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17 July 2007 - Lobby campaign will empower rainbow families to speak for themselves |
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The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) is stepping up its campaign for same-sex family equality by launching a new strategy which empowers rainbow families to speak to politicians directly about their own lives. The campaign launch will begin with a Parenting Info Night for GLBT families and legal/welfare professionals on the progress of the campaign, and innovative ways GLBT families and their supporters can take easy action on the issue.
“We want to empower every member of our community to have their own voice. The night is about encouraging GLBT families to learn how to take action and speak about their families on their own terms. Our job is support families in that process,” said Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesperson, Ghassan Kassisieh. The Info Night will begin a series of initiatives to encourage and support rainbow families to take action. On the night, families will be given an easy-to-understand overview of their rights under the law. A former Convenor of the Lobby will give tips on how to positively argue a point in a meeting with an MP. The night will end with the option for families to arrange times to meet their local MP with the support of a Lobby representative who is able to directly answer questions about technical issues. “Some people are intimidated because they don’t feel they know the technical issues. We are saying, all you need to do is share your story and we can answer any tough technical questions your MP may have. But it will be your personal stories that will win this campaign”, Kassisieh added. “Politicians will not be able to ignore a child before them that is denied basic legal protection and entitlements because their parents are in a same-sex relationship.” Kids will be encouraged to fax through crayon-drawn pictures of their families to the NSW Attorney General and GLBT families will also have the option of further media training so that they can provide reporters and producers with positive images of same-sex families.The Parenting Campaign Information Night will be this Thursday 19 July, 7pm at Benledi House (186 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe).
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