2016-01-25
As well as the usual sun-soaked Midsumma events, this year’s festival offerings include opportunities for the LGBTIQ community and allies to celebrate successes on our journey to equality, and discuss the road ahead. While marriage equality is front and centre in many discussions, Queer Greens Victoria is hosting a panel discussion to talk about “what next?”
The event, Marriage Equality and Beyond, will be held at Hares and Hyenas bookshop at 7pm on Friday 5th February, and is a free event open to anyone interested in equality for LGBTIQ people.The panel will include federal Senator Janet Rice, Victorian MP Sam Hibbins and City of Melbourne Councillor Rohan Leppert, and members of the audience will have the opportunity to engage in discussion for how we can achieve equality for the LGBTIQ community through policy and legislative progress at every level of government.
“Making sure all loving couples have the opportunity to marry is just one way we’re working to remove the discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse and intersex people and their families,” says Senator Rice. “Among other things, this means addressing unacceptably high rates of crime against LGBTIQ people and mental ill health within the community, as well as making it easier for trans young people to get access to hormone treatment.”
Victorian MP Sam Hibbins agrees. “The Victorian Greens Equality Bill will strengthen the Equal Opportunity Act to help make Victorian schools, workplaces and communities free from discrimination. Allowing people to determine their own gender for official documents is also a priority for the Greens,” he explains.
In organising the event, members of Queer Greens Victoria emphasised the importance of looking at the community holistically. “Sometimes there’s talk about LGBTIQ rights that are actually just about the rights of gay and lesbian people,” reported Queer Greens Victoria co-secretary Clare O’Hanlon. “But the Greens have policies that are about making things better for transgender people and intersex people, based on what the communities need, as well as the broader reforms that would be better for everyone.”
“Those are the discussions we should be having now. Of course we want marriage equality, but there’s lots of other things too, and this event is an opportunity for anyone – regardless of who they vote for or how closely they follow politics – to come along, be part of the conversation, meet some interesting people, have a drink, and maybe learn something new!” Marriage Equality and Beyond is part of the Midsumma festival. It is a free event with drinks available at bar prices.
For further comment, contact Stephanie Amir, Convenor of Queer Greens Victoria, 0438 371 296