Protest Against Latham Bill To Proceed Despite Supreme Court Ruling
Earlier today, October 9, 2020, Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR) was taken to the NSW Supreme Court by NSW Police. This was done in an effort by NSW Police to prohibit Saturday’s ‘Protect Trans Kids, Kill Latham’s Bill’ protest.
This protest is an effort organised by CARR in opposition to Mark Latham’s Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020. This bill ultimately seeks to ban any possibility for the recognition of transgender and gender diverse students in schools.
The ruling was in favour of the NSW Police, effectively banning the protest from taking place tomorrow.
Star Observer spoke with CARR representative April Holcombe, who stated that the judge ruled against CARR because they had no way of ensuring that there will be zero risk of transmission at the protest, despite precautions being taken to ensure that this will be a COVID-safe event.
Holcombe also spoke about how places like beaches or restaurants are not under this same “burden of proof.”
Despite the ruling by the NSW Supreme Court, Holcombe has stated that the protest will still go ahead and that “it will be COVID–safe”, with free masks and hand sanitiser available to attendees, COVID marshals present and anyone who is feeling sick urged to stay home. Holcombe also stated that it is possible that the police will attempt to fine people or make arrests at the protest, but that CARR will challenge those.
Holcombe believes that the protest is important for two major reasons.
The first being that the nature of Latham’s bill would create a “cone of silence” within the NSW school system, and that it would leave adults working in schools with no way of supporting students who will be affected.
The second reason articulated by Holcombe is that regardless of whether this bill passes or not, it is an effort to push the conversation about trans people “to the right”, which Saturday’s protest will aim to combat.
In speaking with Star Observer, Holcombe emphasised that Latham’s bill is a “historic attack on the rights of LGBTQI people”, and that in this protest they will channel the “spirit of 1978” to show LGBTQI people affected by this bill that they are not alone.
The ‘Protect Trans Kids, Kill Latham’s Bill’ protest will take place tomorrow, on Saturday October 10 at 1pm in Taylor Square. More details can be found on the Facebook event here.
Mark Latham is anti trans, and his NSW State parliamentary bill, Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020, seeks to remove acknowledging gender diversity.
Mark Latham believes that there are only two genders, and his Bill would make it unlawful to teach otherwise.
Clearly there are more than two genders, and legislation such as this is like trying to legislate that the sun doesn’t rise … it is clearly absurd.
Nevertheless, politicians are not know for their common sense, and although the Bill is unlikely to be taken seriously, it cannot be wholly dismissed as a polticial stunt.
Mark Latham was once upon a time the leader of the federal ALP, but lost to John Howard in 2004. I voted for the ALP at that time. Since then, Mark Latham has been in what is widely seen, as an ever downwards spirial.
Mark Latham has not been professionally assessed, but some may wonder about his mental factualies. He often comes across as barely able to control his rage, and there is something seriously mencing about his demeanour.
My advice to Mark Latham is to seek to be a better version of himself and do good, helping others.
Hate is the path to just one place … hell.
Chrisentiae Saint-Piaf
Trans Voices
https://www.facebook.com/groups/transvoices/
https://vk.com/transvoices