Newsletter
January 2004
Happy New Year from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. And Welcome to the new GLRL Newsletter!
It’s been a long time between Newsletters - the one scheduled for early 2003 was lost in the scramble of a State election and an Age of Consent campaign.
We’re planning big things for the Newsletter in 2004: Keep a look out!
This is also the first fully online Newsletter. Click on the links for details of briefed items. If you are having trouble viewing this email properly, you can view the Newsletter on the Lobby's website by clicking here.
Note: A paper version will be mailed out to members. However, in order to direct our limited budget as much as possible to lobbying purposes, future Newsletters will be in electronic form only, unless you request otherwise. To request a paper Newsletter in future please send an email to glrl@glrl.org.au with “Paper Newsletter” in the Subject file OR write to GLRL PO Box 9 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 OR tick the “Paper Newsletter” request box when you renew your membership this year.
If you are reading this in paper format, you can access most of the 'click here' information by accessing our website www.glrl.org.au
March State election campaign
New Mardi Gras (It was Timely!)
Age of Consent Campaign (What a win!)
And then the Brides Changed Nappies (Legal Recognition for our Parents & Kids?)
Annual General Meeting & New Committee
2004 GLRL Award Recipients
Casting Call.. Mardi Gras Parade Entry 2004!
Mardi Gras 2004 - GLRL Events Calendar
Federal election year 2004
The Marriage Debate
New GLRL Working Groups
Team Feature: GLRL Website Team
Community Noticeboard
Name this Newsletter! (And win a dinner for two at beautiful Pink Peppercorn Laotian restaurant in Darlinghurst)
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It was a year of significance for lesbians and gay men in Australia and internationally.
At home in NSW, the build up to the March State Election coincided with the first festival of a New Mardi Gras, emerged from the ashes of the old. These events also occurred with the more serious backdrop of international conflict. (See the Lobby’s response to the war in Iraq).
The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby, as part of the lead entry in the Parade, carried off our dual political lobbying and community education roles with wit, style and fun. The theme “It’s Time” represented by a Salvador Dali inspired float, and peopled by hordes of GLRL volunteers, offered the Carr government a pointed and ironic reference to the 1973 ALP Federal election campaign slogan.
This slogan, part of our "NSW - The Last State" campaign, along with our questionnaire response scorecards and "Vote 1 Equality" tattoos at Mardi Gras Fair Day, highlighted the archaic position of NSW legislation with regard to our families, our relationships, institutions allowed exemption from anti-discrimination legislation, and a discriminatory age of consent for young gay men.
Our message on the Age of Consent, supported by months (indeed, years) of lobbying politicians and policy makers, finally hit home soon after the election. A majority of Parliamentarians, including many from Opposition ranks, passed the Government’s Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act into law in May.
This successful outcome of the Age of Consent campaign after a number of previous reform attempts was a testament to the work of Lobby volunteers past and present, the ongoing financial support of our members and sponsors, and the efforts of supporters of equality from every political persuasion in Parliament.
The win also provides inspiration as we now go forward in the fight for equal treatment for our families, our relationships, and the many of us associated with institutions where discrimination - legal and social - is still tolerated in NSW.
And ... in this Federal Election Year... a swamp of federal-based discrimination.
In June 2003 GLRL was excited to release And then the Brides Changed Nappies, our report on law reform proposals to substantially remove discrimination against lesbian and gay parents and their children. (The report was made possible by a Grant from the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW). Based on community consultations with parents in Sydney, Newcastle and Lismore through late 2002 and early 2003, it recommends three major changes (see Parenting News below) and makes eleven specific law reform recommendations.
These proposals will be a major focus in 2004.
June also saw GLRL team up with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Pride
and other community organisations to celebrate a number of milestones in Pride Week. 2003 was the 30th anniversary of Pride Week, held in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. It also marked 15 years of GLRL, 25 years of Mardi Gras, and 10 years of Queerscreen.
Our fun & fantastic Pride Week Boxing Club
event with Gillian Minervini, Julianne Sanders and Shane O’Brien will be up and punching again during Mardi Gras 2004 at the Imperial on Wednesday 18 February. The broad topic is: “Homosexuality & Religion - A Burning Issue!”, but you can raise any hot issue that you like!
There'll be some exciting & controversial guest speakers.
If you'd like to be a guest speaker or know someone who'd be good, please contact volunteers@glrl.org.au.
We’ll also be hosting “Launched” the Post-Launch Party at Stonewall on Friday 6 February 2004 from 10pm.
Look out for these events in the Mardi Gras Festival Guide & note them in your diary!
And of course, for lovers of harbourside glamour, our sponsor, the fabulous Azure Party will again be gracing the Botanic Gardens on Sunday 29 February. Check out details at www.azureparty.com!
Fri 6th Feb - Sat 6th March
| Launch in Hyde Park | Fri 6th Feb (6pm) |
| "Launched" @ Stonewall | Fri 6th Feb (10pm) |
| Queer Screen - Mardi Gras Film Festival | Wed 11th - Sun 22nd February |
| "Boxing Club" @ Imperial | Wed 18th Feb (7:30pm -10pm) |
| Fair Day | Sun 22nd Feb (10am) |
| Azure 2004 | Sun 29th February |
| Parade & Party | Sat 6th March |
The Same Sex Super Squad are strange visitors from another planet who have come to Earth with glamour and style far beyond those of mere mortals. The Same Sex Super Squad, who aim to change the laws of decades gone by, equalise standards in modern society, and who, usually disguised as mild-mannered citizens of this great diverse nation, fight a never ending battle for equality, justice and the Australian Way.
The GLRL Events Team is currently in the process of putting together the Lobby's Mardi Gras Parade Entry and would like to extend an invitation for you and your friends to march with us.
This year's Mardi Gras Parade will be held on the evening of Saturday March 6th and will provide the GLRL an opportunity to promote our messages of equality and social justice. With a Federal election around the corner, the parade provides us with an excellent opportunity to get our message out to the political parties and mainstream media.
The main theme of our entry is Same-Sex Super (Superannuation) but it will also tackle issues about families, discrimination, relationship recognition and violence.
The entry will comprise of two separate marching groups and you will have the choice as to which group you would like to march with:
Group One: The themed costumed group.
This group will be dressed in superhero styled costumes made up largely of bonds t-shirts and hipsters. It will be bright and colourful
Group Two: Citizens Group
This group can dress how they please, in civics, uniforms, leather, your party gear or whatever you feel comfortable wearing.
Want to participate?
Send an email to markb@glrl.org.au with the details listed in italics below.
Please submit a separate email for each person.
YES. I WOULD LIKE TO MARCH IN THE LOBBYS MARDI GRAS PARADE ENTRY
Name:
Email:
Contact Number:
I would like to march in (See above and indicate your choice)
1. The Themed Costume Group (fill in details below)
2. The Citizens Group
Bonds t-shirt size:
Bonds Hipster waist size:
Thank you!
At the AGM on 16 October 2003, members elected a new Management Committee with a mandate to carry forward the campaign for reform.
The new Committee consists of re-elected Co-Convenors Somali Cerise and Rob McGrory, newly elected Secretary Alastair Mackay, newly elected Treasurer Thomas Taylor (new to Committee), re-elected committee members Mark Barraket, Nikki Maloney, Jenni Millbank, Anthony Powell, David Scammell & Justin Scowen, and new committee members Julie McConnell, David Noonan, Bernard Ryan, John Tsioulos & Georgina Whelan.
In our Annual Report, the Co-Convenors and other Committee speakers pointed to the breadth of activities undertaken by the Lobby in 2002-3.
GLRL would like to thank the Management & Staff of the Oxford Hotel, for the use of Gilligans for our AGM.
A feature of the Annual General Meeting that returned this year was the Awards Ceremony, whereby we show our appreciation to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the work of the Lobby in fighting for the rights of lesbians and gay men.
This year’s Award winners were Kathy Sant (Hall of Fame), Jenny Mann (Outstanding Volunteer), Anthony Hillis (Outstanding Volunteer), Jan Burnswoods MLC (Outstanding Supporter) and Russell Turner MLA (Outstanding Supporter).
Kathy Sant (Hall of Fame):
Convenor of the GLRL from 1998-2000
Saw through the 1999 Property Relationships Act
Designed the 2001 SGLMG lead float (the pink flamingo one)
Helped & inspired the design for the GLRL 2003 float
Acted as adviser to the convenors from 2000-2003
Played a key role in the 2003 Age of Consent campaign
Is a wealth of information and always willing to help and lend advice
Anthony Hillis (Outstanding Volunteer):
Involved with the GLRL since the late 90's
Secretary in 1999
Media office for the 2003 Age of Consent campaign
Organised the Age of Consent celebration
Jenny Mann (Outstanding Volunteer):
Long time committee member of the GLRL
Treasurer from 2000-2002
Secretary from 1996-1998
Designed the SGLMG lead float
Helped & inspired the design for the GLRL 2003 float
Monitored media during Age of Consent campaign
Has been available at any time when we have needed help with campaigns, Fair Day stalls or anything else
Jan Burnswoods MLC (Outstanding Supporter):
Introduced three private members bills in to the NSW upper house to equalise the age of consent
Long time supporter and advocate for lesbian and gay equality both within the ALP and parliament
Russell Turner MLA (Outstanding Supporter):
Bravely crossed the floor to vote for an equal age of consent, against the National caucus position
His speech was the turning point in the debate
Congratulations to all our award winners and thanks again for your immense contributions!
The Lobby is gearing up for the federal election expected this year. During this lead up we will be working with rights groups throughout the country to secure promises from the major political parties on issues of importance to gay men and lesbians. To follow or support the federal election campaign, see www.glrl.org.au. View fact sheets on Superannuation and other Federal and State issues.
Many lesbians and gay men have been angry at Prime Minister John Howard’s use of the US homosexual marriage debate to attempt to force a similar “wedge” in Australia. The Lobby was strongly critical of the Prime Minister’s discriminatory statements.
However GLRL cautioned against automatically jumping onto the marriage bandwagon. Reforms have been achieved in NSW and other states through gradually gaining de facto status for our relationships. The Lobby’s concern is that by pushing for what is largely seen as the religious or symbolic stamp of “marriage”, progress towards genuine rights would be jeopardised by the resulting ideological backlash from threatened social conservatives. To read more on the Lobby’s position click here.
Since the AGM, a fresh and revitalised Lobby Committee has initiated new Working Groups to focus on the different but connected aspects of our ongoing work. The groups cover:
New volunteers to these groups or just to help out from time to time are always welcome. Let us know if you're interested in getting involved. Click here to volunteer.
GLRL is guided by the following Principles in our relations with our members & volunteers:
In the later half of 2003, the call went out to find volunteers to fill the large shoes left by the departure of Luca Balboni and Shane Garland. Luca and Shane dedicated an enormous amount of their talent, time and effort to design and create the Lobby’s impressive website (www.glrl.org.au).
The website is currently being updated and is expected to be up to date early in 2004. The new team consists of Justin Scowen, Saxifrage Alexandr, Nimrod Weiner and Grant Dollin. The team is very open and approachable and we invite comment from the Lobby membership via webmaster@glrl.org.au.
Also, if you have artistic web design experience and would like to volunteer, we'd love to hear from you! Please send an email to volunteers@glrl.org.au.
Our final report on parenting law reform is out: And then the Brides Changed Nappies. The report is based on community consultations with parents in Sydney, Newcastle and Lismore through late 2002 and early 2003. The report recommends three major changes:
Eleven specific recommendations follow to give effect to these three major reforms. These include: the ability of lesbian and gay parents to claim child support from co-parents, changes to birth certificates, the possibility of adoption permitting more than two legal parents and judicial education on gay and lesbian family issues.
The proposals received overwhelming support from both mothers and fathers in the consultation process. We are confident that these proposals will cover the broadest range of family forms with the least possible fuss. This report will form the basis for the lobby’s work on parenting reform in the future.
Copies the final Nappies report can be downloaded from www.glrl.org.au. Thanks to everyone who was a part of it.
Making it Legal
We have already made a submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission Inquiry into Relationships in May, based upon our recommendations in Nappies. We also made submissions to the Tasmanian Law Institute Adoption Inquiry based upon Nappies (including recommending presumptive recognition of co-mothers from birth and easily accessible co-parent adoption) - our suggestions were all accepted in their final report released in June.
Who gets to be at the birth? Drawing up agreements
Many parents who attended consultations also said that they would really like help in drawing up written agreements between mothers and donors/dads. Although such agreements are not legally binding they are often very important in clarifying everyone’s expectations when lesbians and gay men decide to form families together.
We are now working with Inner City Legal Centre to develop a couple of model agreements and a checklist of “things to think about” so that prospective parents have something to work from in writing their own donor or parenting agreements. We hope to have these up on our website in the next month.
After almost 20 years of lobbying by the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and many other community organisations and individuals, legislation to equalise the age of consent at 16 for all NSW citizens regardless of gender or sexual orientation was passed by the NSW Parliament in June 2003.
The Carr Government introduced the Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Bill 2003 into the Legislative Assembly on 7 May 2003. In addition to equalising the age of consent at 16, the Bill also contained extensive child protection provisions and removed the previous “mistaken age” defence. The Lobby did not entirely support some aspects of the Bill. The removal of the “mistaken age” defence, as an example, has the potential to result in injustice. It was our view that the Bill had the greatest chance of success if we did not oppose the additional provisions.
Even though this was a Government bill, the NSW Labor Party decided that party members would be allowed a conscience vote - an unheard of practice for a Government bill. The NSW Liberal Party also decided to allow a conscience vote, however the NSW National Party decided that they would vote as a block against the bill.
In response to this, the GLRL went into top gear. We produced a 12 page glossy colour booklet, “The Need for an Equal Age of Consent in NSW” (click here to download in PDF format), which was sent to every Member of Parliament. It was hoped that the booklet would educate Members of Parliament about the issues related to an unequal age of consent and encourage them to vote for the Bill. The booklet also summarised the research, commissioned by the Lobby in 2001, by Dr Richard Roberts and Peter Maplestone of the University of New South Wales into the detrimental effects of an unequal age of consent. Representatives of the Lobby also met with numerous Members of the Legislative Assembly and almost every Member of the Legislative Council for face to face lobbying.
The Lobby brought together a broad range of community organisations to form a strong community coalition in support of an equal age of consent. This included ACON, FPA Health, Australian Medical Association, PFLAG, NSW Teachers Federation, 2010 Gay and Lesbian Youth Services, NSW Young Labor and Young Liberals. It was the active support of these organisations that enabled the Lobby to convince parliamentarians, the wider public and the media that there was genuine support for an equal age of consent in the broader community.
The day after the Attorney General, Mr Bob Debus, first mentioned the Bill in Parliament, the Daily Telegraph launched a campaign of opposition to the Bill. What followed were headlines such as “An age of moral risk”, “The case against gay sex law” and “The dangers of making men out of boys overnight”. The Daily Telegraph even sought to draw a tenuous link between age of consent and the Carr Government’s proposed medically supervised cannabis trial. Similarly, the radio shock jocks sought to sensationalise the debate by equating equalising the age of consent with child sex abuse and prostitution.
It quickly became apparent that our community needed to speak out in support of the Bill. Through our website, e-mails to members, a campaign specific e-mail distribution list and articles and advertisements in the Sydney Star Observer, we sought to mobilise our community.
The community mobilisation, combined with the GLRL’s own media strategy, proved to be very effective. The Daily Telegraph was swamped with letters in support of equalising the age of consent. Two phone polls conducted by the Daily Telegraph also showed overwhelming support for the Bill. For every homophobic caller to talk back radio, there were callers speaking in support of equality. Almost every Member of Parliament who spoke on the Bill made reference to the large number of letters they had received. Upper House MPs in particular noted that there were many more letters in support than there were against. There is no doubt that for some MPs this community support was a deciding factor in their decision to vote yes.
Debate in the Legislative Assembly was characterised by impassioned speeches about the importance of equality before the law and sharply contrasting speeches that echoed homophobic attitudes of decades past. Despite the National Party’s hard-line homophobic stance on the issue, Russell Turner, the National Party Member for Orange, in an inspiring display of conviction, crossed the floor to vote in favour of the Bill. Mr Turner, who has a gay son, spoke of the need to combat the fear and ignorance of homosexuality in our community. The Bill was passed by 54 votes to 32 votes.
The Legislative Council was always going to be the House where the Bill had the greatest chance of failure. Similar Bills had failed twice before in the LC and the third time the Bill was sent to Committee to avoid a potential third failure. The intensive lobbying by the Lobby, other organisations, and members of our community resulted in the Bill passing 23 votes to 16. This included yes votes by 6 of the 9 Liberal Party members.
Although the campaign should have ended on a high note, given almost 20 years of lobbying for the reform, the final moment was marred by yet another diversion tactic by our opponents, bringing up unrelated allegations before the final reading. Nonetheless, there was a cheer from the public gallery, which was filled with members and supporters of our community.
There are many people to thank for their work throughout the years. Many organisations and individuals have kept writing letters, speaking out on the issue, working on our campaigns, lobbying Members of Parliament, making donations, attending our rallies and fundraisers and much more. It is the passion and dedication of all these people that kept this issue alive at Macquarie Street for so long and finally made it a reality. This was yet another historic moment for us to have pride in our community, in ourselves, and in our ability to affect social change collectively.
What’s in a name?
Ok folks, pour some oxygen on those brain cells and start thinking... This Newsletter needs a real name.. as opposed to “The Newsletter”. And we’re asking you, our members and supporters in the fight for legal and social equality for lesbians and gay men, to get on board the train, mix your metaphors, add water and stir until you come up with a name worthy of this great publication..
To make matters a little more exiting, there’s a fantastic prize on offer - a dinner for two at the fabulous, tasteful and tasty Pink Peppercorn Restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
Pink Peppercorn at 122 Oxford Street (opposite Stonewall) offers a modern fusion of Laotian and North Eastern Thai cuisine in a cool late night setting. We welcome their generous support for the work of the Lobby.
So give it a go. Enter as many times as you like. Just send you entry/s, along with your email, phone or postal contact information to Newsletter Competition, GLRL, PO Box 9 Darlinghurst NSW 1300, or email the above details to volunteers@glrl.org.au with “Newsletter Competition” in the Subject heading.
The competition closes on 6 March 2004. The decision will be made by a majority of GLRL committee members and will be final. No correspondence will be entered into (unless it’s really entertaining). Winners will be notified by email, telephone or post as per your directions. Competition is open to all members and friends of the Lobby. Committee members may enter the competition, but will not be eligible for the prize. If a committee member’s entry is chosen, the next best entry by a non-committee member will be awarded the prize. Good luck...
WERE YOU A DYKEHARDT DYKE?
Leichhardt Library would like to hear from lesbians interested in being
interviewed for an Oral History Project about their memories of living
in the Leichhardt area during the 1980's and 1990's. Confidentiality is assured.
Please contact Bruce Carter or Michelle Holden at Leichhardt Library on
02 9367 9266 during office hours.
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Thanks to our contributors from GLRL and to the Newsletter Team: Saxifrage Aleksandr, Mark Barraket, Ivano Buoro, Kendi Burness, Brendon Coombes, Rene Madeddu, Anthony Powell and David Skidmore.
Our thanks also to the Website Team for their assistance in online publication.
Thanks again to all our members for their support in 2003. We look forward to your joining us for the battles and hopefully the successes ahead in 2004.
Until next time....
The GLRL Newsletter Team
Gay and Lesbian Rights LobbyThis electronic Newsletter is for members of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby of New South Wales. If you are not a member of GLRL, we welcome you to join. (Click here or visit our website: www.glrl.org.au)
If you are not the intended recipient please advise us. Contents of this Newsletter may be copied, disclosed or used only with appropriate acknowledgement of the source and for purposes that support lesbian and gay equality.