Victoria
Drag star Frock Hudson just got vaxxed at LGBTIQ ‘fab jab’ hub
Melbourne drag performer Frock Hudson was one of the LGBTIQ+ Victorians to get vaccinated at the state’s Pride Centre on Tuesday during a rainbow vaccination blitz. The Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda has opened a pop-up vaccine hub that’s running until Sunday (October 24). It’s part of the Rainbow Vaccination Week running this week …
Victorian man jailed for armed robbery of man he met on Grindr
A man in Victoria who used Grindr to lure another man into a frightening armed robbery in southern Geelong has been jailed. A judge in the County Court of Victoria sentenced Thomas Samas to 95 days in jail on Monday, in combination with a community correction order, the Geelong Advertiser reported. The 23-year-old pleaded guilty …
Outrage as prison in Victoria nominated for transgender inclusion award
Victorian LGBTIQ business organisation GLOBE has caused outrage after nominating the state’s Ravenhall prison for a transgender inclusion honour at their next awards ceremony. The GLOBE Community Awards celebrate achievement within the local LGBTIQ community, with awards given each year to both businesses and individuals. Among the awards is one “awarded to businesses who champion …
Victorian Liberals under fire for election promise to Australian Christian Lobby
The Victorian Liberal Opposition quietly promised the Australian Christian Lobby and others it would amend the state’s ban on LGBT “conversion therapy” if it won the next state election. Then-opposition leader Michael O’Brien (pictured above left) committed to change parts of the laws if he won the November 2022 election, The Age reported. Two weeks …
Victorian government to ban religious schools from sacking LGBTIQ staff
The Victorian government plans to ban religious schools from sacking or refusing to hire staff based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Victoria’s Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the planned reforms will close a “hurtful gap” in the state’s current anti-discrimination laws. The laws currently allow religious organisations and schools to sack or refuse to …
Man charged with murder over 1987 suspected ‘gay hate’ killing
Police have arrested and charged a man with murder for the fatal 1987 bashing of Sydney man Raymond Keam in a cold case breakthrough. A member of the public found Raymond Keam’s body in grass at Alison Park in Randwick on January 13, 1987. A post mortem examination and 1988 coronial inquest found the father-of-four …
Two gay penguin couples have paired up at Melbourne aquarium
Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium has said two gay penguin couples in their colony have paired up for their nesting season. Gentoo penguins are monogamous and mate for life, and same-sex pairings are not uncommon both in captivity and in the wild. The Melbourne aquarium says in their gentoo penguin colony, duos Tiger and Branston and …
Far-right extremist jailed for homophobic tirade in inclusive church
A Victorian judge has jailed far-right extremist Neil Erikson after he filmed himself entering an LGBTIQ+ friendly church and hurling homophobic abuse at parishioners. A Melbourne Magistrates Court judge sentenced the 36-year-old on Friday after finding him guilty of disturbing a religious service, AAP reported. In May 2019, he entered the LGBTIQ-inclusive Metropolitan Community Church …
Ad watchdog gets homophobic complaints about these gay ads
Victorian LGBTIQ+ organisation Thorne Harbour Health has hit out at homophobic complaints against its longest-running gay men’s sexual health campaign. Since 2008, Thorne Harbour’s “The Drama Downunder” campaign has promoted STI testing and gay men’s sexual health and wellbeing. To do so, they use models wearing white briefs to bust stigma around discussing sexual health. …
Casey Donovan opens up about relationship with girlfriend Renee
Casey Donovan has opened up about her girlfriend Renee Sharples as the couple get set to celebrate one year together soon. The entertainer said she connected with Renee, a paramedicine lecturer, on dating app Bumble during isolation in Victoria’s long lockdown last year. During lockdown, the couple said they spent hours on the phone, and …