News – Page 5

Queer & feminist book club Darwin

A queer and feminist book club has kicked off in Darwin. Next book is Desert of the Heart (which the awesome film Desert Hearts is based on). The book club will meet 6pm Sunday 21 May, Ski Club, Darwin. Guaranteed fun, chats, feminism, queer, and some discussion of the book. Get in touch to confirm attendance: outnt@outnt.info

Darwin Pride Festival 2017

Darwin Pride Festival has kicked off its meetings for the year, and will hold the fabulous festival 21 – 30 September. It’s a great time to be involved in the festival which has been going strong for 30 years. What the Darwin Pride Festival is looking for: organising committee members, performers, support crew, volunteers, event coordinators, stage hands, and community groups who want to hold an event as part of the festival.

A call out for Expressions of Interest in participating in the Festival has gone out and all submissions need to be in by close of business Friday 28 April 2017, no exceptions.

Darwin Pride on Facebook

Got something to say about mental health & suicide prevention?

Rainbow territory is running a community survey so that LGBTQI people in the NT can have a say about:

what services and support you need
what services and support you access
what helps you get access to support and services
what stops you from accessing support and services
how homophobia and discrimination impacts you
rating the services you currently receive or access

Please complete the survey, and tell others about it. We would love to get 100 responses or more, so please share
http://www.outnt.info/rainbowterritory/communitysurvey/

The information will be used to inform service providers, policy makers, and government in the NT.

Submissions from NT government and Anti-Discrimination Commission

There was a Senate Committee set up to look into IF marriage equality would be brought in, should exemptions for ministers of religion, marriage celebrants and religious bodies and organisations so that they wouldn’t have to have anything to do with same sex marriage?

Both the NT government and the NT Anti-Discimination Commission put in a submission. Here they are:

NT Anti-Discrimination submission:

Submission 102 – Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission

NT Government submission:

Submission 141

Formal terms of Reference

That a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill be established to inquire into and report on, by 13 February 2017, the Commonwealth Government’s exposure draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill, with particular reference to:

the nature and effect of proposed exemptions for ministers of religion, marriage celebrants and religious bodies and organisations, the extent to which those exemptions prevent encroachment upon religious freedoms, and the Commonwealth Government’s justification for the proposed exemptions;
the nature and effect of the proposed amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Commonwealth Government’s justification for it;
potential amendments to improve the effect of the bill and the likelihood of achieving the support of the Senate; and
whether there are to be any consequential amendments, and, if so, the nature and effect of those consequential amendments, and the Commonwealth Government’s justification for them.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Same_Sex_Marriage/SameSexMarriage/Submissions

What was the outcome? summary from the Law Council

“the committee suggests that ministers of religion, and certain religious celebrants, should be able to refuse to marry same-sex couples in line with their beliefs. Civil celebrants on the other hand are performing a secular function and so have no other proper basis for exemption.

“the committee agrees with the Law Council that ‘religious bodies’ that were not specifically established for religious purposes, should not be exempt from anti-discrimination laws.”

“we note that the committee did not recommend exempting individuals or commercial businesses from anti-discrimination law who hold a ‘conscientious’ objection to providing goods and services for same-sex weddings.”

Rainbow Territory community survey final report 2015

Formed in September 2014, Rainbow Territory is an unfunded Northern Territory community group that advocates for the human rights of Northern Territorians who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ). Rainbow Territory aims to develop a safer, fairer and a more inclusive NT.

The aim of the RT Community Survey was to learn more about the issues facing LGBTIQ Territorians. The survey was hosted by Survey Monkey and launched at the Rainbow Territory Equality Rally, NT Parliament House in Darwin on 25th November 2014. Over the subsequent months, the website was visited by 100 people.

This report consists of three sections:

1. Summary Statement. An overview of broad themes and trends.
2. Results Summary. Including graphical presentations of the main findings.
3. Result Details. This is a break-down of participants’ responses.

This report was compiled on 4th May 2015.
Rainbow Territory Community Survey Sub-Committee.

Rainbow Territory survey May 2015

Rainbow Territory Rainbow Territory Community Survey Final Report Darwin, 2015

Darwin: youth group continues in 2017

The young people’s group run by Headspace for same sex attracted and/or gender diverse young people will continue in 2017. This is great news for young people in Darwin. Here is a copy of their recent newsletter.

From the Prism Newsletter (published by headspace Darwin)

Suggestions from the group for future meetings are:

The last few weeks have been about getting to know each other & next year we will start getting information sessions organised as well as social activities. We have had some great suggestions for activities and we are hoping to get some of these happening next year.

Next week (6^th December 3:30-5:00pm) will be our: End of Year Party !! This is for all ages of our LGBTIQ groups. Please come along in a festive mood & enjoy an afternoon of food & games.

Coming events:

King Pin – ‘Strike Out Stigma’ for people who have HIV. 5pm Saturday, 3^rd December 2016. Cost $10 under 19 / $25 Full. Buy inline: http://tinyurl.com/owb7sh4 Ticket includes: 2 games, shoe hire, soft drink & a slider.

http://www.offtheleash.net.au/features/visual-arts/2016/11/street

Its also worth checking out these graffiti workshops at MAGNT run by Dave Collins.

Contact: It was great to see people exchanging contact details & planning to meet up, outside the group. If you want to keep in contact other members, write out your contact details on a note pass it to them. Please remember that some people may have other commitments over the holiday break and not everyone will want to keep in touch with the entire group. So please be respectful of each other.

Meetings in 2017

Prism Meeting – 12-17 years will be on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month, 3:30-5:00pm (next meeting 7^th February 2017)

17-25 years will be held on the 1^st and 3^rdTuesdays of the month, 3:30-5:00pm (next meeting ^31stJanuary 2017)

Some social occasions will include both groups together

Support for young people: Should a young person become distressed during a session, headspace staff clinician will be available to respond to and support young person. Everybody is welcome and treated with respect. Safety is a priority. This includes boundaries, clear communication and mental health support where necessary.

Contact: headspace Darwin, Phone: Barbara (08) 8931 5999, Email: headspacedarwin@anglicare-nt.org.au

Are you interested in improving the lives of LGBTI Australians?

The National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy Review Survey, and LGBTI Older person care & housing survey