Hayden speaks out for 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.

To read Hayden’s  full article, visit http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Weve-come-so-far-on-gay-rights-but-its-not-enough/?from=scroller&pos=2&referrer=article&link=image