This is also the first fully online Newsletter. Click on the links for details of briefed items. If you are having trouble viewing this email properly, you can view the Newsletter on the Lobby's website by clicking here.

If you are reading this in paper format, you can access most of the 'click here' information by accessing our website www.glrl.org.au

And What a Year it Was!

Casting Call.. Mardi Gras Parade Entry 2004! Mardi Gras 2004 - GLRL Events Calendar

Federal election year 2004 The Marriage Debate

New GLRL Working Groups Team Feature: GLRL Website Team

Community Noticeboard Name this Newsletter! (And win a dinner for two at beautiful Pink Peppercorn Laotian restaurant in Darlinghurst) ________________________________________________________________________________

This slogan, part of our "NSW - The Last State" campaign, along with our questionnaire response scorecards and "Vote 1 Equality" tattoos at Mardi Gras Fair Day, highlighted the archaic position of NSW legislation with regard to our families, our relationships, institutions allowed exemption from ant

Our message on the Age of Consent, supported by months (indeed, years) of lobbying politicians and policy makers, finally hit home soon after the election. A majority of Parliamentarians, including many from Opposition ranks, passed the Government’s Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act into law in

This successful outcome of the Age of Consent campaign after a number of previous reform attempts was a testament to the work of Lobby volunteers past and present, the ongoing financial support of our members and sponsors, and the efforts of supporters of equality from every political persuasion in

And ... in this Federal Election Year... a swamp of federal-based discrimination.

In June 2003 GLRL was excited to release And then the Brides Changed Nappies, our report on law reform proposals to substantially remove discrimination against lesbian and gay parents and their children. (The report was made possible by a Grant from the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW). Based on c

June also saw GLRL team up with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Pride and other community organisations to celebrate a number of milestones in Pride Week. 2003 was the 30th anniversary of Pride Week, held in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. It also marked 15 years of GLRL, 25 years of Mardi Gras, a

We’ll also be hosting “Launched” the Post-Launch Party at Stonewall on Friday 6 February 2004 from 10pm.

Look out for these events in the Mardi Gras Festival Guide & note them in your diary!

And of course, for lovers of harbourside glamour, our sponsor, the fabulous Azure Party will again be gracing the Botanic Gardens on Sunday 29 February. Check out details at www.azureparty.com!

Want to participate? Send an email to markb@glrl.org.au with the details listed in italics below. Please submit a separate email for each person.

In our Annual Report, the Co-Convenors and other Committee speakers pointed to the breadth of activities undertaken by the Lobby in 2002-3.

This year’s Award winners were Kathy Sant (Hall of Fame), Jenny Mann (Outstanding Volunteer), Anthony Hillis (Outstanding Volunteer), Jan Burnswoods MLC (Outstanding Supporter) and Russell Turner MLA (Outstanding Supporter).

The Lobby is gearing up for the federal election expected this year. During this lead up we will be working with rights groups throughout the country to secure promises from the major political parties on issues of importance to gay men and lesbians. To follow or support the federal election campaig

However GLRL cautioned against automatically jumping onto the marriage bandwagon. Reforms have been achieved in NSW and other states through gradually gaining de facto status for our relationships. The Lobby’s concern is that by pushing for what is largely seen as the religious or symbolic stamp of

New volunteers to these groups or just to help out from time to time are always welcome. Let us know if you're interested in getting involved. Click here to volunteer.

In the later half of 2003, the call went out to find volunteers to fill the large shoes left by the departure of Luca Balboni and Shane Garland. Luca and Shane dedicated an enormous amount of their talent, time and effort to design and create the Lobby’s impressive website (www.glrl.org.au).

The website is currently being updated and is expected to be up to date early in 2004. The new team consists of Justin Scowen, Saxifrage Alexandr, Nimrod Weiner and Grant Dollin. The team is very open and approachable and we invite comment from the Lobby membership via webmaster@glrl.org.au.

Also, if you have artistic web design experience and would like to volunteer, we'd love to hear from you! Please send an email to volunteers@glrl.org.au.

Our final report on parenting law reform is out: And then the Brides Changed Nappies. The report is based on community consultations with parents in Sydney, Newcastle and Lismore through late 2002 and early 2003. The report recommends three major changes:

Copies the final Nappies report can be downloaded from www.glrl.org.au. Thanks to everyone who was a part of it.

In response to this, the GLRL went into top gear. We produced a 12 page glossy colour booklet, “The Need for an Equal Age of Consent in NSW” (click here to download in PDF format), which was sent to every Member of Parliament. It was hoped that the booklet would educate Members of Parliament about t

So give it a go. Enter as many times as you like. Just send you entry/s, along with your email, phone or postal contact information to Newsletter Competition, GLRL, PO Box 9 Darlinghurst NSW 1300, or email the above details to volunteers@glrl.org.au with “Newsletter Competition” in the Subject headi

This electronic Newsletter is for members of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby of New South Wales. If you are not a member of GLRL, we welcome you to join. (Click here or visit our website: www.glrl.org.au) If you are not the intended recipient please advise us. Contents of this Newsletter may be cop