Changes at GLRL
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby is pleased to announce the appointment of Kellie McDonald as the new co-convenor. Kellie replaces Emily Gray, who is about to embark on a new chapter of her life in the United Kingdom.
Kellie has been an active member of the GLRL Committee since 2005. During this time, Kellie helped prepare the 2007 All Love is Equal-¦Isn’t It? consultation report, worked on the 58’08 campaign, and managed volunteers during 2008 Mardi Gras season and other Lobby events. Kellie is both excited and honoured to become the new co-convenor, and looks forward to fighting for equality on your behalf.
The NSW GLRL would also like to thank Emily Gray for her tireless work during her time on Committee. Emily showed a true passion and commitment to achieving equality for the GLBT community. During her time as co-convenor, Emily oversaw the introduction of significant family law reform, and through the 58’08 campaign, federal de facto equality. The GLRL will not only miss Emily as a talented lobbyist, but also as a friend to all on Committee. We wish her well for her future endeavours.
The GLRL looks forward to appointing a new policy and development coordinator, who will join the volunteer committee made up of Benjamin Keats, Kellie McDonald (co-convenors), Darrell Yesberg (treasurer), Jessica D’Arienzo (secretary), Emily Gray, Jonathan Dobinson, Laurie Berg, Matthew Strassberg, Lainie Arnold, Christopher Brew, Shannon Bourke, Gerald Kohn, Justin Koonin, and Bevalee Small.
Over the next few months we will improve our website, develop a stronger organisational strategy, and will soon call for volunteers with specific skills who can assist the GLRL make improvements and better respond to community needs and expectations with the resources available. The current Committee looks forward to responding to the challenges that lie ahead.
As a final reminder, if you wish to make a submission to the Senate Marriage Inquiry, which has a deadline of Friday, August 28, or help us with the NSW adoption reforms, please visit our website: www.glrl.org.au.
thanks for all your hard work Emily during your years at GLRL. There have certainly been many advances in G&L rights in Australia in recent times thanks to the hard work of volunteers such as yourself. Good luck in the UK and good luck to the new convenor.
Congratulations Em on such a successful time at the Lobby.
For the first time in Australian history, we have comprehensive de facto recognition at a national level (marriage is now the only remaining federal issue) and extensive parenting reforms at a state level. The importance and significance of these achievements cannot be understated.
Yet again the GLRL has demonstrated it’s ability to achieve great successes with very limited resources.
I’d have to say good riddance to Emily Gray. Under her leadership she treated fellow lobby groups such as CAAH, ACE and AME as if they were competition. She sat in silents on the National Day of Action and did very little to promote the day.
Thank you, Emily Gray, for showing leadership and working to make positive change happen.
There will always be prickly naysayers and aggressive narcissists who prefer to only ever accentuate what they see as negatives and weaknesses in the achievements of others. But that’s their personality disorder, not yours.
I would like to wholeheartedly thank Emily Gray for her committment to GLBT community. She has worked tirelessly for us, giving up time and energy and I wish her all the best for her future. I find it very dissapointing that some people are so dissmissive of individuals who have truly been at the forefront of pushing for out rights and not jumping in at the end 9you know who you are). Emily wasn’t responsible for the Federal Government refusing grandfathering provisions in new social security rules. I suggest people point their anger toward the people who actually did it and didn’t listen to objections. Maybe get off your own butts instead of whingeing and spitefully attacking others. Write a letter, call your member, do something instead of sitting by waiting for someone else to do something. And at the next elections don’t vote for Labour or the Libs, they are the same on our issues.
Thanks Emily for . . . um . . . for . . . er . . . there must be something. That’s it, supporting grandfathering (after it was too late). The English climate should suit you.
Good riddance to Emily Gray. She can go and weave her policy magic in Old Blighty. Let’s hope that the new management committee as a higher level of policy competence than the last.