Small effort needed for big equality step

Gay and lesbian lobbyists urged the community to spend just five minutes to help ensure the raft of same-sex reforms currently before the Federal Parliament are not watered down.

Australian Coalition for Equality spokesman Corey Irlam said it was easy but important to get a submission to the three inquiries into same-sex superannuation entitlements, equal access to the Family Court and new rules for giving evidence in legal proceedings.

We urge the LGBTI community to mobilise, be loud and vocal by making a personal submission to the Senate inquiries, to prevent a watered down version of equality, Irlam said.

Individual LGBTI people can contribute to ending discrimination by taking five minutes out of their lives to send in a submission. Personal stories may be added to a sample submission that can be downloaded from www.coalitionforequality.org.au.

All submissions must be made before 25 July and must clearly state which of the inquiries that they are for or all three.

Irlam said the inquiries will be considering issues such as same-sex couples recognised as de facto or as interdependent relationships and whether marriage should be taken out from the umbrella term couple relationships.

He urged the community to support all three of the government’s current proposals, including the umbrella term for relationships, equal protections for children of same-sex families, Family Court access and new rules that would not compel same-sex couples to give evidence against their partners.

A sample Senate inquiry submission form can be downloaded here.