Report shows discrimination
LGBTI people still face high levels of vilification, a new report shows.
The report – Outing Injustice: Understanding the legal needs of LGBTI communities in NSW – was compiled by the Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) to look at areas of legal need for LGBTI people.
Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said it was important LGBTI people knew their rights.
“We look forward to the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in federal discrimination laws,” she said.
“The final step against discrimination is the introduction of marriage equality for same-sex couples.”
The report surveyed more than 600 LGBTI people in NSW. More than 58 percent of respondents had experienced vilification, usually in the form of hurtful or humiliating comments from a stranger in a public place.
More than 19 percent had been threatened with physical violence, while 10 percent had experienced violence.
Almost 24 percent said they had been discriminated against in a shop, restaurant or other public venue.
More than 25 percent said they had experienced harassment, bullying or mistreatment by a work colleague, while more than 33 percent of transgender respondents said they have felt uncomfortable, unsafe or scared inside their home because of a neighbour.
The ICLC has had an increase in enquiries from LGBTI people about superannuation, wills, Centrelink and Medicare benefits, parenting and relationships.
The report recommended LGBTI rights receive more promotion and called the development of a legal training package on LGBTI discrimination and homophobic vilification for solicitors.
ICLC director Daniel Stubbs said the report showed discrimination against LGBTI people was still a problem.
“Discrimination, harassment and vilification occurs against LGBTI people in regional and remote areas, as well as in Sydney. This research highlights the issues faced by the community and provides recommendations about steps we can take,” he said.
“There are a range of laws that have been brought in which benefit LGBTI people but many [people] are isolated or simply not aware and so are not enjoying their rights.”
The Gillard Government has committed to including sexual orientation in revised federal anti-discrimination legislation.
Vote green? The greens decided to devastate Labor in NSW state elections last year by issuing open tickets, and helping O’Farrell with some legislation Labor hated. Now Labor is angry and may decide not to give the Greens its preferences in next year’s election. Abbott may control both houses as a result, and LGBT rights can be wound back. The first move may be to allow states to discriminate on IVF access, something Howard came close to doing in 2000.
Bottom line: Greens are rigid. They don’t care about a bad outcome. They would not even try to make it up to Labor now.
Labor gave us parenting rights all over the country (except in SA – but it is being debated there). They gave us adoption rights in NSW and would have done so in Victoria if Brumby had won in 2010. They decided to block-vote in 2000 to prevent Howard from re-instating the right of states to discriminate on IVF access.
Bottom line: If Labor falls, so does our rights.
“We look forward to the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in federal discrimination laws,” she said.*
please note *
we look forward to all the sunset clauses and faith-based exemptions labor will include. This will be called “getting the balance right.”
All SPIN AND A PAPER TIGER LAW WITH NO TEETH.
JUST WATCH!!
VOTE GREEN