Hi Supporters!

It has been a long time since I posted an update and many things have happened since the last. I apologise for the silence, I was taking a much needed rest from advocacy for a few months.

Amnesty calls on WA and SA to end conversion practices

This week, Amnesty International Australia, SOGICE Survivors and Ending Conversion Practices WA have written to South Australian and Western Australian State Government representatives asking them to end harmful LGBTQA+ conversion practices in their respective states. Critically, we have asked that they adopt legislation modelled after Victoria’s world-leading legislation, including the implementation of a Civil Response Scheme. You can read the letter sent to the state Premiers, Health Ministers and Attorneys General here. 

Uniting Church Australia makes important commitment

There is also some highly encouraging news from the Uniting Church after their 16th Assembly Meeting this month. The Assembly acknowledged the harm that LGBTQA+ conversion practices have caused to the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTIQA+ rainbow community "who are beloved and made in the image of God." The Assembly resolved to:

1. Affirm the Uniting Church Statement, Dignity in Humanity, which states that ‘every person is precious and entitled to live with dignity because they are God's children’.
2. Affirm that prayer and pastoral care are long-held Christian practices that will continue to be offered to support and uphold people, including LGBTIQA+ people, and agree that these Christian practices should not be used to harm or condemn any people including LGBTIQA+ people.
3. Recognise that sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGICE), often referred to as conversion “therapy”, are harmful to people’s mental health and wellbeing.
4. Request the Assembly Standing Committee to develop a process to provide a national resource for congregations, agencies, and individuals to learn how they can help prevent harm from Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Effort ideology and practice.
    

TLRI Final Report released

Following the 2020 Issues Paper and inquiry held by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI), the TLRI "released its Final Report and recommendations on law reforms to address the risks and harms caused by sexual orientation and gender identity conversion practices." 

Brave Network & SOGICE Survivors receive award

It was an honour for Brave Network and SOGICE Survivors to be jointly nominated for a GLOBE Community Award last year. None of us expected to be the recipients of the GLOBE Inspiration Award as well as being part of the Victorian Campaign Coalition that won the award for Outstanding Advocacy of the Year. Survivors of conversion practices from Brave Network and SOGICE Survivors accepted the award and dedicated it to "those who have been through conversion practices and are no longer with us."

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.

Chris