Moving towards equity for the GLBT community

By Frank Barnes

A union course will address gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues including what can be done to improve the education programs for students.

The election of a federal Labor Government offers some hope for changes to legislation on issues affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. In the lead up to the federal election Labor MP Tanya Plibersek stated that if the ALP was elected it would legislate all 49 outstanding issues other than same sex marriage. At the same time, since his election to the leadership of the opposition Liberal/National coalition, Brendan Nelson has said he would support the legislation but he has since stated that there were some provisions he would not be supporting. Let's hope that the ALP follows through on its promise as there will be controversy surrounding any changes to the legislation by the usual crowd.

There is no indication as to when this legislation will go forward so we need to put pressure on MPs such as Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese as well as Senators like Penny Wong who is an out lesbian and John Faulkner who wields enormous power in the Senate. While this change will almost give legislative equity to members of the GLBT community, as with other areas in our society, such as people of non-English speaking background, women and people with disabilities legislation, it will not necessarily stop acts of discrimination.

We know that it is still difficult for teachers to state their sexuality in schools; we know that students who are seen to be gay or lesbian are picked upon and threatened and bullied in schools; gay bashing is now a major activity in the Oxford Street area on Friday and Saturday nights. There are excellent programs that have been developed for use in schools as part of the Personal Development/Heath/Physical Education curriculum but there needs to be much more happening in our workplaces. Some members work in isolated communities and it is even harder for them to come out.

Federation is planning a Trade Union Training course for its members with members of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) on February 28 and 29, 2008.

The aims of the course are to look at how to be a GLBT teacher in our workplaces, where to get support and what we can do to improve the education programs for our students.

Please encourage any GLBT members to apply for this course which is being held in the two days leading up to the Mardi Gras parade for 2008.

Frank Barnes is an Organiser in Western Sydney and the convenor of the Gay and Lesbian Special Interest Group.

For further information

December 2007 contents