Victoria
Australian Social Workers Call For States To Ban ‘Gay Conversion Therapy’
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has welcomed the Victorian government’s recent pledge to outlaw gay “conversion therapy” and called on other states to look at similar bans. The discredited “conversion” practices attempt to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity using psychological or spiritual means, and have been condemned by …
Calls For Other States To Follow Victoria On ‘Gay Conversion Therapy’ Ban
LGBTIQ advocates including new lobby group Equality Australia have welcomed the Victorian government’s pledge to tackle harmful “gay conversion therapy” in the state. Speaking at the Midsumma Pride March on Sunday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the practices were “bigoted quackery” and consultation would begin on legislation to prohibit the discredited and harmful practices. The …
Victorian Government Pledges Ban On ‘Gay Conversion’ Therapy
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced new legislation to outlaw harmful “gay conversion” therapy in the state. The discredited practices attempt to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity using psychological or spiritual means, and have been condemned by major health bodies around the world. Speaking at the 2019 Midsumma Pride March …
Funding Cut From Outreach Program Benefiting Victorian LGBTIQ Elders
LGBTIQ organisations have called for federal funding to be restored to an outreach service in Victoria connecting LGBTIQ elders to their broader community. Switchboard Victoria’s Out and About program is an LGBTIQ elder outreach program seeking to address the social isolation experienced by older LGBTIQ people with regular community visits. The organisation was told of …
Poof Doof Publishes Updated Photo Brief After Body-Shaming Controversy
Melbourne gay club night Poof Doof has published an updated, inclusive brief for its photographers, after a former set of instructions drew outrage for excluding certain body types and women. Poof Doof shared its new policy changes on its Facebook page, writing that “a lot has changed since we formed in 2011 and our goal …
A Group Of LGBTIQ Elders Share Their Stories In ‘The Coming Back Out Ball Movie’
Melbourne artist Tristan Meecham had a vision for the inaugural Coming Back Out Ball event. The gala event – a glittering red carpet evening of live entertainment, dancing and pride – would honour and celebrate his local LGBTQIA+ elders and help address some of the social isolation and invisibility they experience. “We want to acknowledge …
Federal Labor Pledges $10 Million For Victoria’s Pride Centre
Federal Labor has pledged $10.6 million in funding for Victoria’s Pride Centre if elected at the next federal election. Based on San Francisco’s LGBT Community Centre, the Pride Centre in St Kilda will be a community hub for LGBTIQ organisations and groups. Eight major LGBTIQ community organisations are set to move into the centre including …
Victorian University Offers Transgender Staff Paid Leave In Australian First
A Victorian university has become the first in Australia to offer its transgender staff paid leave to aid their gender transition. The new policy, announced by Deakin University this week, sees trans staff offered a one-off period of 10 days of paid leave, the same length of time given to staff whose partner has given …
Victoria Urged To Introduce Hate Crime Legislation To Protect LGBTIQ Community
The Human Rights Law Centre has called on the Victorian Government to establish a Hate Crimes Act to provide legal protection for LGBTIQ people. The HRLC has released a report, a year on from the marriage equality postal survey, to highlights the negative impact of hate speech and hate crimes during the survey on the …
LGBTIQ Homelessness A ‘State Emergency,’ MP Says
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has called for “epidemic levels” of homelessness in New South Wales to be treated as a state of emergency. Greenwich said the number of people with no fixed address in New South Wales had risen by 37 per cent since the 2011 Census. Research shows the issue disproportionately affects gay, …