The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) has released the results of a Galaxy poll that it commissioned, on Australian community attitudes to discrimination legislation.
The poll shows that 85% of Australians support the Federal Government introducing anti-discrimination laws to protect Australians from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity.
ACE Galaxy Poll on Australian Community Attitudes to Discrimination Legislation, report cover.
ACE Galaxy Poll on Australian Antidiscrimination Laws, report findings.
ACE media release on findings of poll on Australian Community Attitudes to Discrimination Legislation, first page.
ACE Media Release:
New national poll: 85% of Australians support federal government introducing anti-discrimination laws.
A new national poll shows that 85% of Australians support the Federal Government introducing anti-discrimination laws to protect Australians from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity.
Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) campaign coordinator Corey Irlam said this was “a wake-up call” for the Australian Parliament which has ignored this issue for too long.
“The Australian people overwhelmingly want to live in a nation free from discrimination and our Federal laws should reflect that wish.”
“This poll shows four out of five voters from all major parties support national laws protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & intersex (GLBTI) Australians from discrimination”, Mr Irlam said.
“It sends a clear message to our elected officials that they are falling behind public opinion on this vital issue.”
The national Galaxy poll was commissioned by ACE with the support of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Results show support for reform flowed across the political spectrum with 91% of ALP voters and 83% of Coalition voters supporting legislation. Support levels were only slightly higher amongst females, white collar households and people who live in capital cities.
Mr Irlam will appear before the National Human Rights Consultation (NHRC) hearings on Wednesday morning in Great Hall of Parliament House. Mr Irlam will tell the committee that there are other ways to protect human rights apart from a human rights charter, including more comprehensive anti-discrimination laws.
Mr Irlam will outline how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex Australians continue to suffer discrimination right through their lives.
“LGBTI people continue to be harassed at school, suffer employment discrimination, and are discriminated against in aged care facilities.”
“Legislation won’t stop discrimination, but it will provide recourse for those who suffer it and send a message to the community that it is no longer acceptable.”
Federal laws protect all Australians from discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, disability or age, but currently provide very little protection on the grounds of sexual orientation and no protection on the ground of gender identity.
In 1995, then Democrats leader Sid Spindler tabled a bill on sexuality discrimination in parliament. In 1997 a cross party Senate Inquiry tabled its report with the support of the ALP. The ALP released a consultation draft of its own discrimination bill in 2006 but has yet to introduce legislation upon coming to Government.
“GLBTI people have waited 14 years for law reforms in this area since the Spindler Bill was introduced. They have been waiting six government terms for law reform… let’s not make it seven!”
National Poll Results:
Full poll results available from: http://www.coalitionforequality.org.au/GalaxyPoll-AntiDiscrimination.pdf
Poll conducted as part of Galaxy Omnibus on the weekend of 12-14 June, 2009.
- A strong majority (85%) of Australians support federal laws protecting Australians from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity (42% strongly support, 43% support). In comparison, just 10% oppose such laws (4% strongly oppose, 6% oppose).
- Levels of support are strongest amongst those who intend to vote for the Greens (92% support) or the ALP (91% support), however the majority of coalition voters (83% support) also support federal laws protecting Australians from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Levels of support are slightly higher amongst females (87% support) than males (84% support), amongst white collar households (88% support) than blue collar households (82% support) and slightly higher amongst those who live in capitals cities (87% support) than those who live in regional Australia (83% support).
Discrimination Background:
Bisexual, gay, transgender, intersex and lesbian Australians continue to experience discrimination, prejudice and violence in higher proportions than the rest of the population.
Studies show that—
- 84 per cent of lesbian, intersex, transgender, gay and bisexual people experience discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity; 1
- up to 50 per cent of gay men and lesbians experience discrimination and harassment in the workplace; 2
- 85 per cent of lesbians and gay men experience abuse, harassment or violence at some stage in their lifetime. 3
Discrimination and Prejudice against lesbian, bisexual, intersex, transgender and gay people has a long history in our society and remains entrenched in a number of areas. Although significant gains have been made in recent decades to address prejudice and inequality, the evidence demonstrates there is a need for continuing and more robust interventions.
It is well documented that discrimination and prejudice faced by intersex, transgender gay, lesbian and bisexual people contributes to —
- obstacles in accessing health care; 4
- depression and other mental health problems; 5
- youth suicide; 6
- higher rates of victimisation and violence; 7 and
- continuing unlawful discrimination and harassment. 8
Fear of prejudice causes many intersex, gay, transgender, bisexual and lesbian Australians to modify their daily activities in particular environments. Almost all self-censor about their identity or suppress displays of public affection in some public situations. 9
The Australian states and territories have laws which prohibit sexuality discrimination to a greater or lesser extent. A national law will set a national standard on discrimination, send a clear message that such discrimination is unacceptable, and protect those groups currently not protected by state law, including those employed by or receiving services from federal government agencies and federally-funded organisations.
A federal law addressing discrimination, harassment, inciting hatred and threatening violence is an important step in addressing prejudice and inequality faced by bisexual, intersex, transgender, lesbian and gay Australians.
References:
- Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Enough is Enough Melbourne: Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby 2000 available at www.vglrl.org.au.
- Irwin J, The Pink Ceiling is Too Low, Workplace experiences of lesbians, gay men and transgender people Sydney: Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby 2002 available from www.glrl.org.au.
- NSW Attorney-General’s Department, You Shouldn’t Have to Hide to be Safe—A report on homophobic hostilities and violence against gay men and lesbians in NSW Sydney: Crime Prevention Division 2003.
- Up to 89 per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience health care professionals displaying negative attitudes towards them because of their sexual orientation. For more information see Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Health, Health and sexual diversity—A health and wellbeing action plan for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) Victorians Melbourne: Department of Human Services 2003 available at www.health.vic.gov.au/glbtimac.
- See Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Health, ‘What’s the difference?’: health issues of major concern to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) Victorians Melbourne: Department of Human Services 2002 available at www.health.vic.gov.au/glbtimac.
- For same sex attracted young people, the burden of homophobic social prejudices can be difficult to confront and, in a number of reports into youth suicide, anxiety about same sex attraction has had disproportionate representation as a significant factor in youth suicide. See Parliament of Australia, House of Representatives Standing Committee of Family and Community Affairs Aspects of Youth Suicide Canberra: Parliament of Australia 1997.
- In at least one study it is suggested that lesbians are six times more likely and gay men four times more likely to be victims of violent attack (NSW Police Service Out of the Blue Report Sydney: NSW Police Service 1995). Homophobic violence also tends to be more brutal and vicious (Mouzos J and Thompson S ‘Gay-Hate Related Homicides: An overview of major findings in New South Wales’ Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice No 155 Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology 2000). Further reading may include Leonard W et al, Coming Forward: The underreporting of heterosexist violence and same sex partner abuse in Victoria Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society 2000.
- For example, the annual report of the Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland for 2007–2008 states that 3.1 per cent of complaints received related to sexuality discrimination, 2.1 per cent to gender identity vilification and 0.2 per cent to sexuality vilification.
- Up to 67 per cent of participants reported modifying daily behaviour in Pitts M et al, Private Lives—A report on the health and wellbeing of GLBTI Australians Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society 2006.
