When it comes to conversations about the harm caused by conversion therapy, little research has been done before now in Australia.

This means that our academics and politicians have to look to the results of research done overseas, usually in the UK or USA.

Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University Timothy Jones is hoping to change that. Tim is part of the team undertaking a pilot study into gay conversion therapy in Australia. Dean Arcuri spoke to Tim about his research, believed to be the first of its kind.

We look forward to hearing more about his pilot study into gay conversion therapy in Australia in the coming months.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 16th April 2018.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 head to Queensland tonight as we speak to one of the baton bearers of the Commonwealth Games, as well as speak to the honourable Yvette D’Ath, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, because Queenslanders have two more weeks to have their say on LGBTI Births, Deaths and Marriages reform.

 

And as of this week in Tasmania, Under the expungement of historical offences scheme, criminal charges relating to historical homosexual or cross-dressing offences can be expunged.

 

We find out how you can apply to have convictions expunged, as well as look at the fact that we don’t need to play one political party against another in order to achieve LGBTI rights, with Tasmania’s expungement legislation hailed as the best in Australia, which had the Government, the community and both houses of Parliament working together to ensure the best possible outcome.

 

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 and was hosted by Ruby Susan.

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.

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.