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The RIGHTS STUFF

THE RIGHTS STUFF GLRL Newsletter Spring 2004 |

THE RIGHTS STUFF GLRL Newsletter Spring 2004

Greetings Fellow Members!

It’s Time for a Queer Political Makeover!

After a prolonged pseudo-campaign, the Federal Election campaign is finally under way for real.

Some of the most damaging attacks on our community in recent history have ensued from John Howard’s Coalition government. And, while promising comprehensive post-election reforms to end discrimination, Mark Latham’s Australian Labor Party recently caved in to pressure from fundamentalists to support the government’s discriminatory Marriage Amendment Act.

There is speculation about what these events may mean for the vote in electorates with high lesbian and gay populations, including the impact on levels of support for the Greens and the Australian Democrats, who have long supported reforms to remove discriminatory laws.

In this issue, we bring you up to date with the GLRL’s efforts to survey these four main parties and find out where they stand on issues of importance to gay men and lesbians.

We provide a summary of the federal government’s recent (half-hearted, but long overdue) changes to superannuation laws affecting our community. We report on the recent event at Parliament House to commemorate the 20th anniversary of decriminalisation of male homosexual sex in New South Wales. And we cast a look back at our “Family Values” Protest Rally against the Howard government’s homophobia, the GLRL’s Pride Week 2004 Picnic with Rainbow Babies and Kids. We also look forward to some upcoming events.

Please click on the links below for details of briefed items.

Note: In order to direct our limited budget as much as possible to lobbying purposes, The Rights Stuff is sent in electronic form only, unless you request otherwise. To request a paper newsletter in future please send an email to glrl@glrl.org.au with “Paper Newsletter” in the Subject window OR write to GLRL PO Box 9 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 OR tick the “Paper Newsletter” request box when you renew your membership this year.

In this issue.

It’s Time to Give Parliament a Queer Political Makeover! The Marriage Amendment Act – Fear and Loathing in Canberra Family Values Protest Rally Twenty Years On – The Anniversary of Decriminalisation New Superannuation Changes – How Fair are They? Pride Week 2004 – Picnic with Rainbow Babies Mardi Gras 2005 - Parade Entry Design Competition Gay and Lesbian History Conference (1 & 2 October)