Tag Archives: Australia

SameSame reports: Attorney-General George Brandis and Minister of Justice Michael Keenan have confirmed Australia’s Federal Government has set aside a sum of $160 million for a plebiscite on same-sex marriage in tonight’s budget. “The Government has also made provision in the Contingency Reserve of $160 million for the plebiscite on same-sex marriage,” they confirm in a statement tonight. They’ve also …

The Age reports: Victims of some of the worst sexual abuse perpetrated by the Catholic Church are being denied access to a vast archive of clergy crime, as the church continues to ensure the offending is kept secret, despite the files being handed over to the royal commission. The nearly 2000 files – which include evidence about at least 63 …

Actress Julie Louis-Dreyfus yesterday tweeted that she is “dumbstruck” that Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has begun using her Veep character’s amusingly contradictory campaign slogan in media appearances. Junkee reports: Over the past couple of days, Turnbull has been channeling his predecessor and whipping out a bit of a three-word slogan. He first broke it in on 7.30 with Leigh …

We’ve heard this one before. Gay Star News reports: Family First Senator and marriage equality opponent Bob Day on Friday hit out at same-sex marriage, saying that most gay men in relationships are unfaithful to their partners. During the second reading of the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill, the Senator for South Australia started his speech calling it ‘shameful that activists …

Christian groups have won their battle against Australia’s anti-bullying “Safe Schools” program. Via the Guardian:  The Turnbull government has made dramatic changes to its Safe Schools anti-bullying program that have been described by the scheme’s opponents as “gutting” its content. The changes sharply reduce the lesson content, restrict it to secondary schools, shift the program to a government website, remove …

But he’ll totally party at Sydney’s gay mardi gras. From the Sydney Morning Herald: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has failed to endorse a pledge made by Attorney-General George Brandis to hold a same-sex marriage plebiscite, and change the Marriage Act, by the end of 2016. Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Senator Brandis said the government would hold a plebiscite …

From the Sydney Morning Herald: As 178 floats assembled near Hyde Park and excited revellers made the final touches to their bright, feathered and stiletto-ed outfits, Sydney was ready to party. Thanks to spectacular weather, the 38th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was especially dazzling, with glitter and sequins reflecting a radiant sun. Thousands lined the streets and …

But he’s still blocking a vote on same-sex marriage. Perth Now reports: It’S a parade of firsts at this year’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, despite it being the 38th edition of the iconic Sydney event. Malcolm Turnbull arrived to watch the parade, making it the first time a prime minister has attended the event. Mr Turnbull was mobbed as …

NYC-based DJ Corey Craig has sparked a t-shirt fashion at Sydney Mardi Gras in reaction to reality show cast member Kylie Jenner’s attempt to trademark her first name. Pop Republic reports: Kylie’s ridiculous battle with that Jenner girl has jumped up a notch this week, with Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras participants and global celebs going all out to …

Stuff reports: West Australian Senator Joe Bullock has announced he is retiring from politics, citing an inability to support the Labor Party’s position requiring MPs to vote in favour of same-sex marriage. Calling it “homosexual marriage,” the 61-year-old right-wing Senator told Parliament on Tuesday night that he was “morally obliged” to quit, just two years after entering Parliament because he …

The Age reports: Social media giant Facebook has waded into the divisive same-sex marriage debate in an unprecedented partnership with Australian marriage equality advocates. From Tuesday, Facebook will give its 14 million Australian users the option of adding an Australian Marriage Equality banner to their profile pictures, in what AME hopes will demonstrate “the mainstream support” for the reform. The …

From the Sydney Morning Herald: After a wait of nearly 40 years, “78er” Julie McCrossin​ says she was thrilled and emotional to learn that the NSW [New South Wales] government is to apologise for the discrimination and mistreatment that she and other gay rights activists suffered in 1978. The commentator and broadcaster said she understood that she and a group …

Remember the nutters from Australia’s “Stop Safe Schools” group whose protest backfired, resulting in a financial windfall for an LGBT prom? Now those haters are celebrating after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ordered an investigation into the entire program. From the Sydney Morning Herald: Turnbull has ordered a review into a controversial school education program aimed at promoting acceptance of gay, …

The Guardian reports: A conservative group’s attempt to sabotage a formal for young queer people has spectacularly backfired. The publicity the group drew to the event helped raise enough funds to cover its entire cost. The youth-led organisation Minus18 has held a Same Sex Gender Diverse formal for gender-diverse and same sex-attracted young people aged 21 and under in Melbourne …

Over 600K views at this writing. From the Sydney Morning Herald: Comedian Tim Minchin has taken aim at Cardinal George Pell in a provocative song in which he calls Australia’s highest-ranking cleric in the Catholic Church scum, a coward and a pompous buffoon. The musical attack aired on Network Ten’s The Project on Tuesday night and immediately attracted a swell …

Sky News reports: Lyle Shelton, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, says if Australia legalises same-sex marriage people could assume heterosexual men such as himself are gay. Speaking to Sky News on Sunday Mr Shelton says if there is a change to the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples it could no longer be assumed that ‘millions of …

Whoa. You’ll definitely want to watch this. Buzzfeed reports: Greens senator Robert Simms has ripped into former prime minister Tony Abbott for speaking to an ultra-conservative anti-gay group in the U.S. last week. “It advocates for the criminalisation of homosexuality and the abolition of anti-discrimination laws that protect the rights of LGBTI people,” he said. “It is a lunatic fringe …

As I reported earlier this week, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was flown to New York City yesterday by Alliance Defending Freedom. We now have the transcript of the speech he made to them at Manhattan’s Palace Hotel. An excerpt: For families, in Western countries at least, there’s the challenge of paying the rent or the mortgage; balancing family …

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: Parliamentary support for same-sex marriage reform appears to have reached critical mass and for the first time could pass in both houses, placing renewed pressure on Malcolm Turnbull to grant a free vote, rather than spend millions of dollars organising a non-binding public plebiscite. Mr. Turnbull has promised conservative colleagues he will honour the plebiscite …

The Guardian reports: Tony Abbott will address a far-right Christian group in the United States which lobbies against same-sex marriage and abortion. The former prime minister is travelling to the US this week to address the Alliance Defending Freedom, according to Fairfax Media. The group has been heavily involved in fighting the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the US and …