December 7, Brisbane – Kill The Bill! Brisbane Protest Religious Freedoms Bill FINALE
KILL THE BILL! https://equalityaustralia.org.au/resources/religious-discrimination-bill-work-place-fact-sheet/
We had just three hundred at our last protest, and we can do better. I expect every LGBTQIA+ person and ally who is physically and mentally able to attend, to attend. If not, you are staying silent on an issue that will detriment our community. There are no excuses. We NEED you, and you need us.
The Religious Freedoms Bill 2019 has already caused harm to LGBTQIA+ Australians through public discourse, inspiring ignorance from the likes of Sydney Anglican Diocese and PM Scott Morrison to go on anti-LGBTQIA+ tirades. Those who are religious are being tarred with the same brush as hateful zealots like Israel Folau, Lyle Shelton and Archbishop Glenn Davies.
LGBTQIA+ people are human beings who deserve to live peacefully and with equal status. This bill does not afford us these rights, in fact, it erodes the tireless work of everyone before us.
Kill The Bill. The introduction of the Religious Freedoms Bill could see conversion ideology justified and remain legal on religious grounds, see people in hospitals refused service by religious practitioners, children and families turned away from schools and religious LGBTQIA+ people driven from places of worship in favour of hate. We oppose this.
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Why protest the Bill?
An excerpt from Equality Australia’s submission to the Bill;
“It is essential when talking of freedom of religion that we are clear about what it is and what is not. It is not, and has never been, a licence to discriminate against others.
The freedom of religion is a fundamental human right.
It includes the right to hold a religious view, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. It includes protections against being compelled to reveal your thoughts or adherence to a religion or belief. The freedom of religion includes the right to manifest religion or belief individually or in community with others and in public or private.
However, the right to manifest a religion or belief may be limited if prescribed by law and if those limitations are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.”
The current laws in Australia at Federal and State level allow religious schools, hospitals and aged-care facilities to fire staff , refuse enrolment, deny treatment and expel students on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status.
A YouGov Galaxy Poll in October 2018 found that around 80% of people oppose the right of religious schools to expel LGBTI students or sack LGBTI teachers. This is an even larger majority than the 61.6% of Australians who voted YES to marriage equality in the 2017 postal plebiscite.
There is no right to discriminate!
Remove religious exemptions!
No to homophobia and transphobia!
