Paul Martinpsychologist specialising in gay and lesbian mental health believes that the Queensland Government overturning this gay panic defence law sends a positive message to gay Queenslanders. Paul Martin said, When our society allows a homosexual panic defence to continue it is validating homophobic behaviour and the murder of innocent people. I am personally amazed that we are living in a state which had allowed the homosexual panic defence to exist at any level.”
"The archaic law that allowed criminals to use the fact that someone made a pass at them as a defence for murder was the worst form of homophobia. You would never see a women who was approached by someone at a bar use this as a defence for murdering them.” “Any form of extreme emotion can create a strong impulse to react in a particular way, however this doesn't mean a person is not in control as they do have a choice.” “The Government’s move to overturn this law sends out a strong message that homophobia in any form is unacceptable. For many vulnerable gay men who are experiencing psychological problems due to homophobia, this gives them some sense that things are improving.”
AUSTRALIAN EXPERTS: ALLOWING GAY MARRIAGE WILL REDUCE LEVELS OF DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE PSYCHOLOGISTS JOIN FORCES TO LOBBY FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Australian drug and alcohol experts say allowing same-sex couples to marry will reduce levels of drug and alcohol misuse in the gay and lesbian community.
In a paper just released researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales called on the Government to allow same-sex marriages as a preventative health measure (Summary Attached).
The researchers, led by Professor Ann Ritter, cite studies which shows a direct link between marriage equality and reduced alcohol and drug consumption. They also cite studies showing a link between marriage equality and reduced HIV infections as well as the positive health benefits of marriage generally.
According to the paper, "The best public-policy interventions are those which target a significant problem, have a clear rationale, are supported by research evidence, are least costly to implement and have strong community support. Legalising gay marriage as an alcohol and drug policy response meets these criteria. It is now time to legalise gay marriage, as an important contribution to reducing alcohol and other drug harm in Australia."
A summary and a copy of the researchers' paper is included at the end of this article.
TONY Abbott's decision to wait until the Parliament had shut down at the end of last year before making it clear that he would block a conscience vote on any gay marriage bill could cost him in the long run.
It can be a mistake to decide how to vote on something you haven't even seen. Alexander Downer made this mistake as Liberal leader when he took the shadow cabinet to that famous hotbed of Liberalism otherwise known as Burnie in Tasmania. In their collective wisdom, they decided the party should vote against whatever bill then attorney-general Michael Lavarch produced to override Tasmania's anti-gay laws.
As a shadow minister at the time, I was given the task of talking and talking and talking until finally we could allow the bill through ''on the voices''. That is, everyone could say what they like on the record but when the vote came we Liberals had to remain silent and not call a division. It is a humiliating position for a great party.
But there is another problem. One of the things that really aggravates members of Parliament is when a leader announces, through the media, a decision that has been made after Parliament has risen. As there is no party-room meeting over the break, the leader's announcement and policy position gets all the airplay and permeates the public mind. MPs who disagree with the decision rightly see the timing as a tactic to weaken them
ABBOTT ASKED TO EXTEND HIS OPPOSITION TO "SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS" TO GAY AUSTRALIANS
Marriage equality advocates have welcomed a statement by Opposition leader, Tony Abbott, declaring there should not be first and second class Australians, but have asked why it doesn't apply to gay and lesbian Australians.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,
"As long as we are excluded from a such core social and legal institution as marriage, gay and lesbian Australians are second class citizens under Australian Law."
"Mr Abbott's refusal to allow a conscience vote on marriage equality is creating exactly the kind of two-tiered society he says he opposes."
"We welcome Mr Abbott's commitment to the core Australian value of equality, but his commitment will be questioned as long as he maintains some Australians deserve equality more than others."
In his address to the National Press Club today Mr Abbott said,
"As far as I’m concerned, there should never be first and second class Australians based on where they were born, how they worship, or the length of time their forbears have been here."
From 1 February 2012, same-sex couples will be able to apply to the Australian Government for a certificate that enables them to marry overseas.
When a couple wishes to marry overseas, they must usually apply to the Australian Government for a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI). The CNI confirms to the government in the country where the couple plans to get married that the Australian Government see no obstacle to the marriage. Currently, the Australian Government refuses to issue CNIs to same-sex couples wanting to get married overseas.
‘PIAC applauds Attorney-General Nicola Roxon for changing this policy. It is an important milestone towards achieving equality for same-sex couples,’ said Edward Santow, chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
‘There is no question that this policy discriminates against same-sex couples, given that a heterosexual couple is generally able to obtain a CNI as of right.’
‘Concerns have been raised about the legality of the current discriminatory policy, and PIAC has been working with Australian Marriage Equality on this issue.’
‘Our work with Australian Marriage Equality has highlighted that the current policy has very damaging flow-on effects.
‘For example, some same-sex couples have been unable to access entitlements offered by foreign governments in areas like health care and immigration because the Australian Government has obstructed them from getting married overseas,’ Mr Santow said.
‘By refusing to issue CNIs to same-sex couples wishing to marry in a foreign country, Australia was forcing its own discriminatory approach onto other countries. The Attorney-General’s decision is a step in the right direction.’
AFTER 14 years pop princess Kylie Minogue is returning to Sydney to take centre stage at this year's Mardi Gras.
The singer, who last performed at the gay, lesbian and transgender event in 1998, will be the guest of honour on a special float at the parade.
"I am coming home for Mardi Gras this year!'' Minogue said in a statement.
The announcement comes as the singer releases acoustic versions of her songs to celebrate her 25th anniversary in music.
Minogue has unveiled the track Finer Feelings.
Finer Feelings, originally a 1992 Stock and Waterman-penned hit, was re-recorded in Abbey Road Studios recently as part of a canon of classics to be drip-fed throughout the year.
The songs recorded will remain a surprise until the day they become available but are believed to include Minogue's lesser known tracks.
Minogue re-entered the studio last year following her Aphrodite: Les Folies world tour and has kept fans up to date with photos released on Twitter.
The project was completed with long time producers Steve Anderson and Colin Elliot, the Aphrodite Band, four backing vocalists and a 24 piece string orchestra, led by Cliff Masterson.
Minogue appealed for fans to Tweet with the tag "enk25fan" before Finer Feelings was unveiled on Kylie.com.
By now you will know that the rumour that has been floating around Mardi Gras for over 14 years, is no longer a subject of speculation — this year, Kylie is coming to Sydney Mardi Gras to party with us all weekend long!
While over the years Kylie has expressed to us that she has indeed wanted to do another Mardi Gras, the timing for her has not always been right. But as she prepares to celebrate her 25th anniversary as a music icon with K25 — 25 years of Kylie — the timing could not be better for her to throw herself into the magic of Sydney Mardi Gras, the Parade and beyond by sharing her career milestone with a community that has shown her plenty of love over the years.
“I’m coming home for Mardi Gras and I simply can’t wait to be there for it,” Kylie told us this week. “Your support over the years has been phenomenal and being there for Mardi Gras is going to be a beautiful way to celebrate 25 years of this relationship.”
Our publicity department has issued a number of press releases detailing the announcement this week that portray both the excitement and pride that we as an organisation share with our strategic partners at Destination NSW over the exciting news.
Kylie’s visit is not just wonderful news for our LGBTQI community and Sydney at large, but also for her multitude of fans around the world. As such, this becomes of great economic value to our tourism industry and a feather in our cap as a premier international destination that knows how to treat visitors to an unforgettable time — in this case with Kylie by our side.
As many of you will remember Kylie has performed at Mardi Gras in 1994 and again in 1998, dazzling us with her immeasurable talent and leaving us longing to see her share another Mardi Gras with us.
That time has finally arrived Sydney!
She has also shared our organisation and community’s fight for equality and portrayed her commitment to that plight in her personal video as part of our Say Something campaign last year, where she told us “Mardi Gras is the place to ‘say something’ as there should be no homophobia or discrimination anywhere in the world.”
While we were busy preparing to share Sydney’s best kept secret with the rest of the world this week, Kylie sent us an “I can’t wait to see you” video and personally asked us to share it with you all. It’s a world exclusive and sent from Kylie to you with love, and you can see it right here.
We have plenty of Kylie moments to share with you below and naturally we will keep you updated with regular updates on a visit that is sure to make Mardi Gras history.
I trust you are excited as we are. So here’s to K25 and Kylie at Mardi Gras!
Head to Kylie's website to find out more about the exciting K25 celebrations!
Find out more and get your tickets now to our premier Sydney Mardi Gras events:
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says that in 2012 the nation will have to decide whether to face up to the future or "hide-away" when it comes to the economy.
GAY PANIC DEFENCE OVERTURN GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH
AUSTRALIAN EXPERTS: ALLOWING GAY MARRIAGE WILL REDUCE LEVELS OF DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE PSYCHOLOGISTS JOIN FORCES TO LOBBY FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
ABBOTT ASKED TO EXTEND HIS OPPOSITION TO "SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS" TO GAY AUSTRALIANS
Kylie’s visit is not just wonderful news for our LGBTQI community and Sydney at large, but also for her multitude of fans around the world. As such, this becomes of great economic value to our tourism industry and a feather in our cap as a premier international destination that knows how to treat visitors to an unforgettable time — in this case with Kylie by our side.
