lgbtiq rights
Dear Christians, we are not the enemy…
The debate in Australia over religious freedoms would suggest that Christians and LGBTIQ communities are implacable foes. Advocates of religious freedoms legislation portray the issue as a fight to save Christians from persecution by the ‘Rainbow Cult’, a term frequently employed on Australian Christian Lobby Facebook page. However, the LGBTIQ communities are not enemies of …
Stark choice for Qld sex workers – work safely or obey law?
We accept best practice in workplace health and safety as a given these days. Government regulation and workplace policies cover just about every eventuality that could bring harm to a worker. Unless the worker is a sex worker! In that case, Queensland law actually endangers the health and safety of the worker. No bad whores …
Lawyers who won Indian decriminalisation a couple
Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju, the two lawyers who successfully argued the case for the Indian decriminalisation of homosexuality, are a couple. Scroll down for the vid. The pair spoke to Fareed Zakaria of CNN about the long battle for gay law reform in India. They first attempted to win Indian decriminalisation in 2013. On …
Couple sue to marry in country where even PM can not
Jelena Dubovi and Suncica Kopunovic commenced a legal battle Thursday for legal recognition of their partnership in Serbia. The socially conservative country bans same-sex marriage. The two women attempted to register a civil union in their home town in April. However the registrar’s office in Novi Sad turned them away. The Serbian constitution explicitly defines …
Freedom and Equality for all – not for some.
Shelley Argent OAM is the National Spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). She is one of the most effective advocates for the human rights of LGBTIQ people in Australia. As such, Shelley played a leading role during the Australian campaign for marriage equality. She believes fervently in freedom and equality for …
Editorial: Is this what religious freedom looks like?
Ryan Williams from Lancashire England posted this photo of himself to Facebook last night. “I never thought in my life that I would get beaten up for being GAY!” he said. We don’t know the circumstances of the violent physical attack on this young man. It certainly bears the hallmarks of a gay bashing. What …
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 …
Gay Christian Iranian teen’s asylum bid rejected
The Swedish Migration Board yesterday ordered a gay Christian Iranian teenager to leave Sweden. Despite the well documented persecution of both Christians and gays in Iran, the board rejected 19-year-old Mehdi Shokr Khoda’s application for asylum. Mehdi Shokr Khoda and Christianity Mehdi fled Iran in 2017. He converted to Christianity in Stockholm and subsequently underwent …
Make voices heard on religious discrimination
Just.equal urges LGBTI groups to make their views known to the Federal Government on proposed religious discrimination and freedom laws. Recently, the Government announced a consultation process involving MPs and religious groups. However, it is not clear if LGBTI groups can participate. Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said, “We have an assurance from the office of …
Another anti LGBTIQ clergyman caught molesting boys
Police charged John Martin, an anti LGBTIQ clergyman from Alabama, with four counts of sexual abuse of a child after he admitted “an affair” to his congregation. According to news reports, the Baptist pastor admitted to ‘inappropriate relationships with young men’. In fact, he molested at least one boy from the church on multiple occasions. …