LGBT community groups in Queensland have launched a new campaign to hold the Federal Government accountable for its pre-election pledges on same-sex law reform.

Action Reform Change Queensland (ARCQ), Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC) have joined groups in New South Wales and Victoria in the 58:08 campaign, which was launched at the Big Gay Day in Brisbane on March 9.

The campaign will focus on galvanising community support for reform of the 58 laws identified in last year’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) report as discriminating against same-sex couples.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has since revealed his department found over 100 laws with discriminatory provisions that disadvantage same sex couples and their families.

PFLAG spokesperson Shelly Argent said it was time for the government to act.
“There’s strong support for changing discriminatory laws across the Australian community. Even MPs and senators in the opposition benches of Federal Parliament support change,” Argent said.

The Queensland community groups have written to McClelland, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine seeking their commitment for law reform at the federal and state levels.

QAHC president Mark Morein told Queensland Pride the groups were calling on McClelland to “commence negotiations with state and territory governments on relationship recognition”.

However, ARCQ spokesperson Rod Goodbun added: “The Attorney-General should be on notice that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities around Australia are calling for civil unions to allow for ceremonies alongside of registration”.

Ceremonies have emerged as a problematic element in the reform agenda, with the Rudd Government stating its reluctance to accept ceremonies as part of the ACT’s reform agenda.

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