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A new coalition of Queensland LGBT activists has formed following a rights forum held as part of the Pride Festival last month.
The coalition came together at the forum, Over the Rainbow: Are We There Yet?, held at QAHC on June 11.
“People from a range of LGBT groups and individuals agreed it was time to start coordinating our activism in Queensland to make best use of our energy and resources for campaigns,” Action Reform Change spokesperson Rod Goodbun said.
“We agreed to establish a coalition to meet monthly to plan our campaign work.”
Open Doors coordinator Lisa Thorpy told Queensland Pride about 40 people attended the forum.
“There was a really great range of ages and backgrounds from young university students right through to elders in their 70s,” Thorpy said.
“We came together because the Rudd Government has made a commitment to address the federal laws that discriminate. That fight is almost won, so where do we focus now?
“Understanding that a collective focus is much more effective than individual campaigning, we looked at the wins we’ve had in Queensland since decriminalisation in 1990, and also looked at things that still needed to be worked on,” Thorpy said.
The forum split into groups examining issues such as LGBT youth, same-sex parenting and improving LGBT access to mainstream community services.
Thorpy said the youth affairs issues identified included same-sex sex education in schools, an equal age of consent and homophobic bullying.
“Few schools recognise homophobia as bullying. In an anonymous Queensland-wide online survey of people aged under 20, about 15 percent reported having to change schools due to homophobic bullying, and because of bullying, LGBT have higher levels of mental illness,” she said.
Thorpy said she felt hopeful of the coalition’s chances of success.
“There will be a coalition of the willing,” Thorpy said.
“This was to pull people together to reactivate them.
“I felt hopeful. I felt energised for the first time in ages.”
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9 July at QAHC, 30 Helen Street, Newstead from 6.30pm.
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