religious discrimination
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 …
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 …
Brisbane drag storytime – sorting fact from keyboard fiction
The trauma that began with the disruption of Rainbow Families Qld’s Brisbane drag storytime last Sunday continues. Following the death of protest leader Wilson Gavin, efforts to tweak the narrative to fit personal and political agendas flooded both mainstream and social media. The inaccuracies of keyboard fiction, when repeated often enough, become accepted wisdom. What …
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 …
Video: UQ Liberal National Club disrupt drag storytime
Earlier today, members of the University of Queensland’s UQ Liberal National Club disrupted Drag Storytime at Brisbane Square Library. The group’s intrusion and loud chanting distressed children and infants in attendance at the Rainbow Families Qld event. Update: Statement from Councillor Vicki Howard, Central Ward: “The group that staged this protest have no affiliation with …
Albanese invites LGBTIQ consultation on religious discrimination
Some community representatives recently received invitations from Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese to meet with him for LGBTIQ consultation on the Religious Discriminations Bill. The meeting will take place in Melbourne on 30 January. Just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome said just.equal welcomed the decision. He said the message the organisation would take to Anthony Albanese was …
PFLAG+ new campaign to scrap religious bias bill
A new website created by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG+) encourages Australians who want to scrap the Religious Discrimination Bill to make their voices heard. PFLAG+ national spokesperson Shelley Argent forecast a tough battle ahead. “This is a tough new campaign for a tough new year. I’m not interested in tinkering at …
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 …
Indonesia tests foreign teachers for ‘abnormal’ sexual orientation
Earlier this month, international schools in Indonesia began implementing government regulation to test foreign teachers for ‘abnormal’ sexual orientation. The New York Times published questions from tests some schools required foreign teachers to take. Some questions required either agreement or disagreement with a statement. “I would feel uncomfortable knowing my daughter’s or son’s teacher was …
“Unambiguous evidence” LGBTIQ discrimination harms health
Cornell University recently completed a two-year study of peer-reviewed scholarship on the link between LGBTIQ discrimination and mental health. The study resulted in “a remarkably consistent conclusion that discrimination harms [LGBTIQ] people in far-reaching — and sometimes life-threatening — ways.” Researchers wrote in the Washington Post that they focussed on a list of 300 articles. …