Equality bulletin #73
This Equality bulletin was issued by the TGLRG on 26.8.09.
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Equality in 2009, #73
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Hi Everyone,
This Equality Bulletin includes information about the Senate inquiry into marriage equality, the Queensland and Tasmanian debates on parenting and the Commercial TV code of practice consultation.
Rodney Croome
0409 010 668
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Senate marriage equality inquiry
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The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into whether Australia should allow same-sex marriages.
In the last 72 hours the inquiry has been flooded with form submissions from opponents of equality.
This may be the last chance for some time to place your support for equality on the official record so please send in a submission.
For more information and a submission form visit,
http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/senatesubmission.htm
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Queensland parenting inquiries
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The Queensland Government has released a discussion paper on decriminalising altruistic surrogacy for opposite and same-sex couples. It has also released a discussion paper on recognising the co-mothers of children born through fertility treatment.
These inquiries have also been bombarded by anti-gay groups, so please raise your voice in support of equality by sending in a submission. The deadline for both inquiries is September 18th.
Here are links to the discussion papers for surrogacy and parental recognition respectively,
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/files/AboutUs/Surrogacy_Model_17_Aug_2009.pdf
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/files/AboutUs/Same-Sex_Model_Review_17_Aug_2009.pdf
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Tasmanian parenting debate
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The Tasmanian Upper House will soon debate whether to recognise co-mothers of children born through fertility treatment.
Upper House members are, again, being bombarded by those who oppose reform.
Please send your letter of support for this reform as soon as possible. Debate may commence as early as next Wednesday.
For more information about this reform and a contact list for Upper House members visit,
http://tglrg.org/more/428_0_1_0_M/
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TV code of conduct
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The proposed code of conduct for Australia’s free-to-air commercial television stations includes a provision which states that programming should not,
provoke or perpetuate intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule
against a person or group of persons on the grounds of age, colour, gender,
national or ethnic origin, disability, race, religion or sexual preference.
A number of submissions have been made by anti-gay groups against the inclusion of “sexual preference”. Please write to support this provision. You may also like to suggest that “sexual orientation” is a preferable term because it reflects the intrinsic nature of sexual attraction. The deadline in September 25th.
For more information visit,
http://www.freetv.com.au/Content_Common/pg-2009-Code-Review.seo