LEAP for your rights
The Dutch MP who introduced the world’s first marriage equality bill will address a one-day conference on LGBTI rights at the NSW Parliament Theatrette on February 29.
Boris Dittrich (pictured), now Human Rights Watch’s LGBT advocacy director, has since travelled to countries such as Uganda to document abuses against sexual minorities.
Other keynote speakers at the LEAP conference include former High Court judge Michael Kirby, who will speak on LGBTI rights and interfaith issues, and Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.
At the parliamentary plenary session, state politicians including Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann, Nationals MLC Trevor Khan, Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith, independent MP Clover Moore and Labor MLC Penny Sharpe will speak about their positions on LGBTI issues. A Q&A session will follow.
The final plenary session invites key community figures, including Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich and NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Group senior policy advisor Senthorun Raj, to respond to the issues raised by the keynote speakers and the parliamentarians.
The LEAP Conference replaces the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) Oceania Symposium that had been scheduled for this year during Mardi Gras.
INFO: www.facebook.com/events/278632905524591
Angelus,
Just one point I’d like to raise: since when does ‘humility’ equate with courting media attention? As an example, Michael Kirby is well-known for his love of the media spotlight. Seems like a special interest, niche conference to me!
I’d differ from you about those three personalities. I have had more than a little involvement with them and have found them to be fairly humble and genuine people. While I appreciate that this is ultimately a subjective experience, I would rather focus on the results of these people.
Also you’re making the inference that this is a marriage equality conference. It’s not. Marriage equality is merely one of a spectrum of issues it hopes to address. I’d particularly like to raise concerns around GLBTIQ ageing and health, trans, intersex, and genderqueer matters, and the status of queer refugees.
Nice try Angelus!
Queer rights may not be ‘mainstream’ yet as you put it, but it is hardly a small concern, with millions rallying and protesting across so many nations. Ironically, I have had a little to do with all three identities that Oliver Jackson mentioned and found them to be somewhat self-involved in their attitudes and efforts. This is not a direct criticism, merely a subjective observation.
Meanwhile, as society continues to be ripped apart by social policy issues, you may like to consider that you well might get gay marriage legalised, but what will be the overall cost to society? Anger, unrest, destabilisation?
I’m not against ‘same-sex marriage’ per se, but I am against ‘achieving goals at any cost’! Maybe the price to be paid will be a little higher than expected.
Really? So a free event to promote discussion around GLBTI rights by some of the people who work tirelessly in the area internationally is just a media grab?
The reason they are the ‘usuals’ is because queer rights internationally is still not mainstream and a minority of people respond to this niche area of issues.
So much talking, so little living it seems. How many conferences and ‘important’ keynote speakers do there need to be? I for one am just going to get on with the job of enjoying life – with or without laws passed or issues resolved. One reads the list of the ‘usuals’, Boris Dittrich, Michael Kirby, Clover Moore et al, and you could be forgiven for thinking that they are largely attending to push their public profiles even further. Headline events and media attention ‘hos’ apply within! ;) B-O-R-E-D! (Sorry, but really!)
We are looking at setting up a camera and other AV equipment to record.
Will the conference, especially the Q and A session be recorded or broadcast anywhere?