Page 1608 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2006
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Coming back to the federal government’s stance on this matter, it is interesting to note that when, in 2004, the Liberal federal government amended the Marriage Act to outlaw same-sex marriage, the Australian Labor Party supported it. Our Greens senators were some of the few to oppose it.
I hope that the ACT Labor Party’s endorsement of civil unions and initial equalisation with marriage sends a strong message to other state and territory Labor parties and assists them to move forward rather than following the Liberal Party’s lead to the past. Any legislation that prevents same-sex couples being recognised is inherently discriminatory and endorses a homophobic sentiment in the community. It is no surprise then that up to 50 per cent of the gay and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community display severe symptoms of depression and are more likely to commit suicide.
Sadly, this disproportionately afflicts young people struggling to find and express their sexual identity. Australian studies have found, for example, that 27 per cent of gay men suffer major depression and that their suicide rate is two to seven times higher than that among heterosexuals. Meanwhile 60 per cent of lesbians report feelings of depression related to their sexual orientation; 63 per cent had contemplated suicide; and 30 per cent had attempted suicide. Rates of depression amongst transgender people are even higher.
Linked with the alienation that these people feel, Victorian —and that is the state, not the period—studies have found that many GLBTI people use drugs and alcohol to deal with and, in some cases, escape the pressures of being who they are. They are internalising the criticisms of the outspoken and disapproving Family First and religious right, whose voices are louder than their numbers. I always need to remember that when the letters start coming in.
In its submission to the May 2005 ACT government consultation on the relationships scheme, Good Process recommended:
As part of the implementation of a new ACT Relationships Scheme, the ACT Government should ensure that comprehensive community education is provided to the GLBTI community and more generally the ACT community, such as health professionals, legal service providers and other relevant service providers. The importance of community education is highlighted in the results of the on-line survey conducted by Good Process. While 75 per cent of respondents indicated that they were aware of the changes that had been made to ACT legislation over the last two years to remove discrimination against GLBTI people, only 34 per cent of respondents believed the changes have had a practical impact on their lives.
While civil unions are a big step in the right direction in signalling to the general public that this community deserves equality, the ACT government has plenty more work to do in providing education for the public about these matters and providing services that meet the specific needs of GLBTI people.
I congratulate the ACT government on the extensive consultation it has conducted. It has been a long process. I acknowledge previous Assembly member Roslyn Dundas who began this with a motion in 2001. It has culminated in a significant debate not only in the
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