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NSW GLRL article

Send an E-mail Email to: bob.debus@debus.minister.nsw.gov.au; epping@parliament.nsw.gov.au CC: glrl@glrl.org.au Subject: Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Homosexual Vilification Repeal) Bill 2005 Body (email text): Dear Mr Debus, / Dear Mr Tink, I am writing to you in regards to the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Homosexual Vilification Repeal) Bill 2005, recently introduced in the Legislative Council by Fred Nile MLC. The bill attempts to repeal the Homosexual Vilification provisions that were added to the Anti-Discrimination Act in 1993. Those provisions were first drafted by the Government as part of a strategy to reduce hate-based crimes against lesbians and gay men in NSW. The introduction of these provisions into legislation was seen as an important step in the elimination of homophobia and sexuality-based violence in NSW. Research shows that these provisions are needed just as much today as they were in 1993. According to the 2003 report, You Should Not Have to Hide to Be Safe, released by the NSW Attorney-General’s Department, 56% of lesbians and gay men had experienced homophobic abuse or violence in the previous 12 months. It is only through the continual operation of mechanisms such as anti-vilification legislation that we as a society can continue to fight such violence. I implore you and your party to ensure that Discrimination Amendment (Homosexual Vilification Repeal) Bill 2005 is strongly defeated. By doing so, you will be sending the important message that the NSW Parliament is committed to fighting vilification and other acts which perpetuate violence against sexual minorities in NSW. Yours Faithfully,

Send an E-mail

Email to:

bob.debus@debus.minister.nsw.gov.au; epping@parliament.nsw.gov.au

CC:

glrl@glrl.org.au

Subject: Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Homosexual Vilification Repeal) Bill 2005

Body (email text):

Dear Mr Debus, / Dear Mr Tink,

I am writing to you in regards to the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Homosexual Vilification Repeal) Bill 2005, recently introduced in the Legislative Council by Fred Nile MLC. The bill attempts to repeal the Homosexual Vilification provisions that were added to the Anti-Discrimination Act in 1993.

Those provisions were first drafted by the Government as part of a strategy to reduce hate-based crimes against lesbians and gay men in NSW. The introduction of these provisions into legislation was seen as an important step in the elimination of homophobia and sexuality-based violence in NSW.

Research shows that these provisions are needed just as much today as they were in 1993. According to the 2003 report, You Should Not Have to Hide to Be Safe, released by the NSW Attorney-General’s Department, 56% of lesbians and gay men had experienced homophobic abuse or violence in the previous 12 months. It is only through the continual operation of mechanisms such as anti-vilification legislation that we as a society can continue to fight such violence.

I implore you and your party to ensure that Discrimination Amendment (Homosexual Vilification Repeal) Bill 2005 is strongly defeated. By doing so, you will be sending the important message that the NSW Parliament is committed to fighting vilification and other acts which perpetuate violence against sexual minorities in NSW.

Yours Faithfully,