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Abbott invited to meet gays & lesbians |
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News -
Australian News
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Written by Media Release | Coalition For Equality
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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 07:25 |
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ABBOTT INVITED TO MEET GAYS & LESBIANS CALLS ON OPPOSITION TO SUPPORT SEXUALITY ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS
LGBTI* human rights group Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) will today write to Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott inviting him to meet with ordinary gays and lesbian people to help overcome his self-confessed sense of "threat" about homosexuality.
On yesterday's edition of "60 Minutes", Mr Abbott said “I’d probably I feel a bit threatened as so many people”, in response to a question on his views of homosexuality.
When asked by the interviewer what he meant by the term “threatened” his stated “Again, Liz, look, it’s a fact of life and I try to treat people as people and not put them in pigeonholes.”
ACE spokesperson Corey Irlam today said, by meeting ordinary gay and lesbian Australians and their families Mr Abbott will see they pose no threat.
“We hope Mr Abbott will take up our invitation so he can overcome feeling threatened by homosexuality", Mr Irlam said.
"Mr Abbott can pick any place he feels safe and we’ll invite ordinary members of the gay and lesbian community to come and talk with him to show him he has nothing to fear from us.”
Mr Irlam said statements like those of Mr Abbott highlight why Australia needs a national law prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity.
“Unfortunately there are still some Australians who share Mr Abbott's sense of threat, and who, in some cases, treat LGBTI Australians unfairly.
"The Opposition leader can show leadership on this issue by publicly committing the Coalition to support federal anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”
“A supportive statement would assure the LGBTI community that there is bi-partisan support for fundamental standards of fair treatment in the workplace, education, superannuation, health care and aged care.”
The Federal Parliament has discussed the issue of legislation to protect Australians from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity on and off since 1997. Equivalent protections exist in all states and territories but the federal human rights framework has yet to include it.
Introduction of such legislative protections were included in recommendations from the National Human Rights Consultation report on same-sex entitlements released in 2009.
A galaxy poll in June 2009 commissioned by ACE showed that 85% of Australians (including 83% of Coalition voters) supported such legislation being introduced.
For more information contact: Corey Irlam on 0401 738 996
*LGBTI = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex
To view a transcript of Tony Abbotts interview click here: http://60minutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1020354
To view the June 2009 Galaxy Poll click here: http://coalitionforequality.org.au/GalaxyPoll-AntiDiscrimination.pdf
http://coalitionforequality.org.au/ |
