the globe since early this year brought death and untold misery to many. But it also brought to light community heroes whose stories bring joy into our lives amidst all the bleakness. One of those is Ryan Sta Maria whose resilience and bighearted nature makes him one of our …
Hedwig and the angry trolls: Hugh Sheridan hospitalised
Social media abuse saw actor Hugh Sheridan hospitalised for mental health treatment during the past week. Previously, an Instagram post led to the postponement of a season of Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring the actor. The Daily Mail reports the backlash over his casting to take on a role some characterise as transgender included …
Manscapes Calendar 2021: hot nudes in aid of mental health
Yet again, Byron Bay artist John Bortolin captures a superb collection of beautiful men amid the visual splendour of the Northern New South Wales landscape for the Manscapes Calendar 2021. As in previous years, every calendar purchase supports mental health projects undertaken by QC (Queensland Council for LGBTI Health). Scroll down for video John Bortolin …
Tasmanians convicted under old anti-gay laws may get compensation
Tasmanians convicted of historical homosexuality or crossdressing offences under repealed state laws should get compensation, a legislative review has recommended. Tasmania was the final Australian state or territory to decriminalise consensual homosexual acts in 1997. The state repealed laws against crossdressing in 2001. State legislation allowing expungement of historical criminal records for gay sex and …
Queers in Science celebrates LGBTQIA+ STEMM Day symposium
Today, Queers in Science holds its annual symposium for LGBTQIA+ people who work in the field of STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine). Queers in Science tweeted earlier today that LGBTQIA+ STEMM Day celebrates the wonderful work our queer community does to make the world a better place. Queers in Science aims to showcase …
Lessons from the Rainbow Isle: Rodney Croome on advocacy
When it comes to LGBTIQ legal rights, Tasmania is another country. The Rainbow Isle enjoys the most robust LGBTIQ human rights protections in Australia. Indeed, the gulf between Tasmanian laws and those in many other states is astonishing. Even more remarkably, Tasmania arrived at this point after coming from well behind. It was the last …
Latest Grindr scam – the rebranded ‘criminal check’ ruse
The latest Grindr scam is a simple rebranding of the previous ‘criminal check’ ruse. That scam probably became less effective over time. So, scammers have now changed the name of the charity supposedly offering criminal checks on potential Grindr hook-ups. The scam previously came to light about a year ago. Grindr users reported receiving messages …
Urgent action needed on ‘heartbreaking’ LGBTIQ suicide data
Almost 42% of LGBTIQ Australians reported having thoughts about suicide in 2019, according to a major new study by La Trobe University. The university released the major study Private Lives 3 on Friday, from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS). The researchers surveyed over 6,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and …
Freedom4Ali: Aussie stars unite to call for release of gay refugee
More than a dozen Aussie stars have joined forces to call for the release of a gay refugee who has spent years inside an Australian detention centre. Author Benjamin Law, Wentworth star Kate Jenkinson, The Project‘s Susie Youssef and Crazy Rich Asians star Remy Hii have joined the campaign #Freedom4Ali. The gay man, known as …
Was Joyce just tip of traditional marriage hypocrisy iceberg?
Outrage greeted the revelation in 2018 that staunch advocate for ‘traditional marriage’ Barnaby Joyce cheated on his wife. Tonight, ABC’s Four Corners revealed that Joyce perhaps comprised just the tip of a ‘traditional marriage’ hypocrisy iceberg. Minister Alan Tudge also cheated on his wife during the marriage equality debate. Four Corners revealed that Tudge conducted …
Stroke charity revokes registration: asks for donations same day
A stroke charity which frequently targeted the LGBTIQ+ communities for donations voluntarily revoked its registration with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) on 5 November. On the same day, the founder and then Vice President of the charity posted on Facebook at 8.28 am asking for donations. QNews reported earlier this year on Stroke …
Rodney Croome on election of Joe Biden: Lessons from America
For LGBTIQ Australians, the election of Joe Biden in the US provides some valuable lessons from America. 1/ Moral panics ultimately don’t work. Donald Trump tried and failed to win re-election. In part, his strategy relied on hyping fears that religious freedom is under threat and cruelly discriminating against trans folk. In fact, the percentage …
‘Hello Darlings!’: death of beloved Aussie icon, Jeanne Little
Australia went into mourning last night following the death of much-loved entertainer Jeanne Little, renowned for her catchphrase ‘Hello Darlings’. Jeanne’s daughter Katie Little revealed her mother’s death on social media. “My mother has left the earthly plane. This is a huge shock – but I’m so grateful. Love you all my friends. Cheers Mum, …
Australian gay blood donor restrictions to ease in early 2021
Australia’s Red Cross Lifeblood donation service says long-standing restrictions on gay and bi blood donors will be eased early next year. Currently, the Lifeblood donation service refuses gay and bi blood donors who have had sex with men in the past 12 months. In April, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved a proposal to lower …
Red Cross Lifeblood double-standard on tatts and GBT donors
Red Cross Lifeblood recently eased restrictions on tattooed donors. From last week, Aussies can walk straight from a tattoo parlour and into a Lifeblood centre to donate plasma. But note the word ‘straight’. The restrictions on donations from gay, bisexual and trans (GBT) donors remain. GBT donors must still abstain from sex for twelve months …
Tasmania’s only LGBTIQ nightclub Flamingos to close
Tasmania’s last permanent queer nightclub, Flamingos Dance Bar, is looking for a new home after the sale of its building forced it to close at short notice. On Facebook, the Hobart nightclub’s owners broke the news that the new landlord had asked them to leave. “Yesterday evening we received the heartbreaking news from our new …
Is the trending #AnalJones hashtag on Twitter homophobic?
The hashtag #AnalJones predictably inspired controversy as it trended on Twitter tonight. Award-winning Wirlomin Noongar author Claire G Coleman kicked off the hashtag earlier in the day. Claire tweeted, “It would be such a shame if everybody accidentally misspelled Alan Jones and #AnalJones started trending, wouldn’t it.” It would be such a shame if everybody …
Court approves trans teen’s treatment after parental dispute
A 16-year-old transgender girl whose mother opposed her transition can access gender-affirming hormone treatment after a win in the Family Court of Australia. The girl’s father had consented to the treatment, but her mother refused, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Family Court Justice Garry Watts last week granted access to oestrogen treatment for the girl, …