The Informer

On this episode of The Informer we look at conversion therapy, as we discuss it personally and politically after the news broke on the weekend that a branch of the Victorian Liberal Party had drafted a motion that called for state legislation to allow health practitioners “to offer counselling out of same sex attraction or gender transitioning to patients who request it”, leaving many concerned that Gay Conversion therapy would be legalized.

It is important to note that early today, Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger intervened to stop the motion from being debated at the council meeting, and tonight we will speak to Liberal MP Warren Entsch, Karen from Parents of Gender Diverse Children and Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University Timothy Jones as we discuss Conversion Therapy in Australia.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 and was hosted by Dylan Joel.

On this episode of The Informer we continue to explore homophobia and transphobia in Australian sport as Proud 2 Play call for our professional codes to start showing that they committed to inclusion and diversity by demonstrating it with clear action.

We speak to Australia’s first entrant in the International Ms Bootblack Competition, and we find out about Castlemaine Pride, a day of celebration of diversity and equality happening at the end of the month that came about after the community of Castlemaine made themselves a promise following last year’s postal survey.

Proud 2 Play, who provide safe spaces that are free from homophobia and transphobia so that same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people can play sport, have called out recent homophobia and transphobia in Australian sport after Rugby Australia’s public response to Israel Folou’s comments on social media.

Dean Arcuri spoke with Proud to Play co-founder and director, Ryan Storr.

On Sunday the 29th of April located between Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria, Castlemaine Pride is taking over the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. After a promise the Castlemaine community made to themselves after the postal survey last year, to celebrate diversity and equality for all.

Dean Arcuri spoke to Martin Chaswick, the manager of the Castlemaine Community House about how this came about.

This year Australia’s first ever competitor is entering the International Ms Bootblack Competition in San Jose, but unlike competitions in male spaces, where Australians compete on a local level, female bootblacks in our fetish and alternative communities don’t have this kind of support, and KL has had to build her way to the international competition off her own boot back.

Dean Arcuri reports.

Rugby Australia’s inclusion policy states that “There is no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and our actions and words both on and off the field must reflect this”; but in the past week Wallabies player Israel Folou has come under fire for social media posts and comments in regards to his faiths views on homosexuality, and his comments which are may put his views and Rugby’s inclusion policy at a crossroads.

Dean Arcuri reports on this, speaking to the presidents of the Sydney Convicts and the Melbourne Chargers, and the Vice President of the Brisbane Hustlers, Australia’s inclusive Rugby teams, who strive to creative an inclusive space on an off the field for everyone to enjoy rugby, no matter their sexuality or gender identity.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 11th April 2018.

On this episode of The Informer we hear from Australia’s inclusive rugby teams, after Wallabies player Israel Falou wrote on social media that homosexuals are going to hell unless they repent their sins and turn to god. Rugby Australia met with Falou yesterday.

We also speak to the Australian Bureau of Statistics now that submissions are open for the 2021 Cenus. The previous census saw 1,260 people gave an intentional and valid sex and/or gender diverse response, and now is the opportunity for our LGBTIQA+ communities to contribute to the conversation of how we will be counted in Australia’s statistical future.

This episode of The Informer was hosted by Dylan Joel on JOY 94.9.

Tasmanian expungement legislation is taking affect this week, allowing those with homosexual and cross-dressing convictions to have these wiped from their record. This legislative move is being hailed as the best of its kind in Australia.

 

Dean Arcuri speaks to Robin Banks, who helped draft the legislation in her former role as Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, and to Rodney Croome about how well our law-making process can work when the Government, the community and both houses of Parliament work together to ensure the best possible outcome.

 

If you would like to know more, head to www.ehos.tas.gov.au

 

This segment of The Informer aired on 10th April 2018 on JOY 94.9.

As of this week, Tasmanians can now apply to have historic convictions for homosexual acts and cross-dressing convictions removed from their criminal records, in a move celebrated by rights groups.

 

Dean Arcuri and Lee Carnie from the Human Rights Law Centre discuss how Tasmanians can apply to have their convictions expunged.

 

If you would like to find out more about having your homosexual and cross dressing convictions expunged, head to www.ehos.tas.gov.au

 

This segment of The Informer aired on 10th April 2018 on JOY 94.9.

Individuals and organisations now have an extra two weeks to submit their views on how Queensland’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003 can improve legal recognition of LGBTI people, and their families when registering life events, with the closing date for submissions being extended until Thursday April 19th.

Dean Arcuri speaks to Yvette D’Ath, Attorney General and Minister for Justice for Queensland.

If you would like to make a submission by April 19th, go to www.justice.qld.giv.au/bdmactreview

 

This segment of The Informer aired on 10th April 2018 on JOY 94.9.