2016-03-31
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) support for marriage equality is further evidence of the need for the government to legislate for this reform, say the Australian Greens.
"Today's endorsement of marriage equality reflects what the advocates have been saying for some time. We know that discrimination negatively impacts on mental health and wellbeing," Greens marriage equality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.
"It's alarming to see in the report released by RANZCP, 20% of trans people and 15.7% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience suicidal thoughts. An expensive campaign against marriage equality would expose LGBTIQ people to hate speech and all of the negative health impacts that come with that.
"Mr Turnbull has an opportunity to remove this discrimination. We don't need a costly a divisive plebiscite to achieve this. We just need a free vote in the parliament."