VGLRL – Rights under attack

We are facing the most serious attack on our rights in years. I am not exaggerating the extent to which the Victorian Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill 2011 impinges on our human rights.

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark is prepared to allow religious organisations to discriminate against GLBTIQ people when applying for jobs or seeking the provision of community welfare services by ‘excepting and exempting’ religious groups from existing anti-discrimination law. There will also be no recourse for GLBTIQ people if they do experience discrimination in these areas.

The existing Act makes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity illegal (except in very specific circumstances). Broadening exceptions and exemptions in the Act for religious bodies will give them excessive powers and set them aside from the rest of society.

We need to be clear that we fully support the right to freedom of religion and thought. However, using religious belief as an excuse to discriminate is not acceptable. The VGLRL strongly and vigorously opposes Clark’s amendment bill.

It is clear that restricting GLBTIQ rights is acceptable to Frankston Liberal MP Geoff Shaw, whose homophobic comments were reported in The Sunday Age on May 8. There is a high probability Shaw’s remarks come from fundamentalist ideology — the same ideology that has led to the attempted broadening of religious exemptions in the Act.

These remarks are disgraceful and we are stunned that in 2011 anyone can mention same-sex attraction and child molestation in the same breath. The VGLRL would like to congratulate Jakob Quilligan for standing up for GLBTIQ rights.

The conservative Liberal government has the numbers in Parliament to push this legislation through. We must convince individual MPs to vote against the legislation. Visit www.equalrightsvictoria.com.au to sign the petition and, most importantly, write to your local MP using the form letter provided.

The opinions of fundamentalist MPs like Shaw won’t be changed, so concentrate your efforts on your own MP. Take an extra minute to email the same letter to Premier Ted Baillieu, Robert Clark, queer-friendly MP Clem Newton-Brown and mental health minister Mary Wooldridge.

We do not want to see discrimination entrenched in Victoria. Please lend your voice to opposing this proposed law.

info: Visit http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/ and click on the Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill 2011 link for full details and explanatory memorandum. Add ‘Victorian GLRL’ as a friend on Facebook to keep up-to-date with our campaign.