Why Queensland’s LGBTI community needs a Greens MP
I AM听a lesbian. I have 鈥渃ome-out鈥� twice. Yes, twice. I first came out as a teenager 鈥� until听my parents and society at the time made me feel I was somehow less a person. To me it wasn鈥檛 as issue: I was just me.
So I spent my 20s听and 30s听back in the closet. I became as constructive member of society in a 鈥渃loseted, heterosexual鈥� kind of way, watching the LGBTI community constantly struggle with so many emotional and legal issues: such as mental health and suicide, segregation, transphobia, marriage inequality and consistent funding cuts.
When I came back out, I did it with a mission. I established the Sunshine Coast Rainbow Network to try to help the LGBTI communities both regionally and in Brisbane; to connect, to network and to find support. I joined the Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association as a regional representative and I have been involved as much as I can to help further improve the rights, and lives, of my community. The closing of the Queensland AIDS听Council (QuAC) on the Sunshine Coast was devastating to our gay community, as was the closure of Biala and, more recently, the withdrawal of funding for QuAC in Brisbane.
When I decided to join the Queensland Greens officially, after having long been a supporter, it was with these things in mind. I became a candidate for Caloundra looking to not only fight for our own local issues but also to have the opportunity to be a greater advocate for the LGBTI community. The Queensland Greens have always had and have been firm supporters for marriage equality.
Now, thanks to the work of Kirsten Lovejoy 鈥撎齩ur Greens candidate for Brisbane Central 鈥� and a number of other LGBTI advocates, our is live and incredibly comprehensive, keeping with our contemporary issues.
These include (among many):
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Abolishing the “gay panic”听defence by amending the Criminal Code so that non-violent sexual advances cannot听constitute a defence of provocation
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Equalising the age of consent laws in all sex acts in Queensland
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Expunging historical consensual gay sex convictions
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Support the full roll-out of the Safe Schools Coalition across all Queensland schools and support the implementing of the adopted policy statement of the Education Department on supporting same sex attracted, intersex and trans* students at school
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Increased provision of financial and in-kind support for Brisbane Pride Festival programs
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Restoring funding to QuAC and the provision of further assistance to extend support services within the wider community 鈥� including funding to Clinic30 to provide services to our community, addressing mental health issues and sexually transmitted diseases
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Amendment of the Adoption Act to provide equality of access to adoption for same sex couples. This includes amending the law to allow all people to be eligible to adopt surrendered children, and to also allow LGBTI people to adopt their partner’s children, enabling greater certainty about next of kin status and legal certainty regarding giving consent in emergency medical situations.
Other services we will address include the development of a LGBTI Commitment Statement for the whole Queensland government. This would acknowledge and validate LGBTI citizens, establish an LGBTI committee consisting of MPs and citizens to advise government and continue discussion, and appoint听a Minister for Equality.
As an identified lesbian, and an advocate for LGBTI rights 鈥� I applaud this updated policy platform. For 23 years Queensland Greens have been standing up for social justice, and I thoroughly support them. Every Green member and supporter 鈥� whether gay or straight, are 100 per cent unequivocal in their support for marriage equality, and we will continue to work towards this goal.
The Queensland Greens believe that:
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It is a human right to live free from discrimination, including on the basis of sexuality or gender identity
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Acceptance and celebration of diversity enhance society as a whole
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People have the right to be recognised in their lived gender
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Note: The Star Observer听has approached the incumbent MP of the gay-centric electorate of Brisbane Central, LNP’s Robert Cavallucci, to write an oped. Unfortunately he was unable to submit a piece, but he expressed his full support for the LGBTI community. You can still read a generic overview of LNP’s LGBTI policies here:听
If the answer is a Greenie you know its a very silly question.
When I think of the Greens my skin crawls.These Nimbies should stick to saving Whales,I’ll never forget the Greens and their “Love” for the Carbon Tax…
Do we really have to sacrifice the economy for it though by voting for the halfwit greens
Do we really have to sacrifice the planet by voting for corporate backed parties who only care about money?
The Greens take corporate donations.
I’m sure they would legislate to help the environment rather than destroy it.
It was not the Greens who created national parks and environmental protections. The Greens are against the human environment.
Just like the Greens who wlant us to live in caves eating berries
A vote for the Greens is a wasted vote. The major parties are the only ones who can change legislation.
This is not true. That’s why we have a preferential voting system.
Yes optional preferential. You may as well give the LNP or ALP your vote or exhaust you vote, rather than give your vote to the Greens.
Why?
Incidentally, two greens were just recently voted in to Victoria’s lower house. How is that a waste? I would rather have representation for what I want than give my vote to LNP.
2 mps does not make legislative change with out the support of the major parties
But it makes them think twice about what they do legislate if they see people start backing them.
The major parties consider broader community opinion rather than a vocal minority.
As I the only one who finds it very strange and confusing, that the Queensland Labor party policy openly supports marriage equality, but will not have a policy on adoption equality – under the Queensland Adoption Act 2009?????
go the greens
Of the 3 main parties, only the Greens wholeheartedly support full equal rights for LGBTIQ people
The Greens will never deliver change for our community
Thanks for standing up, Fiona. The Queensland Greens LGBTI policy platform offers more for our communities than anything from the other political parties.
Queenslanders *will* vote in a Green. In fact, it’s just a matter of time before we vote in *many* Greens, especially us Queer identifying folk in rural areas who have to contend with Katter-thinking.
I know it’s a shame hey!!
You’d know better than me Alan Fisher, am I right?
Queenslanders will never vote in a green
No Upper House to begin with. Does anyone in Queensnland NOT go to church?