Victoria
NSW could be next to outlaw harmful ‘conversion therapy’
A group of New South Wales MPs have said they are working on legislation to ban harmful “conversion therapy”. Last week, the Victorian parliament passed legislation to ban the harmful and debunked practices. The laws make it illegal to try and change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria. Now NSW …
Victoria passes ‘life-saving’ legislation to outlaw harmful ‘conversion therapy’
Survivors of so-called “conversion therapy” have applauded the Victorian parliament for passing a “world-leading” bill to outlaw the practices. The new legislation makes it illegal to try and change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria. Under the reforms, any person who seriously harms another with the practices could face up …
Church leader returns award and slams Margaret Court’s ‘bad theology’
Victorian faith leader Reverend Alistair Mcrae says he wants to return his Order of Australia to protest Margaret Court’s “bad theology”. In Tuesday’s Australia Day awards, the tennis champ-turned-pastor was elevated from an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) to a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for her tennis achievements. Now Reverend …
Aussie gay club blasts Lady Gaga’s Chromatica and the whole world is jealous
Footage of a packed Melbourne gay nightclub blasting Lady Gaga’s Chromatica has gone viral, sparking jealousy and anguish online among fans stuck in COVID-19 lockdowns overseas. Victorian Twitter user Matt posted the footage of Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica II” transitioning into “911” at Poof Doof, the Melbourne queer club night, on Monday night ahead of the …
Worried family and friends search for missing woman Bridget Flack
Family and friends have appealed for information in the search for Melbourne woman Bridget Flack, who has been missing for more than a week. The 28-year old (pictured) was last seen on Lygon Street in the suburb of Carlton about 10.30am on November 30. Flack told friends she was going for a walk at Yarra …
ChillOut Festival returning to celebrate queer country pride in 2021
Australia’s longest-running and biggest regional LGBTIQ pride festival, ChillOut in Daylesford, Victoria has announced its 2021 plans. The festival is on every year in Daylesford, Victoria, around 108 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Across two weeks from February 27 to March 8 next year, the festival will transform the Central Highlands of Victoria into “Queer Country”. …
Young LGBTIQ people at greatest risk of domestic violence
LGBTIQ+ Australians under 25 are 4.5 times more likely to be at risk of domestic and family violence than those 25 years and over, according to new research. Equality Australia and Drummond Street Services’ Centre for Family Research and Evaluation in Victoria have released a research report on domestic and family violence affecting LGBTIQ+ people, …
Gay man Thomas Banks is on a quest for love in new Stan doco
Award-winning local documentary Thomas Banks’ Quest For Love, following a gay man with a disability, is streaming soon on Stan. The documentary follows Thomas himself – a charismatic Melbourne writer and professional speaker who has cerebral palsy – on his years-long search for a man to fall in love with. Created over six years, the …
Victorian government unveils legislation to ban ‘conversion therapy’
Survivors of so-called “conversion therapy” have praised the Victorian Government’s proposed legislation to criminalise the harmful practices. The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill would outlaw practices seeking to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria. Under the proposed laws, those who subject others to such practices that cause …
GiveOUT Day: Australian groups join national LGBTIQ fundraiser
Australians are being urged make a donation to support a local LGBTIQ group as part of GiveOUT Day today. GiveOUT Day, started last year, is a national coordinated day of fundraising for LGBTIQ+ projects, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations nationwide. Despite as many as a tenth of Australians identifying as queer, LGBTIQ-specific projects get only …
