PFLAG lobbies for change
As Queenslanders get set for the polls on March 21, PFLAG has called on both sides of politics to show their hand on GLBTI issues with a series of advertisements.
PFLAG Brisbane president Shelley Argent said parents are tired of watching their children suffer discrimination now inconsistencies have arisen between new federal same-sex reforms and Queensland’s current laws.
The advertisements, to run in Brisbane’s Courier-Mail during the election period, ask, If elected to govern Queensland in 2009, what will you do?
Argent said the ad campaign is aimed at starting public discussion and is a bid to prompt either side of the political divide to speak up on GLBTI issues.
In July last year following a Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting, Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine gave rights lobbyists an undertaking the department would investigate the possibility of establishing a relationship register, similar to those in Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.
Since then, the Bligh Government has made no public undertaking that a relationship register will go ahead.
Unless we keep pushing, it will just get delayed and delayed and dragged out and eventually nothing will happen and they just hope we’ll go away, Argent said.
We need them to say it publicly before I will believe anything.
Action Reform Change Queensland spokeswoman Louise DuChesne agreed both sides of politics are ignoring the community’s needs, pointing to a recent Galaxy poll which indicates 60 percent of Queenslanders support same-sex unions.
Dear Ms Argent.Good luck with your campaign.My dealings with Ms Bligh showed me she is neither interested in anyones job but her own and has no interest in matters of discrimination against homosexuals.Her response to my calls for help in a case of violent discrimination left me feeling completly abandoned.As for spending your hard earned cash advertising in the Courier mail.If you would like to see the Courier Mails treatment of homosexuals I direct you to my HEROC same sex enquiry submission.I would be pleased to give you a coppy.I admire your fight and share your hope for a better future.Its not the poofter bashers we need to watch its those in possitions of authority that are so eager to give them protection.Best wishes Tom