Australia’s “Homophobic Free” Zones May Backfire

Sydney, also known as Australia’s gay capital, felt the wrath of a rebel city councilor due to plans to create ‘homophobia-free zones’ in the heart of its bar and nightclub district.

Earlier this month, the city’s council voted 5 to 4 to designate parts of the city “homobia-free”. The parts they included are frequented by Syndney’s GLBT community. The measure was set as an attempt to deter violence, abuse and harassment towards homosexuals.

The plan, designed in cooperation with members of the GLBT community, encourages local businesses to use stickers and other signs to declare their support for the gay community. It also extends the council the right to revoke late-night business privileges for venues whose patrons commit homophobic attacks.

However, some rebel councilors believe the plan could backfire and lead to more attacks on homosexuals. “The young men who come in from outer suburbs to drink alcohol and assault gay people are not going to be deterred by a sticker in a window,” said counci lor Shayne Mallard.

“Because they already have homophobic and violent tendencies, it’s more likely to be a provocation,” he told The Australian newspaper.

“Lots of people in the gay and lesbian community fear it will provoke more violence… we’ve had enough of these PR stunts.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who backed the proposal, said while all areas of Sydney were technically homophobia-free zones, the new strategy recognised the importance and strength of the city’s gay, lesbian and bisexual community.

“If people get away with homophobic abuse, there is a strong risk that they move on to physical abuse and violence,” she said in a statement. “We must stop it before it gets to that stage.”

Rudd Forges Ahead with Aussie Equity Plan

The term “marital relationship” could remain in federal superannuation law as the Rudd Government looks to get Coalition support for the first of its same-sex equality bills before Parliament resumes later this month.

The compromise, unopposed by GLBT lobbyists, is one of a number of minor terminology changes that would allow the Coalition to save face with its conservative members, while keeping its principled support for removing same-sex discrimination.

The issue of interdependency and recognizing non-couple and carer relationships will also not further delay the equality bills, with consensus now that the issue is more appropriately dealt with by a separate House of Representatives committee inquiry.

But the way the Government wants to protect superannuation inheritance rights of children in same-sex families is a much larger concern for the Coalition and no easy solution has appeared.

Read more at starobserver.com.au.

Sydney Declares Oxford St as Homophobia-Free Zone

The City of Sydney has taken the unusual step of declaring Oxford Street a homophobia-free zone in a bid to tackle anti-gay violence.

The homophobia-free zone motion was put forward by Cr Phillip Black at a recent forum for the gay community, receiving support from other community groups along with the council’s endorsement.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said the declaration of the zone, coupled with the Oxford Street Safety Strategy which came into effect last year, would help Sydney take a more proactive approach towards protecting the minority group.

“Homophobic abuse is often a precursor to violence…While all areas of NSW are technically ‘homophobia-free zones’, this strategy recognises the importance and strength of the GLBT community in our City,” Cr Moore said.

Read the rest at governmentnews.com.au.

Gay Partnerships Exceed Aussie Expectations

The Civil Partnerships Act 2008 was passed by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly in May. The Act allowed gay couples to legally register their partnerships for the first time.  Since, there have been 23 registrations and two commitment ceremonies.

ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said that the numbers “exceeded all expectations”, which were expected to be around 15 per year.

Aussie Panties in a Wad Over Gay Dance

A GAY love sequence in children’s stage fantasy Cinderella on Ice has infuriated family groups and angered federal politicians.

The Russian-based Imperial Ice Stars show — featuring former Olympic and world champion skaters raised some eyebrows at its Arts Centre premiere on Tuesday night.

Dozens of children were among the audience at the ice spectacular, which plays in Melbourne until Sunday before touring the world for the next two years.

Gay lobbyists and a children’s advocate applauded the move by renowned artistic director Tony Mercer to include the dance by two gay lovers in a scene.

This reminds me of America’s reaction in 1957 when Ballet’s greatest choreographer, George Balanchine, placed the first African-American Premier Danseur, Arthur Mitchell, on stage in the Agon pas de deux with Alegra Kent. Audience members were outraged and protested Mitchell partnering a white woman. We’ve come a long way, but have a long way to go.

Read more about Cinderella on Ice at news.com.au, or read more about Arthur Mitchell at the-ballet.com.

Next Page »