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Labor, in government, the key to further reform
Written by Daniel Smith
Monday, 16 August 2010 22:24
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In a relatively boring Federal election campaign, it has been exciting to see thousands of gay and lesbian activists take to the streets around the country, campaigning for marriage equality rights for same sex couples in Australia.
It is hard to think of a Federal election where the discussion about gay and lesbian rights has been so prominent and it is great to see a predominantly new generation of gay and lesbian activists coming together to fight for change.
As a long time gay activist and long time member of the Australian Labor Party, the only thing that has concerned me about the tone and content of much of the marriage equality action is the negative assessment afforded to Labor.
Now, I acknowledge that Labor’s current position on same sex marriage isn’t what many of us want, but beating up on Labor ignores the fact that arguably all of the reform we have to date has been implemented by Labor Governments around the country. The strength of the anti-Labor rhetoric also ignores the strong likelihood that any reform that happens in the future will happen under a Labor Government.
I recently stumbled across a great paper by Damian Meyer, who was convenor of GALE during the heady days of Western Australian gay and lesbian law reform in 2001/02 and is also a former Greens WA candidate.
Damian outlined how the 2001 State election delivered the unique (in Western Australia) convergence of a Labor Government in the lower house, along with a strong left faction within the government, and a Labor and Greens controlled upper house. This provided the opportunity for landmark reforms that took WA from having the worst gay and lesbian laws in Australia to having the best.
Damian also outlined how numerous previous attempts at law reform, spanning across several decades and put forward by both Labor and minor parties, had been frustrated, with the conservatives always holding control of one house of the Western Australian parliament or the other.
The point here is that it required non-conservative forces to have control of both houses of parliament for reform to occur and this meant having a Labor Government.
A similar scenario is true at the Federal level, where the Howard Government refused to implement even basic reforms for gay and lesbian Australians over 11 years until its defeat in 2007. With the election of the Rudd Labor Government, and the leadership of the Liberal Party shifting (albeit temporarily) to the left, more than 80 reforms affecting gay and lesbian Australians, as well as same-sex couples, were implemented.
Heading into this election, there is no doubt that the Greens, on paper, have the most progressive gay, lesbian and transgender policies and I can well understand the appeal of the Greens to gay, lesbian and trans voters.
However, to achieve reform, holding the balance of power in the Senate will be next to useless if there is an Abbott Liberal Government in the lower house. Yes, the Greens will be a loud voice for our community, but talk is all it will be. Without a Labor Government, they won’t be able to deliver much.
So, while the campaign continues for marriage equality and other outstanding reforms, I urge those interested in the achieving of further reform to hope as much for the return of a Labor Government following this election, as they do for the Greens to hold the balance of power in the Senate.
And, I would urge activists to show restraint in the anti-Labor rhetoric. For every Green politician talking up further reform at a rally, there is a Labor politician or activist working hard behind the scenes to move Labor forward on this issue. The ALP, like the rest of the community, has a large number of people, with divergent views on a range of issues. Sometimes, it takes we Labor activists a little while to convince all of our comrades of the merits of change. But, we do get there, eventually, and the hard work is worth it.
During the law reform process in 2001/02, I will never forget the months of vile phone calls fielded by the staff of Labor MPs, berating and threatening them for supporting reform. As an advisor in that government, I will never forget the pride I felt when Geoff Gallop defended his government's reforms from regular parliamentary attacks by the Liberals.
Quoting Geoff Gallop in parliament from 2004 in response to criticism from Colin Barnett, who was promising to rollback most of the reforms if elected at the 2005 State election: "One of the great features of our society, which of course is why the great Anzac tradition is so important to Australia, is that over many decades people were willing to fight for freedom and equality. Of course, the equality we are talking about is the equality of all citizens under the law. Under the law that prevailed in Western Australia before we changed it, there were inequalities in our community based upon the sexuality of a person. My view is that there are many different types of people in our society. The way in which they express their sexuality is a matter for them. As far as I am concerned, they are full human beings who deserve equal rights with all other Western Australians; and we have done it."
Labor isn't perfect, but It is by Labor, in government, and the Greens working together that we have achieved historic reforms in the past, and it is through Labor, in government, working with the Greens that we will achieve landmark reforms in the future.
I urge you to cast your votes accordingly.
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A Summer Debate highlights - watch now!
Written by Daniel Smith
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 23:41
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For those of you who missed out on attending A Summertime Debate on same-sex marriage at Luxe Bar, and for those who were there and want to relive a great evening, we have uploaded a highlights package for you to view online. Plus, you can now watch the entire speeches of Patti Chong, John Hyde, Brian Greig, Giz Watson, Lisa Baker, Mark Woodman, Aram Hosie and Rod Swift on our YouTube channel.
A quick reminder too that online pre-sale tickets to this year's GlamFest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival close this Sunday, with the festival kicking off next Thursday. We have a great lineup of films never before seen in Perth, including short films by local film makers. And, we are raising funds for three community groups this year, So, be sure to get along and enjoy some great films, and support our community at the same time.
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and God bless Tony Abbott
Written by Gavin McGuren
Monday, 08 March 2010 12:58
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In a week in which there's been yet another gay scandal in the Catholic Church (so last century) as well as in the ranks of American Republicans (ditto), plus the high-profile suicide of Marie Osmond's allegedly gay son, Tony Abbott has declared that he's threatened by "homosexuals". I'm not certain whether that's something to celebrate, sneer at or laugh about to tell the truth. All three, perhaps, not necessarily in that order.
Abbott said his piece, without elaboration, in response to a question from Liz Hayes on 60 Minutes. It was a fleeting moment in an interview and Hayes failed to halt the progress of the interview to ask any follow-up questions. Pity, because context is everything. What is it in Tony Abbot's case that makes him feel "a bit threatened as so many people do" by "homosexuals". (Or as so many more people don't these days.)
It surely can't be homosex acts. Abbott was in a Catholic seminary fergodsake. Not that I'm suggesting he indulged in any hanky panky, of course, but he wasn't alone in there and, well, it was a Catholic seminary. He must have heard a thing or two... He can't be afraid that gay men may check him out or make a pass at him, can he? He's been throwing himself at us all summer in his Aussiebums. One has to assume that so far his strike rate hasn't been what he hoped, although frankly I thought he looked sort of hot—though a tiny bit of manscaping wouldn't hurt. Just a bit, bears, just a bit!
The most interesting thing about this minor debacle is not what Abbott said but conservative journalist Andrew Bolt picking him up for it in his Herald-Sun blog. In doing so he's raised the ire of his rabid mob of loyal followers and apparently lost the support of a swag of xenophobic thugs who thought all this time that he was totally on their side in their crusade against Kevin Rudd, Lefties, Greens, global warming, feminists, atheists, conservationists, Al Gore, global warming, Muslims, immigrants, refugees, single mothers, public servants, the ABC, global warming, SBS, The Age, Robert Manne... and a few other things like global warming.
Ironically, Bolt uses a photo of four young guys in budgie smugglers, camping it up at what appears to be the Mardi Gras Fair Day, to illustrate how "some in the gay community only encourage this unfortunate perception of the predatory gay with foolish and irresponsible displays like those so often seen in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras". Had it been four girls in bikinis would it have been an example of... anything damning about the nature of females?
Abbott defended himself in the face of the inevitable "backlash" beat-up, by talking about homosexuality flying in the face of "the right order of things". Of course he thinks that. Is the Pope Catholic? I only care if he plans to turn back the clock, take away our hard-won legal rights or hand us over to a shariah court to be stoned to death. He's entitled to his crusty old opinion and we should remind ourselves it's one shared with an ever decreasing number of Australians. My first question to him would be whether he'd be as willing to admit such a thing publicly if he were "a bit threatened" by Aboriginal people or the disabled or Sikhs—others who might be against "the right order of things" if you were looking from a particular narrow perspective.
In the meantime, a read through over ten pages of comments on Andrew Bolt's blog article will be something of an eye opener if you think we've won our skirmish in the culture wars. And take heart from the fact that one of Australia's most strident conservative voices is appalled that Abbott wasn't joking. You could, of course, wade into the debate, but they're murky waters swarming with bottom feeders.
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From fashion guru to award-winning film director
Written by Gavin McGuren
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 08:01
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Tom Ford, best known as a leading fashion designer famed for his luxury clothing ranges, accessories, fragrance and cosmetics, has managed to score a Bafta for his very first feature film. Well, sort of, the Bafta actually went to Colin Firth for his performance as, George, a gay professor in Ford's directorial debut, A Single Man.
Accepting the award this week, Firth said he had worked with many directors and Ford was "up there with the best of them". High praise from an actor's actor. Firth was also named best actor for the role at the venice Film Festival.
The film also stars multi-dimensional Julianne Moore, who previously turned in a magnificent performance as a 1950s housewife with a closeted gay husband (Dennis Quaid) in Todd Haynes visual feast, Far From Heaven. In A Single Man Moore plays the best friend of an academic struggling to find meaning in his life following the death of his male partner.
Newsweek's David Ansen said in his review of the film: A Single Man addresses mighty big questions—love, death and the difficulty and necessity of living in the Now." While some American conservatives dismissed A Single Man as "gay marriage propaganda", the film is actually based on a book by Christopher Isherwood, published in the early 1960s, demonstrating just how long the struggle for relationship recognition has been going on.
Join GAYinWA and Pride WA this Thursday evening at Cinema Paradiso for the premiere of this milestone movie. The screening will take place at Cinema Paradiso, 164 James Street Northbridge, at 6.30pm, Thursday 25th February. Tickets can be purchased on the door from GAYinWA and Pride for $15.50 (general admission) and $11 (students and concession card holders). Check out the trailer below.
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RTR Debate Preview: John Hyde v Patti Chong
Written by GAYinWA Events
Friday, 19 February 2010 02:15
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RTRFM hosted Patti Chong and John Hyde for a studio debate this morning, previewing Sunday's Summertime Debate at Luxe, and we have the MP3 for you to download now.
It looks like it is going to be a nice, warm sunny day, so what better way to end the weekend than by enjoying a delicious woodfired pizza, washed down with a couple of beautifully made cocktails, while watching a star-studded lineup debate one of our community's most contentious issues?
There are still tickets available to this boutique event and you can secure your presale tickets from Travel Forever, Barrack Street for $20. If you can't get into town, you can also phone 0428 425 023 with your credit card until midday Sunday and we will set aside tickets for you to collect at the door. Tickets will be $30 on the door.
Your money will be going to good causes. Funds raised will go towards the staging of this year's GlamFest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Pride Committee will be there raising funds with a raffle.
Download the MP3 here.
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Gay-Gag McGuire has never been funny
Written by Daniel Smith
Thursday, 18 February 2010 12:51
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Eddy McGuire's locker room banter with Mick Molloy on last night's Winter Olympics, in which the pair derided openly gay figure skater Johnny Weir, sparked a furore today, with many branding the comments as homophobic and others citing them as another example of why Eddie should not be hosting the Nine Network's games coverage.
Dealing with the latter first, anybody who has followed Eddie's career since his national debut as host of the Footy Show in the early 1990s knows that the bloke people call Eddie Everywhere is also Eddie Doesn't Quite Get There. His footy commentary was never as good as Bruce McAvaney's, his brief stint as Chief Executive Officer at Nine saw the station's ratings tumble and his ten-year Presidency of the Collingwood Football Club has still to yield a premiership. He was always going to disappoint as games compere because, despite his big smile and booming voice, he is pretty boring. His success at the Footy Show was predicated completely on the smutty (yet sometimes enjoyable) humour of Sam Newman and, tellingly, the Footy Show hasn't skipped a beat since McGuire's departure. Perhaps, recognising the secret of his success, McGuire sought to employ the same Footy Show formula in his games coverage. Or, perhaps, classless attempts at humour follow him in the same way that poorly behaved team-mates have an uncanny way of following Chris Judd (there, I've said it).
It is also possible that McGuire has sought to re-create the formula Roy (Slaven) and HG (Nelson) successfully employed in the nightly wrapup at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, The Dream. If that's the case, I can't fault him for trying - for me, Roy and HG were the highlight of the Sydney Olympics, narowly edging out the Cathy Freeman gold medal, the irritated face of John Howard as Sir William Dean fluffed the opening and Kylie and her giant thong. Seriosuly, though, Roy and HG were funny, taking the mickey out of anything and everything and, I am sure, they made the odd gay gag. The difference is, they knew how to do it without anybody taking offence from it.
You will have noticed that I have largely spared Mick Molloy in my rant. This is because Molloy, who I have always thought a rather funny bugger, is just trying to turn a buck and was probably under direction. Eddie is already a millionaire and you would expect his performance to match his paypacket.
As to whether their comments were homophobic or not, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they were clumsy and foolish and had the potential to leave young gay guys in their audience, who, quite possibly, were enjoying the figure skating, feeling a little less good about themselves. On the other hand, I wouldn't like to think that we gay men, as a cohort, lacked the ability to laugh at ourselves.
Whether the comments were homophobic or not, the truth is they were a sign of a compere struggling for content and returning to what he knows best. Somebody should throw him a lifeline.
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Movie Premiere: A Single Man
Written by GAYinWA Events
Monday, 15 February 2010 02:38
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Join GAYinWA Events and Pride WA for a joint fundraiser, as we screen the WA premiere of 'A Single Man'. The movie stars Colin Firth in his highly acclaimed role as a college professor grappling with the death of his male partner of 16 years in a car crash. The screening will take place at Cinema Paradiso, 164 James Street Northbridge, at 6.30pm, Thursday 25th February. Tickets can be purchased on the door from GAYinWA and Pride for $15.50 (general admission) and $11 (students and concession card holders). Read more about 'A Single Man' at Empire Online. Check out the trailer below.
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All I want for Valentine's Day is Equality
Written by Katharine Hawkins
Tuesday, 09 February 2010 03:39
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Break out the chocolates and rose bouquets – Valentines Day is upon us. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, movie-night or just staying in, it’s hard to ignore the flurry of hearts, flowers and appalling poetry coming our way through magazines, billboards and TV. It’s unfortunately one of those holidays that the media jumps on eagerly – bombarding us with endless images of happy, plastic perfect couples celebrating Valentines Day. Sadly, in mainstream media that means almost entirely heterosexual couples. Not for the first time, GLBTI people get left by the wayside and forgotten amid the flurry of rose petals and heart-shaped candies.
But it doesn’t necessarily have to be so.
It’s Valentines Day for same-sex and gender diverse couples as well, and we have as much right to publicly celebrate our loving relationships as anyone else.
2010 has been declared as the National Year of Action for Equal Marriage. Throughout the year, community groups and activists will be organising events to put pressure on the Federal and State Governments to remove the 2004 ban on same-sex marriage, and to invite the public to make a stand for equality.
This Valentines Day, Community organisers Families for Freedom will be hosting a special Action for Marriage Equality – beginning with a rally and march through the Perth CBD and ending with a community festival featuring local musicians, stand-up comedians as well as a couple of drag-artists. Everyone is welcome to attend, and encouraged to wear red, white and pink to show support for all loving relationships.
Join us at Noon on Sunday February 14th in Stirling Gardens, St. Georges Terrace for a Valentines Day that everyone can enjoy.
For more info, check out our official website, track us down on Facebook or email us on
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or you can check out our new YouTube Video below.
Whatever you do – Don’t be invisible on Valentines Day!
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With only two weeks until A Summertime Debate debuts outdoors at Luxe Bar, things are getting serious, with celebrity lawyer Patti Chong joining the fray. A Summertime Debate will help raise funds for Pride WA & the GlamFest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and will see Patti join Maylands MLA Lisa Baker, former Democrats Senator Brian Greig and Gay & Lesbian Equality Chair Rod Swift to argue against the assertion that, "we don't want marriage anyway."
Fighting in favour of the debate proposition (against marriage) will be Perth MLA John Hyde, Greens MLC Giz Watson, former Pride patron Aram Hosie and former GLCS Chair Mark Woodman.
The debate will be chaired (refereed) by former Pride Co-President and newly elected Bassendean Mayor John Gangell.
Tunes will be provided, both before and after the bout, by local dj legend, Dirty Den, and freshly made woodfired pizzas and beautifully made cocktails (and other icy cold beverages) will be available ringside throughout.
The debate will be staged outdoors in Luxe's beautiful bamBOO garden space, making it a truly new and unique event on our community's calendar. Tickets are limited, so get yours now from Travel Forever, Barrack Street or by phoning 0428 425 023 with your credit card. Tickets are $20 presale and $30 on the door.
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