COMMUNITY ACTION AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA MEDIA RELEASE 13th August 2006 |
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COMMUNITY ACTION AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA MEDIA RELEASE 13th August 2006 |
UPDATE ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AUGUST 13Unity in Action! NSW groups unified for repealing same-sex marriage ban.Seven cities and four locations in rural Australia are now protesting against homophobia on August 13. Eighty-two groups have endorsed the event and significantly, within NSW, Aids Council of NSW and the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby have signed on."Its fantastic that we finally have unity within this campaign for full relationship rights", said Farida Iqbal, Community Action Against Homophobia's (CAAH) female co-convenor. "When the WA National Party can pass a motion supporting same-sex civil unions, it really should not be hard for all queer rights groups to come behind the campaign for our equal rights." "Ruptions within our community aid Howard's 'Straight Australia Policy' agenda," noted Simon Margan, CAAH's male co- convenor. "It's great we are marking the second anniversary of the same-sex marriage ban with a combined event. When Howard was able to get away with banning civil unions this year, we have to take to the streets with more passion, anger and diligence than ever before." "HEREOC inquiry, David Big Brother" "In the lead up to the marriage ban same-sex couples were called "moral terrorists of the 21st century", "psychologically disturbed" and "unfit to raise children" noted Rachel Evans, National Union Students National Queer Officer. "We demand equal same-sex marriage, civil and defacto rights. Full equality, nothing less," she concluded. "In 2006 the Federal government took the ban on same-sex marriage one step further with the Australian Capital Territory's ban on civil unions. This might be followed by the Federal banning of state same-sex civil unions," predicted Alex Day, co-ordinator of Rebellion. Ben Cooper, organizing the event in Lismore noted "fighting homophobia has to step up a notch. A recent Aids Council Of New South Wales (ACON) survey in the Northern Rivers found of the 185 participants,53% of people reported discrimination/harassment due to their sexuality. The marriage ban emboldens the bigots that threaten our safety and pride." concluded Cooper. Simon Margan from Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) in Sydney said "Rates of homophobic violence are increasing across Australia. We need to combat this through an active, vibrant movement that fights homophobic laws and its side-effects. Grass roots campaigns are essential to force politicians to listen. Polls show support for same-sex marriage in the wider community." "Formal relationship recognition is essential to achieve social equality and legal security for loving same-sex couples and their families. It's time for legal discrimination to end, and for same-sex couples to be treated with full equality" noted Melbourne's Equal Love Rights Organiser, John Kloprogge.
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