Inner City Legal Centre: AHRC Report

In October 2010 the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) conducted a consultation into the experiences and views of people who may have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation or sex and/or gender identity.

The AHRC report, Addressing Sexual Orientation and Sex and/or Gender Identity Discrimination, summarises the findings of the consultation.

The Inner City Legal Centre is pleased the AHRC recognised that many LGBTI community members continue to be denied equality and freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity.

Some faith-based organisations argued against federal protections for the LGBTI community. The AHRC stated that the careful balancing of the right to be free from discrimination and the right to freedom of religion and belief ought to be the subject of further consultation and consideration.

Faith-based exceptions affect a large proportion of the LGBTI communities, as faith-based organisations account for more than 20 percent of community organisations.

We believe that if religious organisations are providing services in the public sphere they ought to meet the standards of any other body or organisation. If organisations receive public funding there ought to be an obligation for the organisation to adhere to public values. Discrimination and vilification are deliberate and dangerous for people from LGBTI communities.

The Inner City Legal Centre specialises in legal services for LGBTI communities in NSW. ICLC has assisted and represented people in a range of discrimination matters. We provide free legal advice for GLBTI communities across NSW.

info: Amy McGowan is a solicitor at the Inner City Legal Centre. Call ICLC on 02 9332 1966 or visit www.iclc.org.au