Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Tag: discrimination

  • Commonwealth Games: is it time to stop playing?

    By Paula Gerber Barely six months ago, international anger and calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Russia drew nearly as much news coverage as the games’ sporting achievements. And as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow get under way, it is worth remembering that although Scotland has nothing to match Russia’s gay propaganda laws, the…

  • Ian Thorpe came out, but not in Australia – a wise decision

    By Paula Gerber Few who watched Ian Thorpe’s “coming out” interview with British interviewer Michael Parkinson on Sunday night could have  failed to be moved by his story. The anxiety and turmoil he felt in telling the world he is gay was apparent for all to see. Thorpe told Parky: I’m ashamed I didn’t come…

  • Is the criminalisation of homosexuality in the Commonwealth a relic of the British Empire?

    By Associate Professor Paula Gerber Last week The Conversation published an article by Timothy Jones entitled ‘Colonialism, Homophobia and the legality of gay sex in the Commonwealth’. Jones was highly critical of a recent report published by the Kaleidoscope Trust, entitled Speaking Out: the rights of LGBTI citizens from across the Commonwealth. He states that…

  • Decriminalising homosexuality worldwide: should Australia get involved?

    By Paula Gerber, Monash University and Joel Gory, Monash University In Australia, there is an ongoing debate around the right for same-sex couples to marry. The majority of laws discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people were repealed in 2008. Earlier this year, the Sex Discrimination Act (1984) was also amended to prohibit…

  • Sex Discrimination Act amendments – crucial, but flawed

    By Adam Fletcher Last month the Government introduced a Bill amending the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, as well as participation in a same‑sex relationship. It is currently the subject of a Parliamentary inquiry, the Castan Centre’s submission to…

  • Human rights and religion in Australian Law. Where does the balance lie?

    Guest Blogger: Rachel Ball, Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at the Human Rights Law Centre The recent release of the Federal Government’s draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill (HRAD) has reignited Australian debate about human rights, religion and the law. The current controversy is around the permanent exceptions in the HRAD which allow religious bodies to…