gay marriage - discrimination

Rainbow Reporter

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Vimu Subscription

gay marriage discrimination - Rainbow Reporter

Foes of same-sex parenting damage children

December 22nd 2008 08:25

Pic from Parentbloggers

Lesbians great parents, says 22 year study

“The longest-running study into lesbian parents in the United States has found that discrimination and not the sexual orientation of their parents harms children.”

Backing up every other well-designed and reputable study into the subject, the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS) shows that the children of lesbian parents are happy, healthy and ‘high-functioning’.

The only handicaps faced by the children of same-sex parents are those created by outsiders who do not approve of their family structure.

And even the setbacks due to this prejudice, discrimination and homophobia can be overcome when the children live in communities and attend schools that are pro-actively accepting of diversity.

Those who claim they oppose lesbian parenting for the good of the children are in fact the ones causing any suffering the children experience.

“The NLLFS confirms the findings of over 40 other studies on the children of lesbian and gay parents, and supports the positions of all major professional associations on the well-being of children growing up in lesbian and gay families.”

Time for the opponents of same sex parenting to shut up and start working to overcome their prejudice – for the good of the children.

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: gay rights, gay marriage, equality, same-sex, gay politics, discrimination, parenting

Email this Post to a Friend

A Gay Christmas List

November 23rd 2008 01:56

Hey, look, I can do this 'blessing' thing, too!!

Santa Kev is on track to deliver my Christmas present: the Omnibus Bill removing the discrimination against same-sex couples identified by the Same Sex: Same Entitlements report. A big thank you to the Australian Human Rights Commission, to the government for keeping its promises, and to everyone working towards equality. But there’s lots of other things on my list for Santa Kev.

Last minute present for 2008: fix up benefits and entitlements. If we’re in a relationship, from July our entitlement will be calculated on our income as a couple. If I’m on benefit and partnered with a high earner, Centrelink will give me less money, or maybe none at all. If we’re both on benefit, we’ll drop to the couple rate. It’s going to be a struggle.

I’m not asking for a continuation of the special treatment we’ve had up to now. Instead, lift everybody’s benefits to a level we can actually live on. We’re with the old people and the disabled and everyone else on this.

The gift you left out this year: private same-sex superannuation. Your reforms only helped 10% of us – those in Commonwealth superannuation schemes. For the 90% of us with private super, you left it up to the funds to decide whether they could afford to treat us equally. We have to ask them if they do, and if they don’t, move our money to one that does – and hope they don’t change their minds later.

Next years BIG present: new anti-discrimination laws. State anti-discrimination laws cover sexuality, but they don’t work very well. I know from experience that under Victorian law it’s very difficult to prove discrimination. The process is slow, complex, expensive, and bureaucratic.

And there’s a huge loophole. You can discriminate against GLBTI people if 'the discrimination is necessary for the ... [offender] to comply with the ... [offender’s] genuine religious beliefs or principles'. Other state anti-discrimination laws contain similar loopholes, though none so obscenely wide.

This legalises discrimination in ‘religious’ schools, universities and hospitals, all paid work arrangements, the provision of goods and services and all other areas covered by the Act, in adoption, employment, medical services, education, training, and housing. All these ‘religious’ businesses – including the well-known food company Sanitarium – are also tax-exempt. It’s OK – and tax-free - to be a bigot, so long as you’re a religious bigot. That can’t be right.

Please fix up Commonwealth anti-discrimination law so that it includes discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, overrides all those confusing state laws, and cuts out the ‘religious’ exemptions.

A little something for the kids: make sure the new national curriculum includes GBLTI issues, for example, in history, culture and sex and relationship classes. We’re sick of being the invisible Australians.

The “Daddy, Daddy, can I please have a pony NOW?” present: marriage. Of which I’ve written more than enough already.

I know this looks pushy. I haven’t even got this year’s present and already I’m asking for 2009. But this way you’ll get my letter before anyone elses!!

Oh, and one more thing. Tell those whingers from the CMST (church, mosque, synagogue, temple) lobby they have to play nice next year or you’ll take away their lucrative tax exemptions and government contracts and give them to somebody who deserves them (hint)!!

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: religion, gay rights, gay marriage, equality, Victoria, gay politics, Australian politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

No We Can't

November 6th 2008 02:37

Yes, he can, but no, we can't, as anti-gay measures pass in several states.

Barack Obama’s win, which symbolises a great victory over race prejudice, has inadvertently strengthened prejudice and discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Obama brought unprecedented numbers of black voters to the polls, many of them from the black churches, which are notably conservative on gay issues. He brought out the Hispanic vote, with its strong Catholic bias, too.

But he failed to support gay marriage, and his support for gay rights during the campaign can best be described as lukewarm.

As a result, the California same-sex marriage ban won 52 percent of the vote. A ban also passed in Florida and Arizona.

Arkansas passed a ban on unmarried couples from adopting or fostering, which was targeted at gay men and lesbians.

There was one ray of light, as voters in Connecticut, the third state, after Massachusetts and California, to allow marriage between people of the same sex, rejected a plan to hold a constitutional convention.

Opponents of same-sex marriage had expressed hope that a convention could lead to a ballot initiative to ban the practice, which the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled legal last month.

Obama did at least mention the word gay in his victory speech, as he claimed the Presidency on behalf of all Americans, not just those who voted for him.

But a gesture is not enough. H will have his work cut out to remove this discrimination and prejudice that three more states have now enshrined in their constitutions. We will be watching closely.

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Comments (2)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: religion, gay rights, gay marriage, US politics, elections, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

Rainbow Report Tonight

August 28th 2008 05:31

Finally back from holidays and the usual mad scramble to put a show together - and so much to talk about with . . .

Senator Louise Pratt

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: gay rights, gay marriage, equality, Melbourne, gay politics, Australian politics, discrimination, sport

Email this Post to a Friend

Wong Way – Go Back

August 7th 2008 06:33

Penny Wong

Penny Wong has come in for some flack over her remarks about gay marriage on the ABC last week. As the second most senior female, and most senior gay person in the government, she looked uncomfortable at being publicly reminded she was, in fact, gay, and ended up parroting the government line about gay marriage being opposed by the vast majority of the Australian public.

In fact, all available stats indicate that the issue is, at worst, finely balanced, with roughly equal numbers for and against, with some polls flagging a majority in favour. As a cabinet minister she is obliged to toe the party line, but with a bit of finessing she could have indicated that, although forced to do just that, her true sentiments were otherwise

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Comments (3)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: gay rights, gay marriage, same-sex, gay politics, Australian politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

Education Minister Backs Gay Marriage

August 4th 2008 00:25

Bronwyn didn't pike it

The numbers may have been down – only about 300 turned out for this year’s Melbourne Equal Love Rally, well down on previous years – but two facts made it a memorable occasion

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Comments (2)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: gay rights, gay marriage, Melbourne, Victoria, gay politics, Australian politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

Gay Marriage Works! (LINK)

July 13th 2008 04:36

Hold the mayo! From the canned Heinz ad

Sure it can look odd – even to a dyed-purple-in-the-womb old pouf like me – to see two grooms or two brides standing at the altar, or pushing a stroller. That’s because we’re not used to it yet – it’s too new.

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: religion, gay rights, gay marriage, equality, gay politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

A Gay Marriage

July 7th 2008 03:10

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve tended to ignore my own birthday, but this year I decided I would have a little celebration. Nothing fancy, just a buffet lunch on Sunday afternoon with a few of the people who matter to me. I could have invited at least a dozen more, but it’s a while since we’ve entertained and I didn’t want to take too much on.

My partner was initially angry because I sent out the invites without telling him my plans, but he came round. It saved a lot of arguments! As I’ve learned from dealing with editors and program managers, it’s better to do it first and apologise after, if necessary, than to spend hours in fruitless argument

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Comments (2)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: religion, gay rights, gay marriage, equality, same-sex, gay politics, Australian politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

Meet the FOCAs

July 4th 2008 05:15

That’s the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans – the new kid on the block in the Anglican church – a group formed at the recent Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) in Jerusalem.

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Shared on

Rainbow Reporter

Doug Pollard Friends

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: religion, gay marriage, gay politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend

Gays & Muslims Marriage Alliance?

June 26th 2008 02:55

Polygamy is suddenly all over the Australian media. Where did that suddenly come from?

Keysar Trad, president of the Islamic Friendship Association, backed calls by Sheik Khalil Chami of the Islamic Welfare Centre, for polygamous relationships to be recognized in Australia

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Comments (4)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Doug Pollard - Category: religion, gay rights, gay marriage, equality, same-sex, gay politics, Australian politics, discrimination

Email this Post to a Friend