LGBT activists protest the passing of Religious Vilification Bill

By JUSTIN COOPER

Multiple LGBT action groups and supporters gathered in Sydney over the weekend, protesting the Religious Vilification Bill passed by the state government earlier in the week.

On Saturday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside of Sydney Town Hall criticising the Labor Government’s recent bill to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act 1997.

The amendment has been criticised in potentially exempting harmful rhetoric, especially towards the LGBT community, on the grounds of religious beliefs.

The protest, hosted by Community Action for Rainbow Rights (CARR) action group, were joined by supporters from unions and organisations marching across Sydney and speaking out against the bill being passed.

Community groups speak out

In an earlier statement, co-convener of CARR April Holcombe called out the bill in favouring support for religious groups during a poignant time for LGBT people.

“The NSW vilification bill is a signal of support for the religious right, at a time when LGBT+ rights and trans rights in particular are under serious attack,” says Holcombe.

Holcombe explains that the reform will provide businesses, schools and health care facilities to “discriminate against anyone” based on their own religious beliefs.

“The bigotry of the religious right is massively unpopular. Seventy four per cent of people across Australia oppose the existing right of religious institutions to discriminate against trans and gay students and staff,” she explains.

At the protest, Holcombe noted that the reform will counteract protections for LGBT people, in reference to two teachers, Karen Pac and Steph Lentz, who had been fired from their respective school’s because they were gay in 2021.

“The priorities of the Labour government are to give more broad and vague protection to corporations and to institutions and they have no commitment to overturning those exemptions,” continued Holcombe.

Protecting trans-youth

Speaking at the march, member from Parents for Transgender Youth Equity, Lannen Stapleton, discussed the bill’s effect to potentially increase limitations for gender affirming-care for trans-youth.

“So many adolescents and their supportive families are suffering because transphobic adults stand in the way…this means they might need more affirmation procedures in the future,” says Stapleton.

She continued to explain the difficulty of accessing gender-affirming care in NSW, noting “Sydney remains the only capital city in Australia without a multidisciplinary gender clinic for trans youth.”

“We should all be demanding fully funded, multidisciplinary trans clinics accessible for all youth across New South Wales alongside inclusive, age appropriate education in all schools,” she continued.

Religious Vilification Bill

NSW Greens LGBTI spokesperson, Amy Cohn, also spoke at the march and questioned the practice of the state government in providing these exemptions.

Cohn recalled the drafting of the bill as “cooked” due to how “broad definitions were,” being unable to determine what actions would be deemed lawful with such exemptions.

Additionally, Cohn pointed out comments made by the NSW Attorney General, saying “that he thought it was unlikely that a corporation would win a case for religious vilification.”

“Unlikely doesn’t mean impossible. Unlikely means it is possible that a corporation could claim protection under the Anti-Discrimination Act. It is totally unacceptable,” says Cohn.

Additional speakers included National Student Union and Australian Worker Union members, and a representative from the 78er’s organisation.

Hundreds of participants proceeded to march and chant throughout Pitt Street mall and across Hyde Park.

The Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Bill 2023 will make it “unlawful to, by a public act, incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, a person or group of persons, because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity.”

In late June, The Labor NSW Government introduced the amendment, supporting their changes and upholding their election promise for the bill to be introduced.

After recommencing debate in State Parliament earlier in the week, on Wednesday it was announced the bill had passed.

Following concern of the new bill and additional “holes” within the Anti-Discrimination Act, Cohn announced the the Labor Government has “promised” to send the act to the law reform commission.