Hayden backs gay rights
A former Australian Governor General has spoken out for GLBTI rights today in an online opinion piece.
Governor General from 1989 – 1991 and former ALP leader, Bill Hayden said gay people currently have “freedom on a leish” and called for gay marriage and the enactment of federal anti-discrimination law to protect the GLBTI community.
“Where the issue of homosexuality has been concerned, so much outstanding human talent, even genius, has been wantonly sacrificed over so much time on the grotty altar of personal prejudice and community ignorance and petulance,” he writes.
“Federal anti-discrimination laws need to be covered by an overriding provision prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”
The opinion piece has been published on The Punch website, ahead of the launch this week of the National Human Rights Consultation’s final report.
The report is set to detail how Australia can better protect and promote human rights, with gay rights activists pushing the inclusion of sexuality and gender identity in discrimination protection, an area currently not covered in federal law.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Corey Irlam said he welcomed Hayden’s comments and called on the Rudd Government to step up action on GLBTI rights protection.
“After almost 15 years of talking and various inquiries, the National Human Rights Consultation will hopefully be the final straw that encourages the Federal Government to take action in this area,” he said.
Jason:- Hayden was the Governor General – he had no power to introduce or change laws, especially state laws. The position is not even supposed to comment on public affairs.
(And what sad victim’s mentality has gay men attack people who support us??)
Another Bill Clinton – one minute he is AGAINST us, then years and years later he is now FOR us??????
Bill its abit rich to come out and back gay rights now, because when you were Govenor General anal sex (IE homosexuality) was illegal in Tasmania and Queensland and you failed to provide any support to bringing down the laws then. Bill you had your chance to support us and you didn’t.
This is great! I would be interested to know whether he is just not religious, or whether he just has a strong view of the importance of separation of church & state. Marriages these days are a government function, & don’t even have to be peformed in a church. The Hillsong/Rudd brigade are currently glossing over that fact, blurring the lines of reality.