2023-03-21
The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently expand the state’s anti-vilification laws to protect LGBTIQA+ communities.
Over the weekend, neo-Nazis and anti-trans campaigners converged on the steps of the Victorian Parliament to spread hate towards the trans and gender diverse community.
This was done without consequence as a result of our current anti-vilification laws, which provide protections on the basis of race and religion, but not sexuality or gender identity.
Victorian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri, asked the Premier during Question Time today whether the Labor Government would expand the laws.
The Premier responded evasively, saying the issue wasn’t about “laws or funding”, and refused to commit to taking the tangible actions needed to prevent what happened over the weekend from ever happening again.
Ms de Vietri said while the Greens welcomed the Government’s recent commitment to consider banning the Nazi salute, it needed to be part of a broader response to the growth of these dangerous, anti-trans movements.
In 2021, following an inquiry, the Government gave in-principle support to expand the state’s anti-vilification protections beyond race and religion, yet to date nothing has happened.
The events on Saturday must be a turning point.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri MP:
“Right now, Victoria’s anti-vilification laws do not protect people against vilification based on their gender or sexuality.
“That means that someone can stand on the steps of Parliament, as they did this weekend, and incite hatred towards trans and gender diverse people and get away with it.
“We urgently need to expand our anti-vilification laws to prevent what happened on the weekend from ever happening again.
“Our queer community is strong in the face of discrimination, but as long as gaps exist in the law, this community will continue to face vilification.”