Archive for Within Australia

New report launched – Hate Crimes Act included among new recommendations needed to protect LGBTI people from prejudice

// September 12th, 2018 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Hate Crime report and recommendations - photo HRLC 2018

The Human Rights Law Centre today launched the “End the Hate: Responding to prejudice motivated speech and violence against the LGBTI community” report which calls for stronger protections from hate speech and hate crime in Victoria, with a panel discussion with Victoria Police and community leaders about the need for reforms to address Hate Crime.

Pictured left to right, Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, Human Rights Law Centre’s Anna Brown and Lee Carnie, NW Region GLLO Gabby Tyacke and the Anti-Violence Project’s Greg Adkins, after the Hate Crime panel discussion at the report’s launch.

This report reveals how current laws and policies are failing to protect LGBTI people from hate crime and hate conduct and outlines how the tide can be turned with 5 main areas for future work containing 23 recommendations for reform.

If this report raises issues for you, and you or someone you know needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Q-life/Switchboard on 1800 184 527. Crime Stoppers is found by calling 1800 333 000. When in danger call Police 000. When safe, contact the Anti-Violence Project http:/antiviolence.info/report-violence

Review and download a copy of the new Hate Crimes report here: https://humanrightslawcentre.createsend1.com/t/i-l-nbujjk-l-y/

If you or anyone you know needs help?

// June 26th, 2018 // No Comments » // Within Australia, Within Victoria

If you or anyone you know needs help:

QLife on 1800 184 527,

Lifeline on 13 11 14,

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800,

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978,

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467,

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36,

Headspace on 1800 650 890

IDAHOBIT celebration & commemoration May 17th 2018, 5pm to 9pm

// April 28th, 2018 // No Comments » // International, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Grace

Gather at Melbourne’s Fed Square Main Stage with the Anti-Violence Project crew and many others from Melbourne and Victoria LGBTI organisations to celebrate and commemorate IDAHOBIT Day, Thursday May 17, 2018.

IDAHOBIT isthe International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia.

Fed Square are presenting program of diverse artists, performers and voices. Their evening celebration for IDAHOBIT Day includes a stage program of 5-10 minute performances interspersed with Q&As with LGBTQIA+ organisations.

The short performances will include music, comedy, drag acts, dance, and spoken word from artists such as Mojo Juju, Yana Alana, Adolfo Aranjuez, Raina Peterson, William Cooper, Ana Diction, Jax Jacki Brown, Dani Sib and Amao Leota Lu.

Further info about IDAHOBIT Day can be found at here.

As always, LGBTI commemorative events and celebrations can bring us shoulder-to shoulder with the odd individual or two who has a narrower experience of life and diversity than most. If you feel unsafe or in danger, call Police 000. When safe, contact the Anti-Violence Project http:/antiviolence.info/report-violence

Federatio Squares information abour their 1th May event is found here: http://fedsquare.com/events/idahobit-day-2018

Celebrate Bi Day 2017 – 23rd September

// September 18th, 2017 // No Comments » // Within Australia, Within Victoria

Equality Roadshow

September is bi-visibility month and the 23rd of September, the annual Bi-Pride Day.

Check out the two events being held jointly by YGender and the Bisexual Alliance Victoria in Carlton.

Real fears of hateful rhetoric in marriage survey

// August 15th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Relationships, Within Australia, Within Victoria

The federal government’s proposed marriage equality postal survey heads to the High Court of Australia and behind the scenes planning continues and debate in the community has commenced. we hold real concerns that some of the debate threatens to expose vulnerable same-sex attracted and gender diverse people to prejudice and hatred.

In the La Trobe Valley, AVP Traralgon representative, Rob Mauger, fears the upcoming same-sex marriage postal ballot could expose the LGBTI community to hateful behaviour.

“I’m 63, and I’ve heard everything everyone has said.. that my love is so dangerous it will destroy the fabric of Australian society,” Mr Mauger told the La Trobe Valley Express.

“How does anyone think being told that feels?” Amid hearing ongoing discrimination that “makes you want to shrink as though you have no place”, Mr Mauger found satisfaction in the recent Pride Cup and wanted to thank the AFL community in the Latrobe Valley

Read the full discussion here: http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/4853181/fears-marriage-ballot-could-divide/

Elite football should embrace sexual equality with the same enthusiasm it supports indigenous talent – Kevin Sheedy

// May 18th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Sport, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Former-Essendon-coach-Kevin-Sheedy-Photo-Getty-Images.jpg

Marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) on 17th May 2017, AFL coaching legend Kevin Sheedy said he wanted the football world to embrace sexual equality with the same enthusiasm with which it has supported indigenous talent at the elite level of the game.

Sheedy joined a panel alongside Matt Hall, football’s first openly gay footballer ( @matthall1972 ), who in 1998 was refused registration in the Victorian Amateur Football Association because of his HIV-positive status, a ruling he fought and beat in the courts, together with former Olympian and politician Nova Peris and Collingwood AFLW player Penny Cula-Reid.

Sheedy also praised the AFL for its progressive stance on social issues, but spoke about the conservatism of society at large inhibiting a change in attitudes.

Read The Age journalist Rohan Connolly’s article in full here http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/kevin-sheedy-calls-on-football-to-embrace-sexual-equality-20170518-gw7hyh.html

SURVEY – Perceptions of police, crime reporting and feelings of safety

// May 6th, 2017 // No Comments » // Research, Within Australia, Within Victoria

The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) asked festival goers at the 2017 Midsumma and Chill-Out festivals to complete a community survey with part of the survey focusing on perceptions and experiences of Victoria Police. They’ve now put this survey online and would love to get a good response from the community.

VGLRL are interested in hearing from you about your perceptions of the police, reporting of crimes and how safe you feel.
We at the AVP urge you to help the VGLRL better serve our community by completing their short survey so we all can understand what issues are important to you.

As one of the key rights-focused lobby groups in Victoria, alongside TGV, the VGLRL will use this information to proactively champion LGBTI rights, concerns and influence the way the police work with our community.

The 5 minutes you spend visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VGLRL2017 will be some of the most important minutes you ever contribute to community!

Seeking support

// January 23rd, 2017 // No Comments » // Within Australia, Within Victoria

If you or anyone you know needs help:

Qlife 3pm-midnight 1800 184 527

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

Headspace on 1800 650 89

If you’re in danger, call police 000.

Find the location, name & contact number of your local GLLO (Police LGBTI liaison officer via our VicAVP site https://antiviolence.info/violence-map/

When safe, make a violence report to the AVP https://antiviolence.info/report-violence/

Leadership, personal experience and protecting Safe Schools – Harriet Shing MLC

// November 28th, 2016 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Within Australia, Within Victoria

Grace

We share with you a wonderful speech by Harriet Shing MLC in the Legislative Council at the Parliament of Victoria (October 26, 2016) in support of the Safe Schools program as the first out LGBT member of state parliament responding to a motion to remove the Safe Schools program from schools.

Harriet says “(there have been) other women who have been in this Parliament and other women who are in public office who, like people throughout society, have gone their entire lives hiding themselves from the world, hiding themselves from the reflections that they see in the mirror, living lives which may seem to put a somewhat tolerable skin on it on one level but which do not truly reflect who they are on another.

She uses her personal experience to unpack what she sees and that which we agree is enormously challenging for parents to do when their children come out as same sex attracted or gender diverse, that is to look their child in the eye, hear them out and say to them that they love them anyway — that they love them unconditionally.

“That is not always the case”, Ms Shing told Parliament, “It is also not always the case that children are accepting of the other, that children can understand the importance of being accepting and respectful, that children understand the importance of the fact that sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity and religion — personal characteristics, the essence of who somebody is — are not and should not ever be considered to be causes of derision or contempt or isolation or exclusion or bullying”.

She then unpacks the issues surrounding discrimination of LGBTI children, looks at the guidance and support the Safe Schools program provides these children and those around them and then discusses her own personal experience of being accepted for who she is by a vast majority of people she deals with in her role as an MP yet “having said that, there are a number who do not (accept my sexuality)”.

Ms Shing says “that number is small, but it is very, very vocal, and that number is prone to being vicious on occasion. That number is prone to telling me that I am an abomination, that I am a disgrace and that I should be ashamed, and so in standing here today I refuse to be an abomination, I refuse to be a disgrace and I refuse to be ashamed. But in doing that I note that it has got to be happening to kids in secondary school because if it is happening to me as an elected member of Parliament, if it happens to me in my workplace and it happens to me out in the broader community, then it has got to be happening in our playgrounds and it has got to be happening at our bus stops, and I know it is happening in our workplaces”.

The Anti-Violence Project takes the view that Safe Schools is much needed program addressing homophobic harassment and bullying in schools however a social policy vacuum exists outside the school gate where prejudice and homophobia (including trans/bi-phobia) are passed from generation to generation through families. Schools must be safe places for students; homes, streets and society must be safe places for all same sex attracted and gender diverse people. As a =n out member of parliament and an Anbassador for the Safe Schools Program, Harriet Shing shines a light on the work needed to shift our society on both sides of the school gate.

Read the complete Harriet Shing speech in support of the Safe Schools program here:
http://hansard.parliament.vic.gov.au/isysquery/c2cfa5c3-e733-4088-8360-adac11d64e34/2/doc/
or via her personal website here:
http://www.harrietshing.com.au/news/you-are-okay-exactly-as-you-are-harriet-speaks-out-in-parliament-about-bullying-having-respect-for-all-people-and-safe-schools/3/