politics
Brisbane doctor blasts ‘harmful’ religious discrimination bill
A Brisbane doctor who specialises in LGBTIQ healthcare has slammed the government’s “harmful” religious freedom bill. Dr Ryan Williams is a GP at Stonewall Medical Centre in Brisbane. The long-running centre is one of four in the city specialising in care for LGBTIQ people. “I’m a proud gay man myself, and the majority of my …
Pete Buttigieg’s brilliant response to homophobic sledge
Democratic Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has said he “won’t be lectured on family values” by conservative shock jock Rush Limbaugh after homophobic jibes about his marriage. Buttigieg is one of the many contenders vying for the Democratic Presidential nomination against Donald Trump in the 2020 US election. If elected, the 38-year-old would be the first …
Pauline Hanson introduces ‘bigoted’ bill targeting schools
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has introduced a bill to stop schools “indoctrinating” children with “non-traditional” concepts like LGBTIQ issues and climate change. Senator Hanson claims “biased” teachers are teaching young students “skewed versions of history and science, and sexualised school programs”. Hanson says she is seeking to ban “skewed versions of history taught as …
Faith service providers reject Religious Discrimination Bill
Leaders from six Victorian faith-based service providers say the latest draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill goes “too far” and the government should not pass it. The leaders of Anglicare Victoria (pictured above), Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, Jewish Care Victoria, McAuley Community Services for Women, Sacred Heart Mission and Uniting Vic.Tas have all signed …
ACL conversion therapy expert panel: Professor Parkinson
Last week, Wendy Francis from the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) organised a talkfest at Queensland’s Parliament House. Francis promoted her ACL conversion therapy ‘expert panel’ as unpacking ‘gay conversion therapy’. However, the ‘experts’ made scant mention of the advertised topic. In this special series, we look at the claims made on the night. First up …
Voter asks to change vote: never knew Buttigieg gay
God bless America. A voter in the Democratic presidential primary in Iowa asked to retract her vote after discovering the sexuality of candidate Pete Buttigieg. Probably the one thing Pete Buttigieg is best known for is his sexuality. He came out in 2015. Then, in 2018, he married his husband, Chasten. Last year, a Republican …
Hundreds rally in Brisbane for Kill the Bill protest
Hundreds rallied against the Religious Freedoms legislation in Brisbane’s King George Square earlier today for the Kill the Bill Protest. Protestors firstly heard from community leaders and other speakers in front of Brisbane City Hall. Johnny Valkyrie, rally organiser, said, “The Religious Discrimination Bill jeopardises the human rights of everyone. Those who will be disadvantaged …
Ok Australia, we need your drag storytime votes today
The two drag storytime ePetitions before the Brisbane City Council end today. And we are asking people all around Australia to give us their drag storytime votes today. UPDATE: Voting closed on both petitions at 5 pm 31 January 2020. The petition to keep drag storytime attracted 8,674 votes and the petition to ban it …
Take your hate and shove it – #IStandWithQueens
There’s currently a lot of vilification aimed at drag queens. Religious extremists sense an opportunity to advance their crusade against LGBTIQ people by demonising queens. But I/we… #IStandWithQueens. Drag queens are not perfect. But let’s not allow the delusion of religious extremists to define what’s acceptable. Extremists tell us with feigned humility that “we all …
Anthony Albanese Religious Freedom roundtable
Labor leader Anthony Albanese held a Religious Freedom roundtable with about 25 representatives of national peak bodies in Melbourne today. Four representatives of the LGBTIQ communities attended the roundtable. Anna Brown from Equality Australia and Rodney Croome from Equality Tasmania both attended. Ro Allen, Victoria’s Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality and AFAO’s Heath Paynter also …