religion
Religious Privilege: priest confessed to child abuse 1500 times
While religious extremists agitate for legislation extending their religious privilege at the expense of the rights of other Australians, a victim of child abuse is attempting to obtain compensation. Father Michael McArdle wrote in a 2004 affidavit that he made confessions of child abuse 1,500 times over 25 years. Each time, he walked out of …
Armageddon Izzy: ‘we are certainly living in the last days’
In his latest sermon, streamed live on Facebook, Armageddon Izzy, Israel Folau, told a small congregation at his father’s church, “we are certainly living in the last days.” During the sermon, Israel Folau frequently wiped away tears with a tissue. The latest sermon follows one last year in which the former footballer called the bushfires …
Wilson Gavin 2017: Chanting an ‘attack on free speech’
Wilson Gavin, leader of yesterday’s UQ Liberal National Club protest at a Brisbane drag storytime event, in 2017 characterised drowning out voices by chanting as an ‘attack on free speech’. Wilson Gavin summary Gay — anti-same-sex marriage — anti safe schools — pro-monarchy — anti drag storytime In 2017, Wilson Gavin acted as spokesperson for …
Judge orders Netflix to remove ‘gay Jesus’ from screens
A judge has ruled a film portraying Jesus as gay must be taken down from streaming service Netflix in Brazil. The First Temptation of Christ caused chaos in the country, infuriating local Christians. Vigilantes even fire-bombed the production company with Molotov cocktails back in December. A petition to axe the film was created late last …
‘Kill the Bill’: National rallies against Religious Discrimination Bill
Human rights activists will gather at a rally in Brisbane to protest the Morrison goverment’s controversial religious discrimination bill. LGBTIQ advocates last year blasted the draft bill for “immunising bigotry” and “dividing communities”. Now a string of national rallies are planned to condemn the legislation ahead of its upcoming introduction to federal parliament. The Brisbane …
United Methodist Church to split over same-sex marriage
The United Methodist Church, the largest mainline protestant denomination in the US will split over same-sex marriage. In 2019, the church tried to resolve differences between two opposing factions. One faction agitated for both same-sex marriage and LGBTIQ inclusion while the other opposed those reforms. Despite holding a conference in an attempt to resolve their …
LGBTIQ Indians join citizenship law protests
LGBTIQ Indian community organisations joined other rights groups on a march through New Delhi yesterday. The march protested the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Critics describe the law as anti-Muslim and claim it also violates India’s secular constitution. Over 1,000 members of India’s LGBTIQ communities joined the protest. The CAA and two other government measures …
Nigerian conversion therapy: man flogged until passing out
A Nigerian man told the BBC his ‘conversion therapist’ flogged him until he lapsed into unconsciousness. The interview comes five years after former president Goodluck Johnson signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA). Both the man, and a lesbian from the African country, described the practice of Nigerian conversion therapy to the BBC. The SSMPA …
2020 – a national representative body for LGBTIQ communities?
Australia’s LGBTIQ communities head into the year 2020 with huge achievements in our immediate past. There are also massive challenges in our immediate future. Is it time for a national representative body for Australia’s LGBTIQ communities? Over the last half-century, our communities achieved decriminalisation of homosexuality, some discrimination protections, and marriage equality. We achieved that …
Margaret Court: retired player still likes making a racket
In her last sermon for 2019, retired tennis player and now pentecostal minister Margaret Court attempted to hit a moonball at Tennis Australia. Court is controversial for her vocal opposition to LGBTIQ rights and same-sex marriage. Previously, Court demanded Tennis Australia formally welcome her to Melbourne Park to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her grand …