Weekend gay news wrap-up: Saturday 27 September 2014
ANOTHER interesting week in LGBTI news, with a lot of online debate around Melbourne gay club Poof Doof’s decision to implement a lifetime bans for patrons caught using the ice or GHB. According to Dr Nadine Ezard who is the Clinical Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, the biggest problem with the use ice is the stigma attached to the drug. She slammed the club’s decision in an opinion piece: Iced out or iced under?
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The most read stories on the Star Observer website this week:
Gosford’s pro-marriage equality priest: why I won’t wed gay couples
Amnesty International calls for law reform after gay asylum seekers letters
Midsumma announces 2015 Festival Champions
Poof Doof gay club threatens lifetime bans for ice and GHB use by patrons
Young trans* people form supportive communities despite major mental health challenges
No place for bigotry against gay people in Catholic Church, says Sydney’s new Archbishop
It’s time to stop mocking bisexuals and end biphobia
Brazilian students wear skirts to support trans* classmate
Grindr begins to issue warnings to Egyptian users in light of anti-gay crackdowns
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September 24 — Support without supporting
AN Anglican priest who has championed the cause of marriage equality has caused consternation in his congregation by revealing he would refuse to wed gay couples – even if same-sex marriage were to be legalised.
Father Rod Bower, of the Anglican Parish of Gosford on NSW’s Central Coast, has made headlines nationwide and received thousands of social media followers due to his eye catching and provocative slogans posted outside his church on a range of issues from immigration and the environment to marriage equality.
The signs include those stating “72 per cent of Australians now support marriage equality” and “everyone should have the rite [sic] to be married”. One even congratulated a lesbian couple who had wed in Melbourne | READ MORE
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Opinion — Pastor Karl Hand
AT what point did the LGBTI community get so many friends and allies in this world that we could afford to throw them away so lightly?
I’m talking about the accusations being publicised that Gosford Anglican Church’s Father Rod Bower is a hypocrite because he doesn’t perform same sex weddings. | READ MORE
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Join the conversation on the Star Observer website
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September 23 — Crack down on crack
MELBOURNE gay club Poof Doof has launched a “zero tolerance” campaign against ice and GHB use in the venue, promising lifetime bans for anyone caught with the drugs.
Issuing a statement via their Facebook page, Poof Doof said it was a response to seeing the drugs’ prevalence in the community.
“After seeing how these horrific drugs have affected our community, Poof Doof has decided to take action,” the statement read.
“Far be it from us to tell you what to do — we’re not the fun police — but we are putting our foot down with regards to what goes on whilst you’re all in our care on Saturday nights.”
The lifetime bans for patrons found in possession of ice or GHB will apply across all venues using the Scantek security system, which includes a range of prominent Melbourne nightclubs and others around Australia | READ MORE
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Opinion — Dr Nadine Ezaerd
IF you are caught with ice or GHB you are banned for life, says Poof Doof night club in Melbourne.
The avalanche of responses (to keep the frozen metaphor going) has neglected an important aspect of the debate.
As health professionals running Sydney’s only stimulant treatment program, we are concerned that responses like these will further stigmatise people who are running into trouble with their use of these drugs.
Worse, it stigmatises people that are not having problems around their drug use, thereby creating a problem for them. Although some people can run into serious trouble, most people do not.
By driving debate underground, we may stop people from acknowledging or talking about any problems they might be experiencing, and it makes it difficult to talk about preventing problems before they occur | READ MORE
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September 24 — Amnesty International condemns the government of Chad
AMNESTY International has issued a statement condemning the government of Chad’s proposal to criminalise homosexual acts with up to 20 years in jail.
The proposed law, which was voted on earlier this week by government ministers, is now due to be approved with President Idriss Déby’s signature.
If ratified, Chad would become the 37th African country to criminalise homosexuality.
The central African country’s penal code is over 50 years and does not explicitly mention homosexuality | READ MORE
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