LGBTQI celebrities speak out against Religious Discrimination Bill
Image: Benjamin Law, Lauren Jackson and Ian Thorpe.
Writer Benjamin Law and retired athletes Ian Thorpe and Lauren Jackson are just some of the individuals who have added their voices to Equality Australia’s’ latest online campaign opposing the Religious Discrimination Bill. If enacted the proposed legislation would give people a license to discriminate.
鈥淲hat constitutes discrimination today will be considered okay tomorrow; it will take away your rights at work, at school and at hospitals when people say offensive things.鈥� Law says in the video.
The campaign encourages people to write to their MP鈥檚, telling them why they oppose the bill in its current form.
Earlier this week Scott Morrison after it was wildly criticised by religious groups and equality activists through thousands of written submissions.
Since the second drafts release, criticism has continued, with the St Vincent de Paul society speaking out after they were the only organisation named by the Prime Minister to be able to discriminate against perspective staff because of religion.
鈥榃e have never required this of people working in our shops鈥� National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society Claire Victory said in a statement,鈥� Certain roles within our conferences and councils which have particular responsibility for overseeing our mission and Catholic ethos are usually filled by Catholics but may also be filled by people who share basic Catholic beliefs.鈥�
The new Bill has reduced the range of professions that are able to object to providing health services to an individual because of their religion, however highlights that doctors, pharmacists nurses, midwives and psychologists could refuse to dispense drugs or perform medical procedures for all patients, such as abortions or the morning after pill.
https://www.facebook.com/EqualityAustralia/videos/2601022133266720/
This new draft also allows religious hospitals, aged care facilities and accommodation providers such as retirement homes to discriminate against their staff so that they can preserve the 鈥渞eligious ethos鈥� of their workplace.
The first Bill sought to prevent indirect discrimination like employers setting up codes of conduct or social media policies stopping staff from expressing religious views, with the between Israel Folau and Rugby Australia often highlighted in the media as an example. The second draft now prohibits employers from setting a rule that indirectly discriminates on religion, only when the rule is outside of the scope of the employee鈥檚 actual employment.
Any change to existing legislation should protect every Australian, and while the second draft of the Bill has tightened and clarified certain elements, it still gives people a license to discriminate against others. Leaving them less protected under the proposed law changes and winding back the legal protections and inclusion that our country has built over decades.
While the primary aim of this bill is to prohibit religious discrimination, the exemptions listed actually allow religious discrimination to continue and be legally protected. This is the second and final draft of the bill before the year’s end and and are able to make submission until 31st January 2020.
Equality Australia has broken down how the second Bill will impact all Australians , and urges you to reach out to your MP and say no to discrimination.
Hi most Beautiful People, thank you for standing together, we stand alongside of you in love.
I have served my Lord for 40 years, in ministry both within the Church and the wider community, standing up for justice and love, as Christ taught us to do.
I have witnessed this controlling divisive and destructive manner in the Church by some all my life and all the way through. This is not Our Lords will.
I want you to know, those that walk in faith and love with Our Lord, do not walk with the ones putting this bill together.
Passion faith filled people protesting and speaking out, both within the Church and out.
As we voted for justice and equality for
all.
The Church has lost the spirit of Hospitality. I have not once in my 40years experienced discrimination, out side of the Church, however i have experienced it within when i spoke out for JUSTICE.
Our Lord Bless One and All willing to have a voice and say, enough is enough.
Stop tearing our communities apart.
鉁★笍鉁濓笍
Jen
I do not want the Religious Discrimination Bill passed. My family are Christian, my sister is a Minister, my mother isa Church Elder and they believe discrimination like this is unChristian.
Jesus did not reject the woman at the well. Jesus invited prostitutes and tax collectors into his company. This Bill is wrong.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.