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Speak Out for Equality - Qld ElectionSpeak Out for equality in the lead up to the next Queensland state election. You can make a difference to the lives of LGBT people across the state by holding politicians to account and demanding full 'Equality in Health' for LGBT people.
Working with the LNP Government Healthy Communities has written to Minister Springborg (Health) and Minister Davis (Communities) to congratulate them on their appointment, request a meeting with them and/or their advisers and outline some key actions we would like to see the government take to revitalise services for LGBT Queenslanders and restore accountability to the community. The actions we have suggested can be viewed here. A summary of key LGBT health & well-being statistics can be viewed here. HIV non-government organisation have also written to Minister Springborg, outlining key HIV statistics for Queensland and suggesting actions to revitalise the HIV response in Queensland. The actions HIV NGOs have suggested can be viewed here. The summary of key HIV statistics can be viewed here. Or read the summary (updated March 21), here.
What can you do help achieve 'Equality in Health' this election? Speak Out! Telling politicians what you want is the most important thing you can do. Too often LGBT issues are invisible. If no-one raises it, then politicians get the message it's not important. Whenever and wherever you see a politician (e.g. at a roadside promotion, shopping centre or election event):
Other things you can do include:
Helpful websites:
Party Websites (for lists of candidates and contact details): Other sites of interest: Speak Out for LGBT Equality in Queensland Election Healthy Communities has released ‘pledge cards’ in the lead up to the Queensland election, calling on politicians to support LGBT equality. Healthy Communities is distributing the cards to LGBT people and our supporters across the state, encouraging them to give a card to every politician they see. “We commonly receive feedback from politicians that no-one ever raises LGBT issues with them” said Paul R Martin, Executive Director. “Handing politicians a ‘Speak Out for Equality’ card is a simple way for people to get LGBT issues on the agenda of candidates. Whenever you see a politician, at shopping centres, street corners or at events, give them a card and ask them to support LGBT issues. Carry a set of cards in your wallet or bag so you’ll always have them handy.” The card asks candidates to show their support for the LGBT community by committing to achieve:
More details on these issues can be found in Healthy Communities’ ‘Queensland Election LGBT Commitments’ paper which is being used to lobby the main parties and will form the basis of an election questionnaire. To get cards sent to you contact info@qahc.org.au ring 3017 1777 or 1800 177 434 and leave your name and postal address. Or pick them up from our offices in Brisbane, Cairns or Maroochydore.
Queensland Labor Responds to Election Survey The Queensland Labor Party is the first to respond to See our full media release here. Read Labor's full response here. Compare Queensland Labor's committments for the LGBT community to Victorian Labor at their last election here.
LNP Responds to Election Survey The Liberal National Party is the second to resond to our election survey. Read the LNP's full response here. Compare the LNP's committments to the Victorian conservative government's investment in LGBTI suicide prevention projects here.
LGBT people have higher health risk factors, poorer health and less access to health services. Healthy Communities has produced a one-page summary of key health statistics covering: mental health, alcohol, tobacco & other drugs, seniors, healthy lifestyles, community safety and transgender people.
Healthy Communities has developed a set of recommended actions that we are asking the main political parties to commit to. Practical actions are listed covering:
Programs and Services for LGBT Queenslanders Healthy Communities has produced more detailed funding proposal outlines for the services/programs below. We are seeking commitments from the main parties to fund these much needed services for the LGBT community. HIV non-government organisations have collaborated to produce an outline of key HIV issues in Queensland and the practical actions we are asking the main political parties to commit to. Main issues covered are:
Healthy Communities has made a response to the Civil Partnerships Bill consultation. The Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (Healthy Communities) strongly welcomes the introduction of Civil Partnerships for Queenslanders (regardless of their sex) and congratulates the Government for taking this initiative. We recognise that Civil Partnerships are not marriages, but are an option for those that can't or don't want to marry. Civil Partnerships do not infringe on the rights of other Queenslanders, but those who do not support Civil Partnerships should not be able to infringe on the rights of those that do support them by preventing them from happening. Registration of Civil Partnership will provide an easier way for same-sex couples to prove they are in a relationship and to have this recognised. We are pleased that couples will be able to make a declaration of their relationship before their friends and families. We also support the proposal to recognise in Queensland a relationship under a corresponding law in another state or country and call for this regulation to be introduced soon after the Bill is passed. Finally we call on the Government to support public awareness campaigns targeting LGBT people about the implications of a Civil Partnership and the broader community about the recognition of Civil Partnerships. Dowload a full copy of our response. What is Healthy Communities doing to promote Equality in Health? Our 2012 Election Survey has been sent to Labor, LNP, Greens and Katter's Australian Party. Pledge Cards are being distributed to LGBT people to hand to politicians they encounter, asking for their support for LGBT issues. In the past few months, Healthy Communities has met with the following:
Equality in Health Information has been sent to all sitting members, we are in the process of sending it out to candidates in the main parties. We have also sent our Equality in Health information to the Futures Forum, a network of 50+ state-wide and regional non-government peaks and services, asking that they include LGBT issues in their election lobbying. |
