politics
Australian government leaves LGBTIQ questions out of 2021 Census
LGBTIQ advocates are frustrated yet another Australian Census won’t ask about sexual orientation and gender identity, keeping queer communities largely invisible. The Australian Bureau of Statistics runs the national Census every five years. This year’s official Census night is on Tuesday, August 10. Forms are now hitting mailboxes across Australia. The Census’ national population data …
Ghana is planning the ‘most homophobic laws in the world’
Politicians in the African nation of Ghana have unveiled draft bill that activists say is one of the world’s most homophobic pieces of legislation. A group of MPs introduced the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill to parliament late last month. Gay sex is already punishable by up to three …
New doco ‘Hating Peter Tatchell’ explores legendary gay activist’s life
New documentary Hating Peter Tatchell, chronicling the titular LGBTIQ+ activist’s 54 years of fearless human rights campaigning, is debuting in Australia next month. The film, executive produced by Elton John and David Furnish, looks at both the motivations and consequences of Peter’s provocative campaigning. Born in Melbourne, Peter Tatchell (above) jumped into politics with campaigns …
Qld Satanists say Parliament’s Christian prayer excludes them
The Noosa Temple of Satan have launched a petition taking aim at the Australian Parliament’s “exclusionary” opening Christian prayers, ahead of the Morrison Government introducing the Religious Discrimination Bill. The Sunshine Coast-based Temple of Satan has made national headlines for their activism and commentary around the controversial legislation. The group held a Satanic Black Mass …
Australian Christian Lobby furious after venues reject their bookings
The Australian Christian Lobby has threatened to sue after they were barred from holding a Western Australian event at a publicly-owned Albany venue. The Perth Theatre Trust, a government agency, operates several publicly-owned theatre venues across the state. Last month, the Trust reportedly barred the ACL from hiring the Albany Entertainment Centre or the Perth …
Liberal MP vows to fight gender reform that happened 10 years ago
South Australian Liberal Senator Alex Antic has vowed to oppose efforts to allow “X” gender markers for non-binary Australians on passports, despite Australia introducing them ten years ago. Senator Antic (pictured) made the comments on Cory Bernardi’s Sky News program Bernardi last week. The pair were criticising the US government’s plans to provide an “X” …
Liberal MP Warren Entsch blasts Religious Discrimination Bill
Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch has warned he’ll vote against his government’s controversial Religious Discrimination Bill if it undermines LGBTIQ rights. This month, federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the long-delayed legislation would make a comeback by the end of the year. Speaking on LGBTIQ radio station JOY 94.9, Entsch declared he will cross the floor …
Canada passes bill to ban harmful LGBT ‘conversion therapy’
Canadian lawmakers have passed a bill to outlaw harmful LGBT conversion practices. “Conversion therapy” refers to discredited practices of changing or suppressing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, using psychological or spiritual means. The Canadian government’s bill passed its first vote 263 to 63 this week. The legislation will now go to the Senate …
Coalition slammed over LGBTIQ rights vote in the Senate
The federal government has voted down a Senate motion from the Greens calling for LGBTIQ consultation on the religious discrimination bill. Greens Senator Janet Rice put the motion forward in the Senate on Tuesday. It took aim at the Coalition MPs who recently voted in support of a failed One Nation motion condemning medical care …
Morrison government’s Online Safety Bill slammed as ‘blatant censorship’
The Greens want amendments to the Morrison government’s controversial Online Safety Bill after “serious” censorship concerns from LGBTQ and sex worker advocates. The government’s draft laws would beef up the powers of Australia’s eSafety commissioner to target bullying and harassment of both children and adults online. The draft Online Safety Bill increases the maximum penalty …