NSW GLRL Archive & Advocacy
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has stood at the forefront of advocacy, legal reform, and social justice across New South Wales since 1988. Our active campaigns and historical archive document vital struggles and milestone achievements in anti-discrimination protections, relationship recognition, adoption equality, hate crime reporting, and the expungement of historical homosexual convictions.
Through evidence-based policy submissions, direct parliamentary lobbying, public awareness initiatives, and grassroots community organizing, GLRL champions systemic equality for lesbians, gay men, and diverse rainbow families throughout the state. We continue to monitor state and federal legislation, publish timely press statements, and empower community members to participate directly in democratic decision-making.
A comparative overview of ongoing legislative reform campaigns and achieved benchmarks led by the NSW GLRL.
| Focus Area | Legislative Objective | Key Status | Impact & Reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Discrimination Reform | Closing religious exemptions in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 | Active Lobbying | Statewide workplace and institutional protection |
| Historical Convictions | Expungement scheme for historical consensual gay offences | Passed into Law | Restoring justice and erasing historical criminal records |
| Adoption & Parenting | Equal adoption rights and birth certificate recognition for same-sex parents | Passed into Law | Legal certainty and equality for rainbow families |
| Safe Schools & Education | Targeted anti-bullying programs and LGBTI student protection policies | Ongoing Advocacy | Safe, inclusive educational environments statewide |
However, it has been the longstanding position of the NSWGLRL that there should be no religious exemptions in the treatment of LGBTI persons where a service is provided by, or on behalf of, the Australian Government.
The proposed Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 appears to offer current marriage celebrants a legal protection to refuse to marry gay and lesbian couples based solely on a personal religious belief [see: Section 39 DD (2), and Section 47 A]. This new exemption would also apply to straight couples.
NSWGLRL does not support this new encroachment of personal religious beliefs into the provision of services supplied by Government-authorised celebrants who are not Ministers of Religion.
Despite this imperfection the Bill has every chance of succeeding in Parliament if there is a conscience vote – and there should be no excuse for further delay or rejection of this Bill by the current Parliament.
The recent Senate Committee inquiry into marriage equality rose above party politics and showed that political parties can work together to deliver the will of the Australian people.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSWGLRL) is the leading organisation for lesbian and gay rights in NSW. Established in 1988, our mission is to achieve substantive legislative and social equality for lesbians, gay men and their families.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSWGLRL) welcomes this Bill and its attempt to find a compromise proposal the current Parliament can support. This reform to the Marriage Act is long overdue and much too important to be delayed any longer.
Earlier this week, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, as well as one of its Committee of Management members, Shannon Molloy, was on the receiving end of behaviour that was completely unacceptable.
While there are many disparateissues to canvass in the case for marriage equality, we particularly encourageindividuals to consider making the following points in their submission.
Last night, a community update meeting was held at ACON to present the LGBTQI policing advocacy paper. This paper is now available to download.
The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW) has expressed disappointment over today’s defeat of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2013 in the Legislative Council.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) is calling on the community to galvanise behind its vision of ‘No Homophobia, No Exceptions,’ in the run-up to Mardi Gras 2014.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has today called on the State government to expunge the convictions of people convicted for homosexual sexual intercourse prior to 1984.
