Equality Australia Zoom meeting now

Invitation
Anna Brown – Equality Australia

10:18 (1 hour ago)





In recognition of your generous support and commitment to this community and its work, the Equality Australia team would be delighted if you’d join us for a conversation with Anna Brown and our Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference project lead, Ymania Brown - join us today!  

 

Anna and Ymania will reflect on the year that has been and look ahead to what’s planned for 2023 and the Human Rights Conference at Sydney WorldPride.  

We’d love to hear from you and answer any question you have about our work or the landscape of LGBTIQ+ rights in Australia. Please send them through in advance to Max.Pick@equalityaustralia.org.au or jump on the call and ask during the conversation. 

 

Please join us.  

When: 12:30pm – 1:00pm, Friday 16 December  

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84345603969 

  

We look forward to discussing what we can achieve together in 2023.  

Thank you for being such a vital part of the  Equality Australia community.  

 

Best wishes, 

 

Anna Brown

CEO, Equality Australia

With the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights conference just days away, LGBTIQ+ activists from across Asia and Pacific are arriving in Sydney, for the largest ever convergence of its kind.

Dear ...

Last week we wrapped the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference.

And what a ride it's been.

Our community knew that amidst the glitter and glam of pride celebrations, lay a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring about policy change that would make real differences in the lives of LGBTIQ+ people.

Over 1300 of us, from 55 countries participated in the consultation that shaped the conference program, ensuring it spoke to the priorities of LGBTIQ+ people across the globe, and placed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s voices at the centre.

Then in the lead up to the conference itself, thousands of us came together to support the Yes! What’s Next? campaign, calling on governments to act urgently to ensure all LGBTIQ+ people, in Australia and across Asia and the Pacific, can live free from discrimination and harm.





On day one, following a special First Nations ceremony and Welcome to Country, as political leaders took to the stage to address the conference, the results became clear.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that Australia will - for the first time - establish a committed long-term strategy and dedicated funding to help LGBTIQ+ people in our region address social stigma and legal discrimination.

NSW Minister for Tourism, Ben Franklin, reaffirmed his government's commitment to ending LGBTQA+ conversion practices and, for the first time, backed the campaign to count LGBTIQ+ people in the national census.

Federal Assistant Minister for Health, Ged Kearney MP announced a national health action plan for our communities, and a $26 million fund for health and medical research.

And ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed that his government will introduce legislation into parliament later this month to stop unnecessary medical treatments on intersex people without their consent. This will make the ACT the first jurisdiction in Australia to protect the rights of intersex people in medical settings.

It’s an incredible legacy. One that all of us can be proud of.

But as we heard throughout the conference, there remains so much more to do.

Here in Australia:

religious organisations can still discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, and conversion practices remain legal in most states and territories;

LGBTIQ+ are still not counted properly in the national census;

many trans and gender diverse people face still face cruel and unnecessary barriers to accessing ID documents that reflect their identity; and

people born with variations in sex characteristics still don’t have a say about medical procedures that happen to their bodies.

Around the globe, our communities still struggle to decriminalise their love and fight for their ability to live freedom to be themselves.

And the opponents of the equality are organising in new ways, doubling down on their attacks on trans and gender diverse people in an effort to wind back their hard-fought rights, and undermine the entire LGBTIQ+ movement.

That’s why we must remain proud, united, strong and determined, coming together in our thousands to be part of what’s next in the fight for LGBTIQ+ equality.

Will you add your name today?



Our movement has achieved incredible things since the trailblazing 78ers stepped out of the bars and onto the streets.

But there’s still so much to do before all of us, can live with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harm .

Thank you for being part of it.

Best wishes,



Anna Brown

CEO, Equality Australia