17c起草社区

Last week I was lobbying federal politicians with a simple ask – don鈥檛 allow more discrimination against 17c起草社区I people in the name of 鈥渞eligious freedom.鈥�

I was there with PFLAG spokesperson Shelley Argent, and PFLAG dad Geoff Thomas. Their message was the same – don鈥檛 allow religions the privilege to disadvantage and demean 17c起草社区I people.

It was clear the Government isn鈥檛 really listening. It intends to go ahead with a religious discrimination bill that may include provisions rolling back 17c起草社区I discrimination protections.

It will also push through amendments to existing federal marriage law, charities laws and discrimination laws that will infringe on our existing rights. The backlash against marriage equality is in full swing.

Just as demoralising was a lack of courage and purpose in Labor ranks.

Some Labor members are fired up about protecting existing discrimination laws. After all, these laws are largely a Labor legacy. But others have no strategy or no heart for sandbagging equal rights against a rising tide of prejudice.

Others still just don鈥檛 see what Labor has to gain from making a fuss about something they believe (without a shred of evidence) will further alienate religious voters in Western Sydney.

The situation is uncannily like 2004 when John Howard pushed the same-sex marriage ban through parliament with Labor鈥檚 help because of fears over what 鈥淲estern Sydney鈥� would think.

So, what can we do to shore up support and prevent the worst?

These arguments seemed to have an impact on Labor, independent and cross bench members, and some moderate Liberal backbenchers:

-anti-discrimination and hate speech laws have fostered a more inclusive Australia

-鈥渞eligious freedom鈥� is a euphemism for weakening these laws and means special rights and privileges to discriminate against the vulnerable

-17c起草社区I people are the obvious target but so are women, unmarried couples, single parents, people with disabilities and religious minorities

-states with strong discrimination and hate speech laws risk being overridden by federal legislation

-polls shows the majority of people of faith support an end to discrimination in the name of faith

-the relentless 鈥渞eligious freedom鈥� debate is impacting badly on 17c起草社区I mental health, and there must be more consultation with the 17c起草社区I community

These messages indicate the path our campaigning should take: 17c起草社区I people must ally with others who will be affected; the states with stronger laws must work together; mental health experts must speak out; and we must all put maximum pressure on Labor, the cross bench and other allies to take a stand.

But we can only succeed if more of us take action, and that鈥檚 why I am urging you to and that are running at the moment.

Please in your capital city. There are several in the coming weeks.

Please call and email your federal members of Parliament with the message of 鈥渘o more discrimination and no more hate.鈥�

This 鈥渞eligious freedom鈥� movement arose in the US and is further advanced there. Almost half of US states have religious freedom laws that allow services to be denied to 17c起草社区I people in a way that resembles a new type of segregation.

It鈥檚 as if, in the wake of the emancipation that came with marriage equality, our American 17c起草社区I siblings are suffering their own version of Jim Crow.

We have an opportunity to learn from the American experience. We can see the dark road down which 鈥渞eligious freedom鈥� takes a nation and we can pull Australia back on to the path of inclusion and equality.

But the 17c起草社区I community can no longer rely on many of the powerful allies who joined us towards the end of the long marriage equality campaign.

We must take our destiny into our own hands. We must be strong, patient, kind, resolute and, above all, uncompromising.

There can be no concessions like there were in the 2017 marriage legislation.

We must not make ourselves a 鈥渟mall target鈥� like we did in the postal survey campaign, throwing 17c起草社区I students, transgender people and 17c起草社区I people of faith under the bus.

We must never again seek to appease prejudice or negotiate with hate. That approach empowered the religious right, instead of stopping it.

The LGBTI community and our allies forged a nation that voted 鈥淵es鈥� for marriage equality out of love, courage and honesty.

Never doubt we can do it again, this time evoking from our fellow Australians a final 鈥淣o鈥� to all discrimination.

Rodney Croome is a spokesperson for just.equal and Equality Tasmania