Labor’s nod to GLBTI health
The sexual and reproductive health needs of the gay and gender diverse communities have been added to the ALP platform-鈥漷he party’s central policy document-鈥漟or the first time.
The move could pave the way for federal research grants into GLBTI health issues.
Senator Louise Pratt, who authored the shift, told the ALP National Conference that GLBTI people faced unique needs that were neglected under the Howard government.
It can be because of stigma and marginalisation. For example, lesbians have a higher rate of obesity and smoking.
Pratt highlighted that not all medical interventions for transgender and intersex people were available in the public health sector, and state laws governing access and gender recognition were inconsistent.
But today’s push did not commit the Rudd Government to any specific actions or increased funding.
The Labor party also formally opposed state laws that discriminate against lesbian, single and unmarried women in access to reproductive technologies such as IVF.
Pratt said women have historically faced discrimination access to fertility treatment based on their marital status.
What matters is that it is your infertility that requires treatment and not your relationship status. This amendment is designed to highlight the Labor party does not believe in such discrimination.
Why are we spending ANY money on fertility? The country can’t sustain the population it has.
Single women and lesbians are still legally banned from having access to IVF in South Australia still – this needs to be repealed. Queensland does allow all women access to IVF or ART.
Queensland and South Australia still do not recognise “parentage” for lesbians and their partners who had a child through IVF or ART.
Both Victoriaand Tasmania legislation (from 1.1.2010) will include both access and parentage for all women.
A bit about “parentage” in Australian states (also all states mentioned below are retrospective#).
* WA was the first to recognise parentage in 2002.
* Both the NT and the ACT was the second and third to recognise parentage in 2004.
* NSW did not recognise “parentage” for lesbians until September 2008.
# “Retrospective” means laws that have commenced on “parentage” – are also effective before the commencement date of the new law.
Another example:
* When the age of consent was made equal to 16 in NSW in 2003 – the law is still in effect before/prior to that year.
* In 1984, male homosexuality was illegal (lesbianism was never crimilized in the English Empire) – You can still be arrested/charged for male homosexual sexual conduct applying before/prior that date.
What a joke.