Don’t DSCRMN8

The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby have reported an encouraging response to their latest campaign, which urges community members to send a postcard to Premier Bob Carr.

Over 200 of the specially-printed DSCRMN8 postcards have so far been sent to the premier’s office -“ an extremely pleasing result, said Lobby co-convenors. A second run of the postcards has been printed and will soon be available at lesbian and gay venues.

The message that there are more votes in equality than homophobia is reaching the premier, said co-convenor Anthony Schembri. [But] we still need everyone’s help with the postcard campaign, so if you haven’t sent a postcard yet get your hands on one and send it today.

The Lobby is encouraging people across the state to get involved in the campaign.

It’s crucial the premier is under no mistake that lesbian and gay equality is a state issue and is not a Bligh issue or an inner-city issue, co-convenor Alex Sosnov said.

Schembri told the Star that time is very rapidly running out for the state government to move on gay and lesbian law reform before the state election. The introduction of the Missing Pieces legislation was delayed because the government claimed they ran out of time during the budget session of parliament, Schembri said.

The Missing Pieces legislation, announced by Attorney-General Bob Debus in March, seeks to recognise same-sex de facto relationships in a range of miscellaneous laws not covered by the 1999 Property (Relationships) Amendment Act.

A spokesperson for the attorney-general told the Star that the government was anticipating the bill would be debated in the Legislative Council shortly after parliament resumes in August.