Archive for Media discussion

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/

Andrews Govt delivers new $$ support for LGBTi community during postal plebiscite

// August 20th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Relationships, Within Victoria

Equality Roadshow

The Victorian Government, through Equality Minister Martin Foley, has announced it will provide $1 million to support the LGBTI community through the federal government’s postal survey on marriage equality.

This includes today’s announcement of a $500,000 funding package to help mental health services and LGBTI organisations keep up with heightened demands as a result of the vote.

Read Star Observer’s report here: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/victoria-news/victoria-pledges-support-postal-vote/161065

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

VicPOL GLLO show returns as a podcast to JOY 94.9

// May 7th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Within Victoria

Grace

The GLLOs are back on-air! It’s been around five years since the Victoria Police GLLOs previously hosted THE GLLO SHOW with the Anti-Violence Project and Crimestoppers on JOY 94.9. Now the GLLOs are back as an exclusive JOY podcast!

This week Sergeant Scott Davis and Leading Senior Constable Gabby Tyacke are back, joined by Victoria Police Community (LGBTI) Portfolio Manager Dahni Houseman. Check them out here: http://www.joy.org.au/theglloshow or via the iTunes podcast directory or your favourite podcast app.

Return each week for the next podcast!

AVP Traralgon’s Rob Mauger visits the Rainbow Connections Radio Show

// April 25th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion

RobJo
Our AVP representative in Traralgon, Rob Mauger joined Jo Parker on-air Friday 21st April to discuss the Anti-violence Project. Rob (left) is pictured here with Jo Parker (middle) and Brendan Jarrod Ancilleri (right).

You can find the Rainbow Connections Radio Show here: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-rainbow-connection or via the iTunes podcast directory or your favourite podcast app.

Community Grants round to fund AVP’s new violence reporting apps

// April 4th, 2017 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Uncategorized

Grace

The Anti-Violence Project of Victoria is to receive a grant of $18,000 through the first round of LGBTI Community Grants, announced today by the Minister for Equality Martin Foley.

This will see the AVP update and enhance its violence reporting service and develop new Android and iPhone apps for the community to use to report violence, harassment and family and intimate partner violence.

These grants are part of $900,000 which will go to building the capacity of community organisations and developing the leadership and management skills of current and future LGBTI leaders.

For more information see:
Equality Website: http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-support-for-lgbti-organisations-across-victoria/

Equality Minister’s media release: https://284532a540b00726ab7e-ff7c063c60e1f1cafc9413f00ac5293c.ssl.cf4.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/170403-More-Support-For-LGBTI-Organisations-Across-Victoria.pdf

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/

Loss of a young life is a tragedy and national disgrace

// November 25th, 2016 // No Comments » // Media discussion, Within Australia

(trigger warning; homophobia & suicide)

Tyrone Unsworth’s suicide is a tragic loss of a child’s life due to years of homophobic bullying and insults at school.

We believe society must change inside AND outside the school gate to prevent this tragedy unfolding in many families’ lives – there’s a social policy vacuum than must be filled and a community of unfunded organisations and volunteers working in this space who need funding and support.

We know that Tyrone’s grieving family didn’t raise what was happening to Tyrone in the school yard with the school.

We also believe that the Safe Schools program could have been a game changer here, removing the silence around homophobia and violence in schools and outside the school gate in community, opening up communications and discussion to support Tyrone and his family.

Social policy action by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments could have started the work needed to change how society is ingrained with homophobia and prejudice outside the school gate.

And Tyrone and his family may have been strengthened and enabled to take the bullying up with his school well before he was pushed towards suicide.

The loss of a young 13 year old life to homophobic bullying and harassment at school is both a tragedy and a national disgrace.

Further reading:
http://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/real-life/in-the-news/brisbane-year-7-student-takes-own-life-after-being-bullied-for-sexuality

Supports:
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 – Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention
QLife – 1800 184 527 – 3pm to midnight – Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI)

Premier Daniel Andrews full apology for old laws criminalising homosexual behaviour

// May 24th, 2016 // No Comments » // AVP news, Elders past and present, Media discussion, Within Australia, Within Victoria

“For a future that is strong and fair and just!” – Hon Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, May 24, 2016.

“Challenging some of the fundamental imbalances that today still stop gay men from reporting violence & harassment!” – Greg Adkins JP, executive director, Anti-Violence Project of Victoria Inc.

“(The) Apology is a powerful symbolic act to repair the harm caused by unjust laws & affirm the value of sexual difference” – Anna Brown, director Advocacy & Strategic Litigation, Human Rights Law Centre