LGBTI activists have slammed the federal Coalition government鈥檚 draft religious discrimination bill and vowed to step up protests.
Commenting on the draft that was released on August 29 , marriage equality campaigner Ali Hogg said: 鈥淔ar from the 鈥榗autious approach鈥 flagged earlier by the government, these bills entrench and extend existing rights to discriminate against the LGBTI+ community.鈥
Hogg, together with Safe Schools co-founder Roz Ward, has initiated .
鈥淲e encourage everyone who can to join us on Saturday to say that nobody should be given the right to discriminate, and that we will continue to fight against homophobia and transphobia in all forms,鈥 Hogg said.
While the bill states that 鈥渄iscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity continues to be regulated by the Sex Discrimination Act鈥, activists have pointed out this act already includes exemptions for religious bodies and educational establishments to 鈥渄iscriminate on the basis of certain attributes鈥.
Hogg said: 鈥淚t is unacceptable that it will restrict access to government-funded services for LGBTI+ people and women, including welfare and reproductive health services, by allowing 鈥榗onscientious objections鈥 by practitioners and institutions on religious grounds.鈥
Ward added that, under the proposed bill, 鈥渞eligious schools will retain the right to expel LGBTI+ students or refuse to employ LGBTI+ teachers.鈥
This is despite a 2018 YouGov Galaxy Poll that found about 80% of people oppose the so-called 鈥渇reedom鈥 of religious schools to exclude LGBTI students and staff.
The creation of a Freedom of Religion Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, along with rejecting calls from Labor and the community for an LGBTI+ Commissioner, is a further signal that the government is seeking to appease the religious right.
More than 20 religious bodies have been included in discussions, but there has been no formal consultation with LGBTI+ organisations on the bill to date.
[LGBTI organisations, activists and supporters are urged to join the rally outside the State Library of Victoria on August 31, 1pm.]