Joan Kirner only has one eye, one of them was damaged by old age and a vicious assault. Tony Briffa would know this it is shameful how he would make such a remark about Kirner’s disability.

Joan’s comment was insensitive because she knows about Tony’s condition and history.

The fact Tony Briffa got the majority support from the Councillors including labor members shows he has merit and was democratically elected. The fact he has this past with an intersex condition and is very open about it and the community accepts it is a testament to the people of Hobsons Bay.

Typical for Labor. Moving forward to move backwards to move forward to move backwards because where moving forward.

Supporting Kirner’s outrageous comments is disgraceful to all good and decent people.

Joan Kirner is championing the cause for 51% of the population – women. She makes sense and should be applauded for her comments.

Tony – time you lifted and thought beyond your personal journey and ensured Hobson’s Bay represents all genders. If this means allowing a woman to step-up and become either mayor or deputy, allowing you to have a break, then be it so!

Seems like someone crying foul to gain media attention rather than because their argument has merit.

I also pointed to the slippery slope of Kirner’s affirmative action thinking – it comes at the expense of someone, and it isnt always a white wealthy straight bloke.

(If Briffa loses the Deputy Mayoralty next time to a person in a wheelchair, will that be “anti intersex’ or “pro disabled”?)

The following recent article also shows he’s open about being not male, not female, but “other”:

Hobsons Bay council also had a GLBTI forum this year so according to Joan Kirner’s comments they should also have a GLBTI deputy mayor or mayor.

Also, Emily’s List doesn’t just promote women in politics. It’s about LABOR women in politics. Tony Briffa is an independent.

I am not sure why a person who is born a woman needs to be put ahead of someone who happens to be born intersex. This is not affirmative action, it is another Labor Party disgrace.

It is the Labor Party that advocates against people in our community. It is the Labor Party that denies us jobs, access to health care, access to nursing homes, the right to Marry your love. It is the Labor Party that gives billions of our taxes to religious groups to discriminate and oppress people who run essential government services such as Health, Education, and Nursing homes. All this and here we have an ex leader opposing the rights of people who happen to be Intersex. I have heard people like Ben tell lie after lie trying to defend the Labor Party. In the meantime it is we the people that have our Civil and Political Rights broken. We are denied laws that are just.

The facts are Joan Kirner who is caught out trying to use spin to deny people who are intersex the ability to engage in politics.

Now I believe in equality and I am offended by Joan Kirners remarks. If that is raving as Ben puts it, then I am proud to rave. For I do not believe ex senior politicians should be using their powers to oppress people who are Intersex, and imply they are simply not right if they get a job and a woman should of get it over them.

The Labor is a disgrace.

Kirner never spoke against intersex people, the right to a fair trial or the right to vote. She pointed to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor (both of whom identify as men) and said one of them should’ve been a woman.

And so she stepped right into the affirmative action trap…

“Which minority needs affirming most”…a woman, the disabled, the disabled aborigine and so it goes on, until finally you find a male identifying intersex person yelling “discrimination”.

All of which assumes Kirner knew Tony Briffa’s story.

Frankly, merit must come into play at some point – I’d also like to think that’s why Tony Briffa got the gig.

If Joan Kirner was an employer she would be in huge trouble for seeking to deny the Political Rights and Civil Rights of an employee. But instead she uses her power of publicity to push the notion that only girls should do some jobs and intersex none.

If we are truly the land of a fair go, the country that values people, then why does the ex Labor Leader advocate for the discrimination of people who happen to be Intersex? Why is she seeking to favour those born one way over those born another? How many Intersex people do we have in public office? Clearly there are a lot more people who are born a girl then someone who is Intersex.

I do not believe people who are Intersex should not get a job. What next? Jewish people need not apply or perhaps Catholics? This is an absurd proposition. It is abhorrent. It fouls the air we breathe. Perhaps Joan will go down the path of race next? If you do not believe in fairness, then anything is possible.

Joan Kirner has tried to stop the Civil Rights, and Political Rights of people who are Intersex by using her publicity power to suggest people stop perusing a life in politics based on if they are born a girl or not. That to me is disgusting. I believe in equality not just of people like me who are gay, but all good and decent people.

Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals’ freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression. Political rights include natural justice (procedural fairness) in law, such as the rights of the accused, including the right to a fair trial; due process; the right to seek redress or a legal remedy; and rights of participation in civil society and politics such as freedom of association, the right to assemble, the right to petition, and the right to vote.

I long for the day when Labor can once again be the progressive party, the party of a fair go, but until that day comes I will not vote for them. I think they have drifted so far into the shadows of other parties they do not know what they stand for anymore, and certainly can act that way at times. They are lost in the wilderness if they do not value our Civil or Political Rights.

The Intersex population is about 4% of the population. Compared to 2.7% who self identify as Gay or Lesbian. It’s about time that their issues got dealt with properly by the GLBTI community and the rest of Australia too.