Media Release
Thursday November 14th 2019

LGBTIQ AUSTRALIANS EXPLAIN WHY SITUATION WORSE NOW THAN DURING POSTAL SURVEY
FED GOV RIGHTS ATTACK UNDERMINES MENTAL HEALTH GOALS

“It is an indictment on contemporary Australian politics that a significant part of the population feels public policy is motivated by revenge against them.” - Rodney Croome

LGBTIQ Australians and their allies feel the current religious discrimination and transgender debates are “payback” for marriage equality.

A survey by LGBTIQ advocacy group, just.equal, shows this is just one of the reasons LGBTIQ people feel under attack.

A survey of almost 4,500 LGBTIQ people and their allies conducted in September found over 80% currently feel worse than during the postal survey.

Now, just.equal has released the full report, including an analysis of the nearly 500 comments left by participants explaining why they feel negative.

As well as feeling the religious discrimination and transgender debates are retribution, participants said they feel relentlessly attacked and retraumatised by the current debates, with many claiming the religious discrimination debate is actually about establishing religious privilege not ending religious discrimination.

According to one participant, “The (Religious Discrimination) Bill is designed to protect those who don’t need it by those who aren’t being attacked.”

Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“The hundreds of comments made in response to our survey show exactly why LGBTIQ Australians and our allies feel worse now than during the postal survey.”

“We feel the current religious discrimination and transgender debates are about revenge for marriage equality, and are motivated by animus.”

“We feel relentlessly attacked and retraumatised by the current controversies, and are particularly concerned about the impact these controversies have on vulnerable parts of our community.”

“We are deeply suspicious of the push to outlaw religious discrimination, believing it is cover for giving religious organisations and doctrine special legal rights and privileges.”

“It is an indictment on contemporary Australian politics that a significant part of the population feels public policy is motivated by revenge against them.”


“The message to the Government is that its attack on the dignity, humanity and inclusion of LGBTIQ Australians is undermining its own stated aim of improving mental health and reducing suicide.”

“The message to Labor and other should-be allies is to speak up more because every day you are silent is another day LGBTIQ people feel alone and undefended.”

Many survey participants also expressed concern that the situation for LGBTIQ teachers and students is being made worse by the current debates, while LGBTIQ parents were concerned about their children being targets of continued prejudice.

The survey was developed in consultation with social science researcher, Dr Sharon Dane.

 
A copy of the syrvey findings, together with a downloadable copy of the full report, can be found here: https://www.equal.org.au/religious_freedom_debate

A photo of the analysis of the comments is attached and the main findings from the survey are included below.
 
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For a copy of the original media statement click here

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Dr Sharon Dane on 0403 895 268.

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Key findings of the just.equal survey

The religious freedom and discrimination debate is taking a heavy toll on LGBTIQ+ people, with more than 80% saying they feel worse now than during the 2017 marriage equality postal survey.
 
The stark figure is from a survey of almost 4,500 LGBTIQ+ Australians and their allies conducted by just.equal.
 
Other headline results include
 
70.9% of LGBTIQ+ people agree that the primary aim of religious freedom advocates is to take away the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
 
43.5% of LGBTIQ+ people agree Australia is not accepting, which is almost double the percentage (22.3%) who felt it was not accepting before marriage equality.
 
62.2% of LGBTIQ+ people feel vulnerable, 67.2% angry and 78.4% not respected.
 
97.9% of LGBTIQ+ people believe religious organisations like schools and hospitals should not be allowed to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, while 92% believe individuals should not be able to say whatever they want about LGBTIQ+ people in the name of religion
 
84.9% believe the media is biased against transgender people, 88% believe politicians are less interested in trans rights than they were in marriage equality, and 90% believe trans and gender diverse people are suffering as a result.
 
70.8% want to see much more LGBTIQ+ equality advocacy from moderate Liberals. 58.7% want much more from Labor and 32.9% want much more from the Greens.