religious discrimination
ACL conversion therapy expert panel: the feminist
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. The second speaker: …
Australian Christian Lobby’s silence on Israel Folau
The last week brought many surprises. However, nothing equals the Australian Christian Lobby’s silence on Israel Folau’s signing with Catalans Dragons. Martyn Iles appears to have said not a word. In a statement issued by the club following his signing, Folau promised to make no further public statements on his personal beliefs. However, last year, …
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 …
Keep drag storytime petition scores resounding win
In the battle of the Brisbane petitions, the ‘Keep drag storytime’ petition convincingly won the day. Both main opposing petitions closed yesterday afternoon. The pro drag storytime petition enjoyed a lead of 1,635 votes over the anti drag storytime petition. During the aftermath of an angry conservative protest against a drag storytime event at a …
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 …
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 …