I believe that discrimination against support groups for LGBT citizens is a Public Health issue and that we need action on the following:
I complained about the behaviour of the Lord Mayor of Parramatta in ordering the removal of a sign promoting support services for gay, lesbian & transgender citizens and youth at the Rediscover the River Festival on 17th January 2013.
The sign from the Twenty10 Organisation was not offensive in the eyes of the vast majority of people who saw it, on report of local individuals (not me, but relatives in Parramatta). My attention was drawn to the matter by my trans-gender cousin (F to M), on Facebook, where a good deal of anger has been generated.
Banning this sign is not in agreement with national or state government policies and I doubt it is congruent with their own council policies. I noted that the words "gay", "lesbian" and "homosexual" do not appear on the entire council website, although they do include a sexual health clinic in their community services links:
Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic Phone: 02 9843 3124 Fax: 02 9893 7103 Jeffery House, Level 1, 162 Marsden St, Parramatta 2150
The council states in their "Year in Review" publication that they are against discrimination, inlcuding that against new and emerging groups:
Some of Council’s services, such as running libraries and
childcare centres and collecting waste and recycling,
are easy to see. Behind the scenes, Council continues to
look after members of the community who are less able
to look after themselves because of age, disability or
discrimination, including new and emerging communities.
We lobby other tiers of government on key issues like
transport and housing.
NSW state law says it is against the law to vilify or discriminate against people who are homosexual nor their relatives; not even against people you think are in a sexuality-associated social group. Is somebody going to report this highly influential Lord Mayor? Come on somebody!
The Australian Government in line with the Human Rights Commission also has anti-discrimination laws that can be enforced in situations resembling the Parramatta case.
