religion
Teacher sues Christian school for religious discrimination
A teacher has filed a discrimination complaint against a private Christian school, claiming she had to quit after refusing to accept its policy opposing same-sex marriage. Rachel Colvin claims Ballarat Christian College discriminated against her due to her political and religious beliefs, including her support for same-sex marriage. The married mother of three alleges she …
60 Minutes tonight: pray the gay away
Channel 9’s 60 Minutes will tonight expose “the unregulated world of religious counselling designed to switch off homosexuality.” The program claims an undercover investigation will reveal the methods used by some Australian churches to ‘eradicate’ homosexuality through LGBTIQ conversion therapy. It promises an expose of attempts to ‘pray the gay away’. Scroll down for vid …
OPINION: Peter Black on the Religious Freedom Bills
Peter Black, President of QuAC discusses the draft Religious Freedoms Bills and their potential impact on our communities. Peter Black is a Senior Lecturer in Law, teaching and researching in internet law, media law and Australian Constitutional law. As a firm advocate of equality and fairness for the LGBTI communities, Peter Black was also Queensland …
Israel Folau headlining Australian Christian Lobby conference
Israel Folau will be a keynote speaker at an upcoming Australian Christian Lobby conference next month. The ACL have announced the former rugby star will address the group’s Sydney conference on October 19, which is titled “Not Ashamed”. “Not Ashamed is an event to equip Christians to grow in our knowledge of truth, especially in …
Anglican leader intervenes to delay blessing of gay priests’ marriage
Two gay Anglican priests who married this week won’t have their union officially blessed in a Victorian church following a legal challenge. Priests John Davis and Rob Whalley (pictured above) married in a civil ceremony on Tuesday. Wangaratta Anglican Bishop John Parkes previously announced he planned to bless the couple’s relationship in his regional church. …
Religious discrimination bill may ‘set LGBTIQ healthcare back years’
Equality Australia has warned the Morrison government’s controversial religious discrimination bill could negatively impact on LGBTIQ people’s access to healthcare. The religion bill could see LGBTIQ+ patients refused healthcare by practitioners who “conscientiously object” to their sexual orientation or gender identity on religious grounds. Equality Australia’s Anna Brown told the Sydney Morning Herald the religious …
Jacqui Lambie isn’t keen on the religious discrimination bill
Independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has expressed concerns about the government’s draft religious discrimination bill. Lambie told ABC News she doesn’t see a case for the controversial bill “at this point in time”. The independent senator told the ABC she would “have a look” at the legislation. But she said Tasmanians “seem to be satisfied” …
Archbishop blasts Anglican priest’s blessing of same-sex marriage
Sydney Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies has said a move to allow Victorian priests to bless same-sex marriages will “fracture the Anglican Church of Australia.” Last weekend, the Wangaratta Anglican diocese in regional Victoria voted in favour of giving churches the option of blessing same-sex married couples. The vote was brought on by retiring priest John …
Rainbow Territory petition to scrap discriminatory NT law
LGBTIQ advocacy group Rainbow Territory are calling for the repeal of a law allowing religious schools to discriminate on the basis of sexuality. The NT’s Anti-Discrimination Act states a religious school may discriminate against a staff member at the institution based on religious beliefs and sexuality. The NT Attorney‑General’s department is currently reviewing the territory’s …
Another ‘conversion therapy’ leader comes out as gay
Another former leader in the discredited “gay conversion therapy” movement has come out as gay and apologised. Twenty years ago, McKrae Game founded South Carolina-based organisation Hope for Wholeness to fix so-called “sexual brokenness”. “Gay conversion” or “ex-gay” therapy describes the discredited practice of trying to change sexual orientation using psychological or spiritual means. But …