Media Release

Wednesday December 15th 2021

 

 

Just.Equal Australia and PFLAG Australia have called on supporters of LGBTIQ+ equality to join the campaign against the Religious Discrimination Bill by sending submissions to the two current inquiries into the Bill.

 

The two groups have partnered to establish the Equality not Discrimination campaign website that allows opponents of the Religious Discrimination bill to send an email to both inquiries with the click of a button. 

 

Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

 

"The two current parliamentary inquiries need to know there is widespread opposition to the Religious Discrimination Bill."

 

"We urge everyone who supports the values of equality and inclusion to raise their voice against the Bill's violation of those values."

 

National PFLAG spokesperson, Shelley Argent, said,

 

"Please send an email to these two inquiries right now because they close very soon and we need Canberra to hear us."

 

"We fought hard for the equal rights of our LGBTIQ+ children and we are not going to let anyone take that away under cover of 'religious freedom'."

 

The Religious Discrimination Bill will allow derogatory and demeaning statements in the name of religion against LGBTIQ+ people and other who expeirence religious stigma including people with disability, women, and members of minority fatihs. It will also override existing protections for LGBTIQ+ people, unmarried partners and others in faith-based organisations.  

Mrs Argent said those people who are concerned about the Bill's impact on other groups, including people with disability, women and members of minority fatihs, are also welcome to send their views to the inquiries through the new website.

The new webform can be found here: https://equalitynotdiscrimination.org/take-action-now/

 

The Equality not Discrimination website also includes information about the Religious Discrimination Bill here.

 

Submissions to the inquiry conducted by the Joint Human Rights Committee close on Dec 21st. Submissions to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee inquiry close on Jan 7th.

 

A graphic for the submission campaign is attached. 

 

For a copy pf this statement on the web, click here