Hi Supporters!
On Monday night the Parliamentary Friendship Group for LGBTIQ Australians hosted an event ‘Respect, Belief, Love’ focusing on the perspectives of LGBTIQ+ people of faith at Parliament House.
The event was timely, considering the recent release of the draft ‘religious freedom’ bill. Six LGBTIQ+ people of various faith backgrounds were invited to speak, including myself (full speaker list below).
The draft bill was the subject of much of the discussion, which demonstrated the concern that queer people of faith have about the proposed legislation that is apparently there to ‘protect’ their faith whilst ignoring or even impinging their other freedoms.
Nathan Despott, a survivor of ten years of LGBTQA+ Conversion, spoke about the possible protections the bill could offer to those who push Conversion ideology and practices. I also spoke about LGBTQA+ Conversion, explaining why the ideology that underpins the pseudo-therapies is the most damaging part of the movement.
Many of the MP’s in attendance were very interested in the perspectives of the speakers and genuine in wanting to understand our concerns. Liberal MP Warren Entsch, who is a co-chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for LGBTIQ Australians along with Mr Graham Perrett MP, Ken O'Dowd MP and Senator Janet Rice, was very supportive, even describing Conversion ‘Therapy’ as “voodoo”.
Senator Janet Rice spoke in parliament later in the week regarding the proposed religious freedom bill. She quoted Budi Sudarto, a queer Muslim, drawing on his moving speech at the ‘Respect, Belief, Love’ event. You can watch the Senator’s speech here.
I also wanted to let you know that 60 Minutes will be airing an investigative report into LGBTQA+ Conversion this Sunday. Many survivors have bravely shared their stories. It would be great if we could all watch it to support them!
Thank you!
Chris Csabs
Speaker List - ‘Respect, Belief, Love’
Rev Dr Josephine Inkpin
An Anglican priest with wide ministerial experience in both Australia and her native England. A transgender female, married to another female priest, she is a church history and theology lecturer in Brisbane, a national board member of Equal Voices, and a former officer of the National Council of Churches in Australia
Budi Sudarto
Vice President of Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC Inc.). Budi ‘s advocacy work includes providing community consultation as well as delivering intersectionality training to various organisations. Budi presented a queer Muslim perspective.
Nathan Despott
Co-Leader of Brave Network Melbourne, co-author of the SOCE Survivor Statement and committee member of Equal Voices Melbourne. He is a survivor of ten years of LGBTQ+ Conversion practices in Melbourne’s evangelical community.
Nuru Madhok
National Co-Director at Democracy in Colour. Previously a senior campaigner at 350.org Australia. Neha worked on the Yes campaign for Australian Marriage Equality and was a Digital Campaigner in the Australian union movement.
Nurul Tajularus
Founder of Sydney Queer Muslims Inc in 2017 in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting. Over the last two years, Nurul has worked tirelessly to network with service providers, allies and activists with the aim of reducing the suffering of queer Muslims in Sydney.
Chris Csabs
Co-author of the SOCE Survivor Statement and member of the National Taskforce on the LGBTQA+ Conversion Movement. He is a survivor of LGBTQ+ Conversion and runs the change.org/EndGayCures campaign.