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Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby Inc. (NSW)

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About the Lobby

• Home
• History of the Lobby
• Becoming a Member
• Get Involved
• Code Of Conduct & Grievance Procedures
• Join the mailing list here!

Welcome to the Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby -NSW.

The latest Issues: The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and Anti-Violence Project invite you to a fundraiser performance of Company B Belvoir's production of The Laramie Project By Moisés Kaufman And members of the Tectonic Theater Project- Directed by Kate Gaul With Josef Ber, Mitchell Butel, Lynette Curran, Russell Dykstra, Eliza Logan, Tara Morice, Anthony Phelan, Alicia Talbot Designer Brian Thomson Lighting Design Rory Dempster Costume Design Jennifer Irwin Composer/Sound Design Garth Paine In 1998 Matthew Shepard lost his life after being brutally bashed and left tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyoming. He was the victim of a gay bashing - something others have come to call a 'hate crime'. Months after the American media bore witness to this event, Moisés Kaufman and the New York-based Tectonic Theater Project travelled to Laramie to piece together a story from this community. The story became The Laramie Project and the production is being presented for the first time outside the United States at Belvoir St Theatre in March. It will be directed by Kate Gaul. Rather than being a dramatisation of events, The Laramie Project is the very human story of choices, prejudice, hatred and the unpeeling of a town - all in the actual words of the people of Laramie. "The Laramie Project rips away our romantic notions of America's wild west," says Kate Gaul, who travelled to Laramie to research the project. "The brutal beauty of the Wyoming landscape is the backgound to a theatrical event that examines our ability as humans to be incredibly and senselessly violent but also our capacity for compassion." The Laramie Project proves that through a single, appalling crime not only can justice be found but also Matthew Shepard's most enduring legacy - the redemptive power of love. FUNDRAISER DETAILS Sunday 11 March at 5pm Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills All tickets $35 To book your seats please call the Belvoir St Theatre Box Office on (02) 9699 3444 Acts of Passion: legal information for lesbians and gay men in NSW This new legal education campaign includes a handbook on the rights of lesbians and gay men in most areas of state and federal law. Acts of Passion is a joint project of the Lobby, Young Lawyers NSW, Inner City Legal Centre, the AIDS Council of NSW and the NSW Attorney-General's Department. For more information, visit the Acts of Passion website at www.actsofpassion.nsw.gov.au. MAD, BAD & DANGEROUS TO KNOW: LESBIAN & GAY SYDNEY 1901-2001 A Centenary of Federation Community History Exhibition Fountain Court, State Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney 9am-4.30 pm Monday - Friday, 26 February - 9 March 2001 **audio** Presented by the NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby Providing a lesbian and gay perspective on the Centenary of Federation celebrations, this exhibition will use text and images to tell the story of the development of Sydney's lesbian and gay subcultures in the 20th century. From the legal persecution, drag balls and smoke-filled nightclubs of the bohemian underworld to the feminism, activism and protest that led to the passage of same-sex relationships legislation through the New South Wales Parliament in 1999. **Click here for the streaming audio** Inner City Legal Centre/Lesbian and Gay Legal Advice Service The Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) is a Community Legal Centre situated in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, in Sydney. The ICLC provides free legal advice, referrals and assistance for people who live and/or work in the inner city area of Sydney and surrounding areas. The Centre also participates in community legal education and law reform activities. ICLC also auspices the Lesbian and Gay Legal Advice Service (LGLAS), a project of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. The LGLAS provides a face to face and telephone legal advice service to lesbians, gay men and transgender people throughout NSW on a wide range of legal matters. The LGLAS operates out of the ICLC every Wednesday evening between 6 and 8 pm with the assistance of volunteer lawyers. All consultations with a lawyer at ICLC or with the LGLAS are by appointment only. Appointments can be made by telephoning 9332 1966 or by dropping into the Centre. The Centre's address is Room 31-32, 2nd Floor, 94 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. The Centre's hours are: Monday to Thursday, 10am to 6pm Friday, 10am to 5pm The Centre is closed between 1pm and 2pm each day. Fertility Services In some states of Australia, notably Victoria and Western Australia, lesbians and single heterosexual women do not have access to fertility services because of state laws. In NSW, there is not law preventing women accessing fertility services although there have been some complaints of unequal treatment. A recent Federal court case has confirmed that discriminatory state laws are contrary to the Federal Sex Discrimination Act. The Prime Minister has indicated the Government will act to change the Act to block access for lesbians and single women. You can be part of this fight. Click here to find out more about how you can help. GLRL has a campaigns working group which is looking at all aspects of parenting issues. Click here to download a fact sheet about lesbian and gay parenting. Superannuation: The Struggle Continues The Senate Select Committee on Superannuation and Financial Services has released its report into Anthony Albanese's private member's bill, the Superannuation (Entitlements of same sex couples) Bill 2000, which seeks to amend the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to remove discrimination against same sex couples in respect of superannuation benefits. The majority of the committee, made up of the Labor and Democrat Senators, supported the Bill and it looks certain to pass through the Senate. But despite the completely unprecedented number of submissions in favour of the Bill (over 1200) and the underwhelming opposition to it (only 5 submissions opposed it), the Government Senators on the Committee wrote a minority report opposing the Bill. This means we face a huge struggle to get the Bill through the Lower House so it can become law. Senator John Watson, the Liberal Chair of the Committee conceded "there was considerable support for the objectives of the Bill, coupled with significant concern about discrimination against same sex couples" and has also said publicly that there was little interest in opposing the Bill. Despite this the minority Government report quotes heavily from submissions received from extreme right-wing groups such as the Festival of Light (SA) and the Australian Family Association. These organisations had "good sociological, pyschological and health reasons for governments to continue to discriminate in favour of those men and women who take the trouble to make a lasting, legally binding commitment to each other and their children through marriage", the Government's report said. If introduced, the bill would continue "the gradual devaluation of the traditional family structure in the eyes of the law and society in general". Submissions in favour included major superannuation industry groups and experts. No expert or industry group opposed it. The Senate report is available on-line at: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/superfinan_ctte/samesex/Contents.htm Is The Pink Ceiling Too Low? Collaborative research explored workplace experiences of 900 gay men, lesbians and transgender people. Research found that harassment and/or prejudicial treatment on the basis of homosexuality or gender identity occurred to 59% of participants experiencing this in their current or previous workplace. Homophobic harassment and prejudicial treatment spanned all occupations. Full report available (Adobe Acrobat 4 Format - See Below). Click here for more Information ... Relationships recognised in NSW. On 1 June 1999, relationships law reform finally become a reality in NSW when the Property (Relationships) Legislation Amendment Bill 1999 passed through the Lower House to become an Act of Parliament. With it NSW took the biggest step towards equality for gay men and lesbians for at least 15 years, becoming the first State in Australia to confer broad recognition on same sex couples, joining only a mere handful of places in the world, and putting us at the forefront of the fight for equality. Click here for more Information ... Federal Anti-Discrimination Legislation In 1995 the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby prepared a discussion paper to canvass some of the issues relating to a proposed Commonwealth Act to outlaw discrimination against lesbians, gay men and transgender persons. This discussion was prompted by a number of forums convened by the Australian Democrats to discuss options for legislative initiatives. Legislation is needed in order to cover Federal issues, rectify gaps in State legislation and ensure that State governments do not themselves discriminate. Thank you for Your Support! This work would not be possible without ongoing support of the community, hard working volunteers and without the very important financial support of Nite Groove (Frisky) and First Fleet Productions (The Harbour Party).The paper deals with the need for such legislation; the power of the Commonwealth to pass legislation dealing with sexuality related discrimination and the form that any legislation should take. To view the material on this web site it is recommended that you obtain and use Internet Explorer® and Adobe™ Acrobat® Version 4. Once you have done this, set your computer to 800 x 600 and at least 256 colours or more (if possible).

The latest Issues:

The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and Anti-Violence Project invite you to a fundraiser performance of Company B Belvoir's production of

The Laramie Project By Moisés Kaufman

And members of the Tectonic Theater Project- Directed by Kate Gaul

With Josef Ber, Mitchell Butel, Lynette Curran, Russell Dykstra, Eliza Logan, Tara Morice, Anthony Phelan, Alicia Talbot

Designer Brian Thomson Lighting Design Rory Dempster Costume Design Jennifer Irwin Composer/Sound Design Garth Paine

In 1998 Matthew Shepard lost his life after being brutally bashed and left tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyoming. He was the victim of a gay bashing - something others have come to call a 'hate crime'. Months after the American media bore witness to this event, Moisés Kaufman and the New York-based Tectonic Theater Project travelled to Laramie to piece together a story from this community.

The story became The Laramie Project and the production is being presented for the first time outside the United States at Belvoir St Theatre in March. It will be directed by Kate Gaul.

Rather than being a dramatisation of events, The Laramie Project is the very human story of choices, prejudice, hatred and the unpeeling of a town - all in the actual words of the people of Laramie.

"The Laramie Project rips away our romantic notions of America's wild west," says Kate Gaul, who travelled to Laramie to research the project. "The brutal beauty of the Wyoming landscape is the backgound to a theatrical event that examines our ability as humans to be incredibly and senselessly violent but also our capacity for compassion."

The Laramie Project proves that through a single, appalling crime not only can justice be found but also Matthew Shepard's most enduring legacy - the redemptive power of love.

FUNDRAISER DETAILS

Sunday 11 March at 5pm Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills All tickets $35 To book your seats please call the Belvoir St Theatre Box Office on (02) 9699 3444

Acts of Passion: legal information for lesbians and gay men in NSW

This new legal education campaign includes a handbook on the rights of lesbians and gay men in most areas of state and federal law.

Acts of Passion is a joint project of the Lobby, Young Lawyers NSW, Inner City Legal Centre, the AIDS Council of NSW and the NSW Attorney-General's Department.

For more information, visit the Acts of Passion website at www.actsofpassion.nsw.gov.au.

MAD, BAD & DANGEROUS TO KNOW: LESBIAN & GAY SYDNEY 1901-2001

A Centenary of Federation Community History Exhibition Fountain Court, State Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney 9am-4.30 pm Monday - Friday, 26 February - 9 March 2001 **audio**

Presented by the NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby

Providing a lesbian and gay perspective on the Centenary of Federation celebrations, this exhibition will use text and images to tell the story of the development of Sydney's lesbian and gay subcultures in the 20th century. From the legal persecution, drag balls and smoke-filled nightclubs of the bohemian underworld to the feminism, activism and protest that led to the passage of same-sex relationships legislation through the New South Wales Parliament in 1999.

**Click here for the streaming audio**

Inner City Legal Centre/Lesbian and Gay Legal Advice Service

The Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) is a Community Legal Centre situated in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, in Sydney. The ICLC provides free legal advice, referrals and assistance for people who live and/or work in the inner city area of Sydney and surrounding areas. The Centre also participates in community legal education and law reform activities.

ICLC also auspices the Lesbian and Gay Legal Advice Service (LGLAS), a project of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. The LGLAS provides a face to face and telephone legal advice service to lesbians, gay men and transgender people throughout NSW on a wide range of legal matters. The LGLAS operates out of the ICLC every Wednesday evening between 6 and 8 pm with the assistance of volunteer lawyers.

All consultations with a lawyer at ICLC or with the LGLAS are by appointment only. Appointments can be made by telephoning 9332 1966 or by dropping into the Centre.

The Centre's address is Room 31-32, 2nd Floor, 94 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.

The Centre's hours are: Monday to Thursday, 10am to 6pm Friday, 10am to 5pm

The Centre is closed between 1pm and 2pm each day.

Fertility Services

In some states of Australia, notably Victoria and Western Australia, lesbians and single heterosexual women do not have access to fertility services because of state laws. In NSW, there is not law preventing women accessing fertility services although there have been some complaints of unequal treatment.

A recent Federal court case has confirmed that discriminatory state laws are contrary to the Federal Sex Discrimination Act. The Prime Minister has indicated the Government will act to change the Act to block access for lesbians and single women.

You can be part of this fight. Click here to find out more about how you can help.

GLRL has a campaigns working group which is looking at all aspects of parenting issues. Click here to download a fact sheet about lesbian and gay parenting.

Superannuation: The Struggle Continues

The Senate Select Committee on Superannuation and Financial Services has released its report into Anthony Albanese's private member's bill, the Superannuation (Entitlements of same sex couples) Bill 2000, which seeks to amend the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to remove discrimination against same sex couples in respect of superannuation benefits.

The majority of the committee, made up of the Labor and Democrat Senators, supported the Bill and it looks certain to pass through the Senate.

But despite the completely unprecedented number of submissions in favour of the Bill (over 1200) and the underwhelming opposition to it (only 5 submissions opposed it), the Government Senators on the Committee wrote a minority report opposing the Bill. This means we face a huge struggle to get the Bill through the Lower House so it can become law.

Senator John Watson, the Liberal Chair of the Committee conceded "there was considerable support for the objectives of the Bill, coupled with significant concern about discrimination against same sex couples" and has also said publicly that there was little interest in opposing the Bill.

Despite this the minority Government report quotes heavily from submissions received from extreme right-wing groups such as the Festival of Light (SA) and the Australian Family Association. These organisations had "good sociological, pyschological and health reasons for governments to continue to discriminate in favour of those men and women who take the trouble to make a lasting, legally binding commitment to each other and their children through marriage", the Government's report said. If introduced, the bill would continue "the gradual devaluation of the traditional family structure in the eyes of the law and society in general".

Submissions in favour included major superannuation industry groups and experts. No expert or industry group opposed it.

The Senate report is available on-line at: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/superfinan_ctte/samesex/Contents.htm

Is The Pink Ceiling Too Low?

Collaborative research explored workplace experiences of 900 gay men, lesbians and transgender people. Research found that harassment and/or prejudicial treatment on the basis of homosexuality or gender identity occurred to 59% of participants experiencing this in their current or previous workplace. Homophobic harassment and prejudicial treatment spanned all occupations. Full report available (Adobe Acrobat 4 Format - See Below).