LGBT Rights: Sydney Wears it with Pride

Mardi Gras 2010 Theme

March in Australia is famous for the city’s most fabulous festival of the year: LGBT Mardi Gras. Originating 25 years ago as a protest march, Mardi Gras has become a week-long celebration of gay culture and rights. This year’s Mardi Gras parade was broadcasted throughout Australia on Arena Network, a national cable TV station, and thousands of people flocked to Oxford Street in Sydney to see intricate floats, costumes, and around 10,ooo participants marching to support LGBT rights in Australia.

This year, there was plenty of buzz about the recent changes made by the Rudd government for same sex couples. Australia’s changes in LGBT rights have been much more slow-going than in America: the Australian Medical Association had “homosexuality” in its list of disorders until 1984, and bans on gay male conduct were still active in at least one state until 1997. Yet, since Rudd took office in 2007, there have been large strides in changing laws to give same-sex couples the same rights as hetero couples.

On July 1st of last year, the government passed reforms which gave same sex couples the same level of recognition in federal legislation in tax, health, superannuation (Australian Social Security), and many other areas. Here is a small list of the 85 reforms, some of which aren’t even allowed in the U.S.:

  • If you are a member of the Australian Defence Force (Australian Army), your same-sex partner may now be recognized by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Defence Department.
  • Extended family members of both parents are now legally recognized as family members of your children.
  • You may take carer’s leave (sick leave) if your de facto partner or a member of their immediate family is suffering from a personal illness, injury or unexpected emergency.
  • Most lesbian moms and some gay dads, including step parents, now have the same Federal legal recognition as different-sex parents or step-parents.
  • If a partner dies, the surviving partner may now be able to access bereavement (grief) assistance.
  • Same-sex de facto couples with a retirement savings account now have the same entitlements as straight de facto couples.
  • If you have been with your de facto partner in Australia for at least two years you may apply for a permanent visa.
Wear it with Pride Ad Campaign

In celebration of these reforms, the government also funded a $350,000 AUD (about $320,ooo USD) campaign to educate the LGBT population on these new reforms. The result is the Wear it With Pride Campaign, which uses clever artist-designed t-shirts, famous speakers, and real-life stories to explain the way that the new laws impact the community. There is also a special online survey, which allows couples to articulate their reactions. “We want to better understand how LGBT people are responding to the legislative reforms,” National LGBT Health Alliance Executive director Gabi Rosenstreich said in a press release. “We want to know their thoughts and feelings about the changes as well as how, when and where we can provide them with useful information.”

These artist-designed t-shirts are aimed to spark conversation about the new laws, and help LGBT couples better understand the benefits that they can receive. Australian stars, including American notables Jess and Lisa Origliasso from The Veronicas, are speaking out to promote the campaign and celebrate the new laws in place. “I’d say almost everyone knows or comes into contact with someone who is gay, whether it is your bartender, hairdresser, lawyer, cousin, sister, family member, train driver, doctor… If it’s O.K. for them to cut your hair, drive your train, be your doctor, it should of course be O.K. for them to have a loving relationship with equal rights,” Australian MTV Personality Ruby Rose wrote in her public comments about the campaign.

Ruby Rose's Ad Campaign for Wear it With Pride

The steps made in Australia also mirror the dreams in the American campaign for LGBT rights, and many of the new reforms give benefits to Australian same-sex couples that aren’t offered to Americans. For example, the American military still clings to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” while the Australian military is now offering benefits to couples. Australian same-sex partners are given recognition in hospitals, so partners can stay by the bedside during illness. These small changes can have a monumental impact, and when watching them in action it’s clear that these changes are also sorely needed in the U.S.

There are still miles to go in the Australian campaign for LGBT rights: there still isn’t a national partner registry, so still takes lots of documentation to qualify for benefits in most states. And, of course, gay marriage is still illegal in Australia and like in the American LGBT community, the desire for full equality is still strong. Yet, many are still ready to Wear it With Pride. “[The reforms] result from years of tireless lobbying and protesting by members and supporters of LGBT community. And though our journey is not over yet, these reforms deserve to be celebrated by everyone – straight, lesbian, gay, bi and trans,” Rosenstreich said.

For more information on the reforms and t-shirts, visit www.wearitwithpride.com.au

About Lauren Hockenson

Lauren Hockenson (CAS/COM '11) is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Quad.

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